After watching on wounded as the Queensland Maroons were ambushed by their resurgent rivals south of the border, Tom Gilbert has declared his intention to reclaim his place on rugby league’s greatest stage.
The Dolphins star saw his state’s trademark grittiness on display as he recovered from a ruptured ACL, but was left salivating at the thought of rejoining the fray and injecting the aggression missed against a Payne Haas and Angus Crichton-inspired Blues pack.
The 24-year-old, who finished Wednesday’s Twin Waters training session early after rolling his left ankle, said visions of a Queensland comeback were a compelling motivator to reach full fitness.
Set to return for the Dolphins, Tom Gilbert is also keen to reclaim his Maroons jumper. Credit: Getty
But he denied suggestions the Maroons’ forwards lacked his presence – as well as other injured stars – in the series defeat, as coach Billy Slater sought to match the New South Wales players’ size with a more mobile engineroom.
“It’s different when you’re playing, and different when you’re in the preparation. It was hard to watch on the sidelines, you want to be out there, and you want to be playing in those teams and environments,” Gilbert said.
“That’s the pinnacle of rugby league. I didn’t get that opportunity, and it’s something that motivates me to get back and be a better player and among those conversations to one day get another chance to wear the Maroons’ jersey.
“I thought the pack they had was awesome, and I still think they could get the job done today. There are a lot of different factors that go into a three-game series … but I have no doubt that pack could get the job done on any given day.”
While the Maroons are expected to be without Gilbert’s Dolphins teammate Thomas Flegler, with the nature of the nerve damage in his shoulder still a mystery, they will be boosted by the return of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
“I’m very hungry … but I’ve got to earn it back. We’ll worry about it when we get there, I’ve just got to take it week by week and get my knee right.”
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
But Slater may need to look further than his wounded returnees to get back in the winner’s circle.
Veterans Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Capewell will be under pressure to retain their spots, while Cowboys livewire Jeremiah Nanai failed to replicate his clubland impact for the Maroons.
That could open the door for Dolphins recruit Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to press his credentials, having left North Queensland in pursuit of starting opportunities.
The 21-year-old wrecking ball, who featured in Tonga’s Pacific Championships squad, was stuck behind Nanai and Heilum Luki – who will not play in 2025 with his own ACL injury – in the Cowboys’ back row.
But he believed he had the capacity to inscribe his name in the Origin conversation under Kaufusi’s guidance, as he sought to lock down a place on the right edge.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki in action for the North Queensland Cowboys.Credit: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos
“It will be very hard, there’s a lot of back-rowers there – Connelly Lemuelu, Oryn Keeley – so I’ve just got to train hard and learn off Kaufusi,” Finefeuiaki said.
“Now he’s playing more in the middle, I’ve just got to learn off him and just get feedback off the halves. I saw Felise play at Melbourne when I was 12 or 13, so to train alongside him, and hopefully play alongside him, is really truly special.
“The main factor [for moving to the Dolphins] was to try and elevate my game, try and get more minutes under my belt, and learn the more I can as time goes on.”
