The Dolphins’ finals hopes have copped a brutal hit, with Max Plath, Daniel Saifiti and Tom Gilbert all set to miss the remainder of the 2024 NRL season due to injury.
Plath’s suspected ACL tear, sustained during the club’s emphatic win over the Dragons on Friday, is the latest and most concerning blow.
While the club has only confirmed a “serious knee injury”, the young lock has already been referred to a surgeon, and is now in doubt for the start of the 2025 campaign.
Depth tested as injuries mount
The news is compounded by confirmation that Saifiti, who joined the club from Newcastle this year, will undergo shoulder surgery this week after failing to recover from an injury sustained in Round 8. His strong start to life in Redcliffe has now been cut short.
Meanwhile, Gilbert’s own season is over after surgery on a torn pectoral muscle revealed additional damage to his labrum. He had initially targeted a late-season return in Round 24.
With Thomas Flegler still sidelined indefinitely due to nerve damage, coach Kristian Woolf’s middle rotation is wearing thin.
Francis Molo is expected to retain a starting role up front, alongside Felise Kaufusi, with Ray Stone to feature heavily at lock. Josh Kerr, Mark Nicholls, Connelly Lemuelu and Kenneath Bromwich are also likely to see increased minutes.
The Dolphins face a stern test against the Cowboys in Townsville next weekend before flying west to host the Knights in Perth in Round 16.