2026 Squad

[257Matt]

Good news though drinking beers is a bit less strenuous than first grade. But he said he'll definitely be back from round 1. I guess ease back in via QLD Cup.

Flegler is very on track for a Round 1 return in fact he'll be in the 17. I reckon he'll come off the bench for the first part of the season playing Kerr like minutes before they increase.

Plath will more than likely not quite be ready for Round 1 and Bostock looking like a late March return and as we saw this season it took Fuller a couple weeks to get confidence. Those two are very likely to start in QCup to get confidence back and unless there's a surge of injuries Dolphins can ease them two back as the backrow and outside backs depth is Dolphins two strengths.

Touch wood Molo, Isaako, Herbie and Knowles get through this weekend of course.

 

[257Matt]

The teams page on the Dolphins website finally updated yesterday with the players gone Bromwich, Nicholls, Kerr, Graham, Tawha & Hola removed but Sean O'Sullivan still shows.....

Rasmussen, Knowles, Schneider and Cobbo profiles aren't up yet.

 

[Gary]

Just out of interest, what’s everyone’s thoughts on Knowles. How do you think he fits into the line up.

 

[Dolph]

Just out of interest, what’s everyone’s thoughts on Knowles. How do you think he fits into the line up.

I hear he's very good and was one of Englands best in the test matches (which I haven't seen) but I was surprised to learn he's a lock. It seems to be pretty much a specialised position and we only have Donoghue, Gilbert, Plath and Stone....... But you know, I think the recruitment and retention of Wayne and Woolf has been good. Considering who was available and how we missed out on any so-called "marquee". So I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. He must have a plan.

 

[mr_c]

Just out of interest, what’s everyone’s thoughts on Knowles. How do you think he fits into the line up.

hes a beast i picking he be lock or of the bench for gilbert , plath be of the bench too used as utility , don't see stone or kurt in team unless injury's which we will need soild injury cover

 

[Equaliser]

hes a beast i picking he be lock or of the bench for gilbert , plath be of the bench too used as utility , don't see stone or kurt in team unless injury's which we will need soild injury cover

I think you just don't have Kurt in your team to piss off Matt. He'll be on the bench at very least. Depends on the rest of the pack. How hard-working it is as opposed to how talented it is. If it's very talented but lacks hard workers doing a lot of hit ups and making a lot of tackles, Gilbert is probably best for starting lock. Otherwise Kurt. While Plath is a bit of both of those. Does a lot of work but also good in attack.

 

[mr_c]

Well if matt thought about it fir a second wouldn't. You want decent fill ins waiting in the wings he and likes stone n trai are injury. Cover simple as that matt will never. Get it hes about certain players not the whole team

 

[257Matt]

I think you just don't have Kurt in your team to piss off Matt. He'll be on the bench at very least. Depends on the rest of the pack. How hard-working it is as opposed to how talented it is. If it's very talented but lacks hard workers doing a lot of hit ups and making a lot of tackles, Gilbert is probably best for starting lock. Otherwise Kurt. While Plath is a bit of both of those. Does a lot of work but also good in attack.

Some just going have to get used to Donoghoe being picked in the 17 every week only way he won't be is because he's either injured, suspended or part of the NSW Origin 18. His Capras days are long-gone.

 

[Equaliser]

Well if matt thought about it fir a second wouldn't. You want decent fill ins waiting in the wings he and likes stone n trai are injury. Cover simple as that matt will never. Get it hes about certain players not the whole team

Donoghue is a gun even though Matt exaggerates it a bit.

 

[mr_c]

More fact who you leave out now way they going have Plath Gilbert. Morning. Connie fin in reserve. Grade thats just. Bonkers and thats tge thing. Matt dont see and won't see is Plath over them no

 

[Equaliser]

More fact who you leave out now way they going have Plath Gilbert. Morning. Connie fin in reserve. Grade thats just. Bonkers and thats tge thing. Matt dont see and won't see is Plath over them no

Right now, I leave them all out with Donoghue starting. After his form last year. But as I stated above, depends on the rest of the pack. If we need a good defender, it's gotta be Gilbert of maybe Knowles (from what I've heard of him).

 

[257Matt]

Right now, I leave them all out with Donoghue starting. After his form last year. But as I stated above, depends on the rest of the pack. If we need a good defender, it's gotta be Gilbert of maybe Knowles (from what I've heard of him).

Woolf doesn't hide or disguise his admiration for Donoghoe only injury or suspension in the pre-season stops him starting round 1.

Plath injured his ACL in early June last year 9 month recovery his official return date will be edging rounds 1-2 so his return is via QCup. I'm a massive Plath supporter but you don't just bounce back straight into after getting your clearance it took Fuller some time to regain full confidence.

The last time Gilbert was a top line performing player Plath was yet to make his NRL debut and Donoghoe only played a small handful of games as a bench player ranging from 8mins to 30mins. Both Plath in 2024 and Donoghoe in 2025 grabbed their opportunities and haven't looked back.

Donoghoe won Dolphins best forward & most consistent awards and it's very clear that Woolf is a massive fan whereas Bennett wasn't as much so. The 6 major awards got shared between 3 players.

Here's a bolter no one is talking about. Scored 8 tries in 9 games for Capras, scored 6 tries in 7 games for Dolphins and ran for 247m in the last game of the season.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

I think you just don't have Kurt in your team to piss off Matt. He'll be on the bench at very least. Depends on the rest of the pack. How hard-working it is as opposed to how talented it is. If it's very talented but lacks hard workers doing a lot of hit ups and making a lot of tackles, Gilbert is probably best for starting lock. Otherwise Kurt. While Plath is a bit of both of those. Does a lot of work but also good in attack.

BHAHAHAHAHA.

This may not be popular. However, I do believe Kurt would be great value/starch coming off the bench, adding real impact midway through the first half, when our starting prop rotation goes off.

I think the game is a 17 man game now rather then 13 with subs. Playing him as the 14, is what I would do. And thats not a slight on Kurt. I just love his impact and ability to slot in where needed.

 

[257Matt]

Donoghue is a gun even though Matt exaggerates it a bit.

Fuller is actually my favourite Dolphins player and the true connection between Redcliffe Dolphins and Dolphins NRL.

 

[Blockade]

Here's a bolter no one is talking about. Scored 8 tries in 9 games for Capras, scored 6 tries in 7 games for Dolphins and ran for 247m in the last game of the season.

They have some serious talent on the wing spot and Naufahu can't be ignored. He has the potential to be anything. I've been saying for a couple months now that Isaako's spot might be in danger. Or it could be Bostock, who is not projected to be ready by Round 1. Throw Cobbo in the mix and you have some major selection headaches.

 

[257Matt]

They have some serious talent on the wing spot and Naufahu can't be ignored. He has the potential to be anything. I've been saying for a couple months now that Isaako's spot might be in danger. Or it could be Bostock, who is not projected to be ready by Round 1. Throw Cobbo in the mix and you have some major selection headaches.

Well said. I don't think Bostock will be right he done his ACL in the later part of June meaning a return not long after the competition proper has started. With a depth of talent in the backs not forgetting the likes of Fuller, Nonu & Walsh as well it's a case where the club can be that bit cautious in his return.

Naufahu was given a chance and impressed. It's probable that the likes of Fuller and Naufahu will get that first pre-season challenge trial (not Capras trial) to impress and a real lesson learned from Madge Maguire's success this season is to pick the most inform side available. I'm guessing the backline for the first official trial will be something like Fuller, Cobbo, Nonu, Feagai, Naufahu, Averillo, Schneider with Walsh at 2nd row.

 

[Equaliser]

BHAHAHAHAHA.

This may not be popular. However, I do believe Kurt would be great value/starch coming off the bench, adding real impact midway through the first half, when our starting prop rotation goes off.

I think the game is a 17 man game now rather then 13 with subs. Playing him as the 14, is what I would do. And thats not a slight on Kurt. I just love his impact and ability to slot in where needed.

I have no issue with that at all. I actually tend to agree. Though again, depends on the rest of the pack with Donoghue starts or starts on the bench. If Gilbert in is the backrow for example, I think we might need someone like Donoghue, who is better in attack, starting at lock.

 

[257Matt]

I have no issue with that at all. I actually tend to agree. Though again, depends on the rest of the pack with Donoghue starts or starts on the bench. If Gilbert in is the backrow for example, I think we might need someone like Donoghue, who is better in attack, starting at lock.

The lock position is very much evolving as well. Woolf really liked the ball playing alternative option to Katoa as well. Chad Townsend did a good breakdown of this on his podcast.

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[Josh]

Here's a bolter no one is talking about. Scored 8 tries in 9 games for Capras, scored 6 tries in 7 games for Dolphins and ran for 247m in the last game of the season.

Who? Naufahu?

 

[257Matt]

Who? Naufahu?

Yes 6 tries in 7 games 4 tries in his last 2 games likely to get first trial maybe second trial an incumbent who done no wrong.