Recruitment and retention

[257Matt]

You think Gilbert is going to play second row? That will go down even worse than Plath at second row did.

Second Row not the Dolphins strong suit and other players have overtaken him at 13

 

[yonathonjoung]

Second Row not the Dolphins strong suit and other players have overtaken him at 13

Unless this pre season changes him he looked a bit stodgy at lock when he played there 2025. Like Knowles I wonder if he could steady up and just be a tough nut in the middle at prop. In Gilbert's case he could afford to gain a bit of weight if he took this kind of transition. He doesn't lack heart or intensity to compete in the middle. Otherwise I reckon he is on the bench.

 

[257Matt]

Unless this pre season changes him he looked a bit stodgy at lock when he played there 2025. Like Knowles I wonder if he could steady up and just be a tough nut in the middle at prop. In Gilbert's case he could afford to gain a bit of weight if he took this kind of transition. He doesn't lack heart or intensity to compete in the middle. Otherwise I reckon he is on the bench.

Agree. You and me are pretty much the only ones who seem to think Donoghoe will keep the 13 next year.

 

[Red]

Ray Stone is my favourite player.

Glad you mentioned him. He is still young, much to the surprise of others.

I think his strength is he complements the modern day flashy backrower, by being a middle forward that loves the hard work that most edge forwards dont want to do.

Working hand in hand he is great.

I'm a Ray Stone fan but I don't see how he plays NRL next year with us barring an injury crisis.

 

[257Matt]

I'm a Ray Stone fan but I don't see how he plays NRL next year with us barring an injury crisis.

I thought the same for 2025 that he would be fazed out of the 17 and of course there were injuries. Ray Stone type players are priceless for a club and whilst he won't be in the team every week and will miss out some weeks he'll always be around..

 

[mr_c]

i dont think they brought knowles here as a prop, and don't think they be reverting gilbert there either , for one reason and one reason only theres few ahead of them in prop department don't even see them as injury cover props

i don't think you need worry about where knowles and gilbert playing, i can see gilbert and knowles as our locks hence why i see plath been ones left out and probbaly kurt


who in props are you leaving out if your making those two props ( yeah dont see it think you guys over thinking way to much making them props is silly )

 

[Gary]

I'm a Ray Stone fan but I don't see how he plays NRL next year with us barring an injury crisis.

If ray stone isn’t making the 17 we must be fielding a strong side, I for one see him in the 17 week in week out barring injury

 

[yonathonjoung]

i dont think they brought knowles here as a prop, and don't think they be reverting gilbert there either , for one reason and one reason only theres few ahead of them in prop department don't even see them as injury cover props

i don't think you need worry about where knowles and gilbert playing, i can see gilbert and knowles as our locks hence why i see plath been ones left out and probbaly kurt


who in props are you leaving out if your making those two props ( yeah dont see it think you guys over thinking way to much making them props is silly )

I'm on the fence about saifiti, molo is locked in starter imo, we said goodbye to Kerr and Nicholls, I'm not saying they are first pick at prop or even starters but having them up front in the middle versus dynamic lock just seems more enticing, and as I said as a transition, not an immediate start. I'd be curious to see it tried.

Hell id love to see us start Stone and Donga at prop one day for the hell of it.

 

[mr_c]

I'm on the fence about saifiti, molo is locked in starter imo, we said goodbye to Kerr and Nicholls, I'm not saying they are first pick at prop or even starters but having them up front in the middle versus dynamic lock just seems more enticing, and as I said as a transition, not an immediate start. I'd be curious to see it tried.

Hell id love to see us start Stone and Donga at prop one day for the hell of it.

your on the fence about them when they both were playing awesome , they know there roles and do it think you need stop over thinking

 

[Gary]

I'm on the fence about saifiti, molo is locked in starter imo, we said goodbye to Kerr and Nicholls, I'm not saying they are first pick at prop or even starters but having them up front in the middle versus dynamic lock just seems more enticing, and as I said as a transition, not an immediate start. I'd be curious to see it tried.

Hell id love to see us start Stone and Donga at prop one day for the hell of it.

Hopefully it will be flegler siafiti molo kaufusi prop rotation in any order

 

[Red]

If ray stone isn’t making the 17 we must be fielding a strong side, I for one see him in the 17 week in week out barring injury

I like him as a player a lot but we have so many good locks. I was surprised Plath was such a good replacement for Gilbert and then Donoghue was such a good replacement for Gilbert and Plath. Now we have Knowles as well! A crazy number of locks IMO but am interested to see what Woolf does with them all. Not saying he made a mistake with recruitment. Just that right now I can't understand it.

 

[mr_c]

I like him as a player a lot but we have so many good locks. I was surprised Plath was such a good replacement for Gilbert and then Donoghue was such a good replacement for Gilbert and Plath. Now we have Knowles as well! A crazy number of locks IMO but am interested to see what Woolf does with them all. Not saying he made a mistake with recruitment. Just that right now I can't understand it.

think we got remember some will be used in reserve grade to so i think , its great option have good strong replacements ( key to us going well last year was depth in reserves

 

[Gary]

I like him as a player a lot but we have so many good locks. I was surprised Plath was such a good replacement for Gilbert and then Donoghue was such a good replacement for Gilbert and Plath. Now we have Knowles as well! A crazy number of locks IMO but am interested to see what Woolf does with them all. Not saying he made a mistake with recruitment. Just that right now I can't understand it.

I think Knowles will defend in the middle . So might be used in backrow

 

[Gary]

I think Knowles will defend in the middle . So might be used in backrow

I also think Plath will struggle to get into a full strength side

 

[mr_c]

I also think Plath will struggle to get into a full strength side

yup especailly 10 weeks in to comp coming back 3 vacant spots in roster really interests me

 

[Red]

I also think Plath will struggle to get into a full strength side

Remember how good Plath was in 2024. Though this season he started in the backrow where the struggled and then was injured shortly after Woolf gave up on that.

 

[mr_c]

Remember how good Plath was in 2024. Though this season he started in the backrow where the struggled and then was injured shortly after Woolf gave up on that.

2024 means nothing for 2026 form , can't keeping looking in past

 

[Gary]

Remember how good Plath was in 2024. Though this season he started in the backrow where the struggled and then was injured shortly after Woolf gave up on that.

Coming off a bad injury we will be 10 rounds in before he plays a game , definitely in Q cup until round 14-16 we won’t carry Plath and Donaghue together in a full strength team

 

[mr_c]

Coming off a bad injury we will be 10 rounds in before he plays a game , definitely in Q cup until round 14-16 we won’t carry Plath and Donaghue together in a full strength team

yip our reserve grades will be strong , even the 3 we bring into the 30

 

[257Matt]

2024 means nothing for 2026 form , can't keeping looking in past

Exactly that's why the club's best forward from 2025 will be one of the first chosen for the opening round 2026 after that is up to performances & attitude like every player.