Injuries play a part in squads never once have Dolphins had a full 1-17 on the field what is good is that Averillo, Donoghoe and Plath all cover more than one position and one role within a side. Those 3 players are totally priceless to a club and all certain to be in any future best available Dolphins team unless injured or suspended.Plath has been injured for a lot of the year and was an edge backrower for the early part which was a big mistake by Woolf in hindsight. You are forgetting how good he was last year or this year when he was moved back to lock. Donoghue will be a utility coming on to give Plath a break and probably staying on to give JMK a break.
Would I ever start Plath on the edge? Never. Could Plath move there in a game if an injury or HIA happens? Yes at a pinch in a game.
What's been most impressive about Dolphins this year after the emergence of Katoa has been seeing Naufahu & Tawha debut a good tick for the pathways is working, players like Walsh, Rasmussen & Nonu on Top 30 for next year another tick for the confidence in the pathways & players like Donoghoe & Keeley taking the next step considerable time in the affiliate sides & also NSW Cup for Keeley and NRLQ a big tick for Dolphins.
When a club brings through or upgrades players from the pathways or the systems within with confidence it shows the club is working well. This has been one of the catalysts for Penrith's success since Gould set it all up and also a driving success for the Storm after they initially started the Norths Devils partnership long-time back.
Back to tonight I don't expect any late 1-17 changes unless something drastic happens. Woolf said in his presser yesterday that Nikorima came through the captains run.