Tom Gilbert: ‘I need to work hard’

The Dolphins' Tom Gilbert is hoping for a round one return to the field, when his side takes on South Sydney and former coach Wayne Bennett, but knows he’ll need to work hard to make it happen.

While the club’s first game for the 2025 NRL season is a goal for Gilbert, he and the club won’t be risking further injury by rushing his return.

The 23-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in his right knee during a trial game against the Warriors in Auckland in February, and then experienced a blood clot after the flight home which delayed his surgery until May 14.

The 2024 season injury followed a serious shoulder injury during the State of Origin opener in 2023, which resulted in a reconstruction and lengthy rehabilitation.

He completed his first official preseason skills session this morning and could be heard calling out instructions to other players during the session and seen smiling, clearly enjoying being back on the training field.

“It’s a nice feeling. Feels like a bit of a long time coming. It’s nice to be with the boys and mixing it again with the team. I’m doing what I love the most,” Gilbert says.

“It (my playing return) will be close to round one. It will be nine and a half months then (since surgery). It depends on how I’m tracking and the confidence.

“I’m pretty lucky with the team we have … I have full confidence that when the time’s right, the time will be right. It’s a good benchmark to look towards round one or the early couple of rounds at least.”

Gilbert is not expecting to be at the same level he was, before his injury, and knows there is no easing back into the NRL competition. He will need to make sure he is ready when he plays his first game.

“If I’m getting picked to play for the Dolphins in first grade … I won’t be going out there to go through the motions and take up a jersey. I’m always there to add something.

“If I’m getting picked, whenever that be, I will be expected to hold standard and play to a certain level.”

So, does he think he will retain the No.13 jersey or will he struggle with Max Plath playing so well.

“Woolfie’s sat down with me and we’ve come up with a little plan about all those kinds of things. I’m just really looking forward to playing first grade,” Gilbert says.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with Max. I haven’t played any footy with him … the year he came off last year and the type of person he is … I can’t wait to play with him because I think he’s going to make me a better player. I’m really excited for that opportunity.”

Gilbert won’t be drawn on where he might play, saying his focus was on getting day-to-day training right and playing at a level required in the NRL.

“I know, for a fact, I’m not going to walk back into any jersey or this side. I need to work hard, I need to get my football back to a level that’s Dolphins-standard … all those things will come,” he says.

Battle is brewing

The Dolphins’ round one clash with Souths will generate plenty of interest from fans and commentators as it draws closer, and Gilbert says it is a game he and his teammates will also be looking forward to.

“It’s good we get them out of the way early. I know Wayne will be excited to be back up here at Suncorp … I know he loves it. They’re going to be an exciting club next year, Souths,” he says.

“I think that will be a real good benchmark to start the season off. No doubt Wayne will have a quality side firing. It’s really good for us. It’s something I am excited for but … I can’t look too far forward down the track.”

Gilbert says he will be following a preseason training program which will be tailored to his recovery, while regaining skills, fitness and strength.

“The biggest thing for me is to get my fitness back, be running really well. That’s the priority, strength as well … that’s really important … get those things right and come January and February, I’ll be looking to be back with the team as much as I can and doing full training,” he says.

“Everything’s on track, it’s going really well but I need to get today and tomorrow right and keep training hard.

“It’s never been lost on me how grateful I am to be an NRL player and to be at the Dolphins. It’s something I don’t take lightly. To be back out there and feeling quite normal, it’s a privilege and something I’m not taking for granted that’s for sure.”

Captain material?

Gilbert’s leadership qualities are evident on and off the field but stepping into the captain’s position vacated, when Jesse Bromwich retired, is not a priority.

“It’s not something I think you can focus on. I think all those leadership things need to come naturally … as organic as they can … part of that is being yourself,” he says.

“For me to be in any type of role like that, I need to be Tom Gilbert and the best footy player I can be. A big step in that direction is getting myself right and putting my best foot forward and training really hard. That’s my plan at the moment.”

He’ll be taking inspiration from fellow NRL players who have come back stronger from significant injury such as James Tedesco, Pat Carrigan, Ruben Cotter, Ray Stone and Max Plath.

“My good mate Ruben Cotter, missed three years of footy. I’ve drawn a lot of strength and advice from him. He’s been really good for me,” Gilbert says.

Cotter was one of the first people he called when he was injured.

“There’s no reason why I can’t do it and I’m really looking forward to that challenge and opportunity to get back and play the footy I know I can play,” Gilbert says.