Recruitment and retention

[Gary]

Gary: Plath and Donoghoe are wonderful assets to the Dolphins team and both got their chances when someone was out injured and have secured their top 17 spots and both will be there whenever fit & available. Both provide different skill sets and so much flexibility within a squad.

Chris: I totally agree with you on Cobbo and Gilbert. A lot of pressure on Gilbert next year he's barely played since 2023 and a lot has changed in that time such as Plath's 2024 season, Donoghoe's 2025 season and Dolphins had their best season in 2025. The lock position is forever evolving as well and Donoghoe is adapting so well with Katoa and this is firmly Katoa's team. Plath is so flexible in that he covers lock, edge and dummy half and Donga covers lock, 5/8 and the entire backline so crucial in the HIA era now. Donga went to lock and took his game to another level I didn't think he would evolve into a starting player until next year it's happened 12 months quicker.

Not disagreeing with you on there value to the team , both have values but I see Plath being on the outer with the quality we have coming in , agree with Donaghue that’s why I think he will be a utility

 

[mr_c]

Kurt was there for injures thats why no way if ww got fully fit pack does he start leaving big paid players outta the team nrl will ask questions no club wants pay two years out for Gilbert to leave they are too early in the formation of club to see him leave just because they fan favorites dont mean they start lol. Good luck to yah if you think. Gilbert. Gets the chop

 

[257Matt]

Not disagreeing with you on there value to the team , both have values but I see Plath being on the outer with the quality we have coming in , agree with Donaghue that’s why I think he will be a utility

Thanks G Gary hope you been well.

It's so valuable now to have a player who can cover so many different positions and roles within the 17. The game has changed to a much faster pace with 6 agains and the "independent doctor" on HIA's means clubs just can't say an outside back is okay. Clubs like Dragons yet to wake up to this and each time a back goes down they get murdered out wide having a specialist forward there. Plath is the second best 9 at Dolphins and covers lock and edge forward he's very good value. How he comes back from the ACL will be crucial. He's likely to be back before Bostock but not sure in time for Round 1 this is what Woolf said a few weeks ago.

Plath got a chance in 2024 due to some backrow injuries and sealed a spot and same with Donoghoe last year was given a chance to be more than just a bench utility player and his time at lock coincided with Katoa playing off the charts.

I'm a massive fan of Plath he adds a lot to the Dolphins as does Donoghoe and Averillo all of them so flexible and versatile within a team. I always felt Averillo was very poorly treated at Bulldogs most of our fans hated him and JMK I was one of the few who liked them both.

 

[Chris]

Gary: Plath and Donoghoe are wonderful assets to the Dolphins team and both got their chances when someone was out injured and have secured their top 17 spots and both will be there whenever fit & available. Both provide different skill sets and so much flexibility within a squad.

Chris: I totally agree with you on Cobbo and Gilbert. A lot of pressure on Gilbert next year he's barely played since 2023 and a lot has changed in that time such as Plath's 2024 season, Donoghoe's 2025 season and Dolphins had their best season in 2025. The lock position is forever evolving as well and Donoghoe is adapting so well with Katoa and this is firmly Katoa's team. Plath is so flexible in that he covers lock, edge and dummy half and Donga covers lock, 5/8 and the entire backline so crucial in the HIA era now. Donga went to lock and took his game to another level I didn't think he would evolve into a starting player until next year it's happened 12 months quicker.

Well said. Gilbert was a gun but a lot has changed since he played a significant chunk of games. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and I hope he does but right now, I can't find a place for him in a Dolphins team with Flegler, Saifiti, Molo, Plath, Donoghue in the team. At least it'll have to be a shootout between him and Knowles. How can we fit both of them, Donoghue, Plath into the 17. Still have Ray Stone as well.

 

[mr_c]

Guess it will all come down to who. Picks captain role up

 

[Gary]

Well said. Gilbert was a gun but a lot has changed since he played a significant chunk of games. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and I hope he does but right now, I can't find a place for him in a Dolphins team with Flegler, Saifiti, Molo, Plath, Donoghue in the team. At least it'll have to be a shootout between him and Knowles. How can we fit both of them, Donoghue, Plath into the 17. Still have Ray Stone as well.

Whatever happens we will have some pack

 

[Gary]

Thanks G Gary hope you been well.

It's so valuable now to have a player who can cover so many different positions and roles within the 17. The game has changed to a much faster pace with 6 agains and the "independent doctor" on HIA's means clubs just can't say an outside back is okay. Clubs like Dragons yet to wake up to this and each time a back goes down they get murdered out wide having a specialist forward there. Plath is the second best 9 at Dolphins and covers lock and edge forward he's very good value. How he comes back from the ACL will be crucial. He's likely to be back before Bostock but not sure in time for Round 1 this is what Woolf said a few weeks ago.

Plath got a chance in 2024 due to some backrow injuries and sealed a spot and same with Donoghoe last year was given a chance to be more than just a bench utility player and his time at lock coincided with Katoa playing off the charts.

I'm a massive fan of Plath he adds a lot to the Dolphins as does Donoghoe and Averillo all of them so flexible and versatile within a team. I always felt Averillo was very poorly treated at Bulldogs most of our fans hated him and JMK I was one of the few who liked them both.

Really rate Averillo, him and Herbie in centres cobbo on one wing issako on the other. I see your fella playing off the bench, I don’t see a spot for Plath I like the lad but I think he’s going to struggle to get in lemuellu and stone will be in the 17 along with molo flegler kaufusi and Gilbert , Knowles.

 

[257Matt]

Whatever happens we will have some pack

My concern is a few injuries in the front row especially and it's worse than square one before. The depth is very crazy in the backs, lock and edge forwards even dummy half has 4-5 players now the only positions of concern with injuries are halfback as Katoa is now irreplaceable and prop forward the first 4 are immense if any miss time as Flegler, Saifiti and Kaufusi missed 8-24 games this year want depth to cover. Rasmussen and Symonds are still a year away from NRL their development whilst good hasn't been at the pace of Naufahu, Walsh and Nonu.

 

[257Matt]

Really rate Averillo, him and Herbie in centres cobbo on one wing issako on the other. I see your fella playing off the bench, I don’t see a spot for Plath I like the lad but I think he’s going to struggle to get in lemuellu and stone will be in the 17 along with molo flegler kaufusi and Gilbert , Knowles.

My favourite player at Dolphins is actually Trai Fuller and supported him ever since he came to Redcliffe Dolphins in 2018. I would have Trai at fullback and Hammer in another position. The way Trai played in 3 of the last 4 games was immense and he's way too good for QCup.

I still wait for the day Averillo goes to 6 and kills it he played there right until his NRL debut through the Bulldogs junior rep sides and was a standout. His goal kicking success rate in NRL is at 80% hasn't kicked since Matt Burton came to the club just a handful of goals in his 2 NSW Cup games in 2022. He's just turned 25 and hitting the prime points of his career and is now a settled NRL player something he wasn't early on.

 

[Gary]

My concern is a few injuries in the front row especially and it's worse than square one before. The depth is very crazy in the backs, lock and edge forwards even dummy half has 4-5 players now the only positions of concern with injuries are halfback as Katoa is now irreplaceable and prop forward the first 4 are immense if any miss time as Flegler, Saifiti and Kaufusi missed 8-24 games this year want depth to cover. Rasmussen and Symonds are still a year away from NRL their development whilst good hasn't been at the pace of Naufahu, Walsh and Nonu.

We would surely be due some kind of luck on the injury front.

 

[257Matt]

Well said. Gilbert was a gun but a lot has changed since he played a significant chunk of games. Maybe he'll prove me wrong and I hope he does but right now, I can't find a place for him in a Dolphins team with Flegler, Saifiti, Molo, Plath, Donoghue in the team. At least it'll have to be a shootout between him and Knowles. How can we fit both of them, Donoghue, Plath into the 17. Still have Ray Stone as well.

We all hope Gilbert can capture that early 2023 form a lot has happened since that time especially the emergence of other players and before his injury last year he was struggling.

It looks like Plath and Bostock won't be right for Round 1 and touch wood those like Katoa, Kaufusi, Kuli, Donga, Herbie, Isaako, JMK, Knowles and possibly Lemuelu all can get through the International tournaments unscathed. It'll be great for Katoa's continued development as last years tournament proved to be and the Ashes will be Australia vs Herbie.

 

[257Matt]

We would surely be due some kind of luck on the injury front.

Totally but in sport you also make your own luck the absolute irreplaceable players are Katoa, Herbie and the props.

 

[mr_c]

Totally but in sport you also make your own luck the absolute irreplaceable players are Katoa, Herbie and the props.

i think the two kids we got from dogs will be the future , of the phins talked to both last week man there footy heads on them has me licking my lips , and they tell me we maybe looking at another junior dog but my lips are sealed ( and i think thats half reason why george is here as they wanted someone that be in the coaching team for halfs

 

[Gary]

Totally but in sport you also make your own luck the absolute irreplaceable players are Katoa, Herbie and the props.

We have been dealt a harsh hand with injuries,

 

[mr_c]

in a way that is good, as it shows that our reserve players are up to task

 

[Dolph]

Really rate Averillo, him and Herbie in centres cobbo on one wing issako on the other. I see your fella playing off the bench, I don’t see a spot for Plath I like the lad but I think he’s going to struggle to get in lemuellu and stone will be in the 17 along with molo flegler kaufusi and Gilbert , Knowles.

Not only forwards but some serious depth in the backs as well.
How do we fit

• Bostock
• Isaako
• Cobbo
• Herbie
• Hammer
• Averillo
• Naufahu
• Nonu (who might in a short time become the best of the lot)
• Fuller

all vying for 5 spots.

 

[mr_c]

Cobbo be on wing till bostock comes plus if we take on the albert plus we got Brian Pouniu ,tyrecee tait coming through

 

[Red]

Cobbo be on wing till bostock comes plus if we take on the albert plus we got Brian Pouniu ,tyrecee tait coming through

Bostock won't be back for round 1?

 

[mr_c]

Bostock won't be back for round 1?

he maybe will depends on recovery , as would only have two maybe 3 preseason gamres also be interesting now we have two spots free with walsh gone as i think if back, they use selwn in centres n jake of bench and probbally the reason why we chasing albert

 

[Red]

he maybe will depends on recovery , as would only have two maybe 3 preseason gamres also be interesting now we have two spots free with walsh gone as i think if back, they use selwn in centres n jake of bench and probbally the reason why we chasing albert

No one is going to have more than 2 or 3 pre-season games because there are only 2 or 3 pre-season games. To be precise, there are 3. 1 which is basically a warm up for the B team against Broncos or Gold Coast B team and 2 pre-season challenge games.