Dolphins boost: Flegler on track for round one
Joel Gould |
Dolphins prop Tom Flegler is on track to play his first game in almost two years after moving through the early stages of contact training.
It is a massive boost for the club’s 2026 finals hopes, and for the 26-year-old Queensland and Test forward.
Flegler has not played since round five last year when he sustained nerve damage to his left shoulder.
He was forced to have nerve transfer surgery and the progress, while incremental, now has him on the cusp of playing again.
He trained strongly with the squad on Monday, which included contact work. The Dolphins have Flegler slated for full contact post-Christmas.
“I still have a long way to go but I am looking to make a play for round one,” Flegler said.
“If that means getting a few trials in before that, then we will.
“It’s good to get back into the groove of things and make a tackle again.
“It’s still very low level at the moment but since the surgery we have ticked every box.
“Things are coming along really well. We still have a long way to go in the contact area but we are making a start on it.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel now that I have started contact. It’s a great feeling. The best thing is to come back and train with the team rather than training by myself.”
Flegler has played 100 NRL games but now there is great hope he will play his 101st in round one against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
He said his motivations to return to action had always been simple.
“Probably thinking about when I am going to play next. When you are sitting on the sideline and you get to Origin and finals time you see your mates running out in front of a big crowd,” he said.
“Those moments keep you hungry and then you train extra harder to hopefully get back to that position.
“I think it has been 13 months since surgery. We knew it was going to be a slow process and we had to bide our time and get through rehab. Luckily things have turned out pretty well and it is looking good.
“The club has been outstanding from a medical point of view and with its support. It is not what anyone wants but I can’t thank them enough for how they treated me.
“Fingers crossed I can get back out on the field and play some good footy. That’s the only way I am going to be able to repay them.”
Before Flegler was injured he had established himself as one of the game’s leading props after representing both Queensland and Australia.
He played for Brisbane in the 2023 grand final, in a season providing great support to Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.
The Dolphins missed the finals by two competition points in 2024 and 2025 where injuries to key forwards, including Flegler, proved costly.
With Max Plath, Daniel Saifiti and Tom Gilbert all expected back at varying stages in 2026 from their own long-term injuries, the return of Flegler will be the icing on the cake.
AAP
