Dolphins enforcer Tom Gilbert has declared he is ready to answer a State of Origin SOS, having cast aside the injury woes that curtailed his meteoric rise.
Gilbert has not been sighted in the Queensland Maroons jumper since 2023’s series launch, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
The star forward then ruptured his ACL in his club’s last preseason trial in 2024, extending his NRL hiatus to roughly 18 months.
Tom Gilbert believes he is ready for a State of Origin return.Credit: NRL Photos
Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, Gilbert admits it had taken him time to rediscover the standard he set that parachuted him into rugby league’s most intense arena.
“It definitely takes time, you’ve got to look at where I was in my career too at that time – I was building into it and had a lot of growth, and was still growing into the player I wanted to be,” Gilbert said.
“That halted for a while, so I had to get back on that and that was going to take time. It took me a few weeks, even dealing with the collisions and turnarounds … was definitely difficult.”
But, after averaging more than 40 tackles a game in stints between lock and the back row, the 24-year-old responded emphatically when asked if he felt at the level required to make an impact in the Origin furnace.
“One hundred per cent, definitely. It’s my ambition to play for Queensland and win a series with them as a player,” Gilbert declared.
“I’ve definitely found my feet now, and I’m definitely comfortable in playing my role. I’ve got no doubt I’ll get back to my best footy soon, and I’ll get back to being better than that.”
In last year’s series, the Maroons lacked the same aggression and physicality of their Blues’ counterparts, with coach Billy Slater instead relying on mobility and spirit up front to stay alive in the Suncorp Stadium decider.
Gilbert was joined by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (ACL) and Tom Flegler (shoulder) in the casualty ward, while Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh struggled with injuries, suspension and form before resurrecting his career in 2025. Only Flegler will not be in contention, as he remains sidelined.
But after New South Wales physically outgunned their rivals for post-contact metres (1810 to 1449), tackle busts (143 to 108), tackle efficiency (87.95 per cent to 84.13 per cent) and offloads (48 to 18) last year, should a fledgling Dolphins prospect be launched into contention?
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki admits he is not expecting a shock call-up into the Maroons fold, revealing he had not heard from Slater.
However, having idolised Greg Inglis for the way he imposed himself on the contest, the 21-year-old is eager to prove he has the aggression to make an impression in the interstate cauldron.
“That’s a goal, but right now, I just want to focus and play my best footy for the boys and the Dolphins,” Finefeuiaki said.
“I came here to do a job and get a starting spot, and now that Woolfy is putting me there I have to keep improving and getting better at my game.
“Woolfy [coach Kristian Woolf] said a big part of my game is bringing aggression both sides of the ball – I just want to do that for the boys. To play Origin would be a dream come true, but we’ll have to wait for that one.”
