Dolphins skipper back ‘in love’ after torrid years
Joel Gould |
Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert has declared himself a certain starter in the NRL club’s opening trial after falling back in love with the game following an injury-ravaged three years.
The 25-year-old forward has played just 21 games in three seasons for the club. He had a shoulder injury in 2023, ACL rupture that wiped out 2024 and a torn pectoral in 2025 when he was on the cusp of a Queensland recall. Medical staff also found a labrum tear during the pec surgery that required a shoulder reconstruction.
Gilbert, who plays back-row and lock, returns to a stacked Dolphins pack where battles for second-row and middle forward positions will be intense.
The recruitment of St Helens and England hardhead Morgan Knowles, the return from injury of former NSW prop Daniel Saifiti and continued development of Fiji international Kurt Donoghoe as a lock option will keep the heat on.
“I am back doing full contact at training and will play the first trial (against Gold Coast). I am all clear to go,” Gilbert said.
“I definitely will play some back-row this year and also will come back in the middle. It is hard to say when the dynamics of the team are always going to change.
“I will do a lot more training at back-row this year but I will probably look at splitting my time between both.”
At times in his most recent rehab Gilbert said “you start questioning yourself” about whether the body can withstand the physical nature of the game.
“It definitely crosses my mind all the time,” he said.
“Can I get back and what will happen if I don’t? All those doubts every day are less and less in my mind now.
“I stepped away from the game and thought of some things I could do differently and implemented them. I definitely feel as though this rehab was somewhat easier and I have come back feeling really good.
“I am just worried about getting back to my best and I am very confident I can.”
Gilbert’s torn pec against the Warriors in round 11 last year came just days before the Maroons side was to be named with him in it for the opening State of Origin clash.
The skipper provided an insight into the mental struggle he faced after two previous years of disappointment.
“In the short term it was really hard to deal with and process,” he said.
“Sometimes you deal with what could have been but as time went on I just dealt with what it was.
“There were some really good moments. I got to spend a lot of time at home with my young boy who was six months old at the time. That was a blessing.
“I had time to step away from footy and find ways to fall in love with the game again. Definitely there were times where I fell out of love with it and didn’t know what the future (held).”
Now Gilbert can look forward to helping the Dolphins secure a maiden finals berth.
“Through all that devastation and upset I have come out the other side,” he said.
AAP
