Former Maroons Origin forward Tom Flegler has been battling a serious shoulder injury for almost two years now with talk his career may tragically be cut short.
Flegler suffered nerve damage to his left shoulder in Round 5 of the 2024 season, a setback so serious it forced him into nerve-transfer surgery.
In a huge boost for the Dolphins though, Flegler is targeting a return in Round 1 of the 2026 NRL season after completing his first contact training session during his recovery from his major shoulder injury.
His progress has been slow but steady, and he recently rejoined squad training as he ticks through key milestones in his rehabilitation.
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“It’s been a while, so it’s good to go and get back into the groove of things and make a tackle again,” Flegler said, reflecting on a recent contact session.
“Since I’ve had the surgery, we’ve ticked every box so far … things are coming along really well,” Flegler confirmed.
The middle forwards return would be a major boost for the Dolphins, who have been without one of their most physically dominant forwards for nearly two years after he was injured just 4 games into his Dolphins career.
Coach Kristian Woolf and the club’s medical staff have expressed cautious optimism, noting that while the road back is long, Flegler’s work ethic and attitude have been exemplary.
His recovery journey hasn’t been easy — he described the nerve damage as “very slow” to heal, but emphasized the importance of perseverance and medical support.
At just 26 years of age, Flegler still has his best years ahead of him including a potential return to the State of Origin arena,
If he can make it back by Round 1, Flegler’s presence could dramatically improve the Dolphins’ middle rotation and give them a powerful launchpad as they push for a return to finals football in 2026.