He was one of the Dolphins’ standout players in 2024, but Max Plath says he has realistic expectations after playing just eight NRL matches in 2025 following season-ending ACL surgery.
Speaking to the media from Dolphins pre-season training, Plath said his current rehab had been a long process but that he had taken confidence from having been through a similar recovery process five years ago.
“I’ve done it before, I know what it’s like and I know it’s going to be fine,” he explained.
“It has been a long six months, but it’s coming along really strong now—it’s at the point where they’re actually holding me back a little bit.”
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Asked if a Round 1 return to the NRL was possible, the 24-year-old utility forward smiled.
“I think it is!” He laughed.
“But they’ve told me it won’t be, Round 3 or 4 is when the nine months ticks over (from the surgery).”
Whenever he gets the green light for a return to action, Plath accepts it will most likely be with Redcliffe in Q Cup where he will then try to force his way back into the NRL line-up.
What position he’ll ultimately play for head coach Kristian Woolf in 2026 remains unclear, particularly given the emergence of fellow 24-year-old Kurt Donoghoe who excelled for the Dolphins in Plath’s absence last season.
“Kurt is a sensational player and I’ve always said I’d rather be the worst player in a winning team than the best player in a losing team,” Plath said.
“Winning is everything for me, and if that’s Kurt’s position, I can work out another way to help the team win.
“I’m very much a realist, we have some really good forwards and no-one has rights to any jersey, so that’s going to be a big motivation for me.”
With fellow forwards Tom Gilbert and Thomas Flegler also set for long-term injury returns, it could be very different pack for the Dolphins in 2026.
England second rower Morgan Knowles, 29, has also linked with the club after a decade with St Helens in Super League.