Flegler and company return from injury to give Maroons a boost
- FOGS
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
Queensland’s forward pack has received a massive early season injection with the return from injury of Dolphins duo Thomas Flegler and Tom Gilbert.
Flegler has missed the best part of the last two seasons with nerve damage to his shoulder.
He has won all three Origin games he has played, one in 2021 and both matches in 2023.
It was in 2023 that he also represented Australia and was one of Brisbane’s best in the grand final.
Flegler’s 20 minutes off the bench in the opening Pre-Season Challenge match for the Dolphins against Gold Coast showcased the power, energy and grit that he brings to the table. He also scored a try with his late feet at the line coming to the fore.
Gilbert has not been able to take a trick the last three seasons.
He was looking good for the Maroons in game one of the 2023 Origin series when a shoulder injury ruled him out of the remainder of the season. An ACL rupture wiped him out of the 2024 season and last year he was on track to be selected in game one of the Origin series before a pectoral rupture and labral tear in the shoulder again finished his year.
Gilbert has been training at back-row and as a middle this pre-season and looked strong in both Dolphins matches in the Pre-Season Challenge, as did Flegler.
Maroons captain Cameron Munster is just happy that both are back in the frame.
"We have got guys like Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) and Patty Carrigan and to have Flegler and Gilbert in the mix it is going to make me and Tommy Dearden look pretty good.
"I am pretty sure Cooper Bai is a Queenslander so we have some good middles coming through.”
Titans skipper Fa’asuamaleaui got a close hand look at Flegler in the trial against the Dolphins and liked what he saw.
"It was so good to see him back out there. He is a beast," Fa'asuamaleaui said.
"He scored a great try against us for the Dolphins and that showed what he can do close to the line.
"I have no doubt that if he works hard and does all the little things to get his shoulder right that he will be there."
Flegler said that representing the Maroons was one of the highlights of his career and that he would relish getting back in the representative arena.
"Definitely, that is where I would like to get to in the long run," he said.
"Short term it is just about building my minutes and playing some good footy for the Dolphins.
"After an injury like this you have got to do a bit of rehab throughout the rest of your career.
"It is just something that happens but as far as the injury goes we have had a really good recovery and are happy with how it all is.
"I just have to be a bit cautious around the gym and do a few extras here and there.
North Queensland forward Heilum Luki has also given a strong account of himself in the pre-season after his ACL tear led to him missing all of 2025.
The Maroons selectors showed what they think of Luki when he was was chosen on an extended bench for game two of the 2024 series. While yet to make his Maroons debut, Luki would do the job if an opportunity should arise.
Queensland won last year’s series 2-1 but did not have a full complement of players to choose from due to injuries, which is mostly the case each year in Origin footy.
The Maroons also did not have Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh available for the first two Origin games last year due to a PCL injury.
Walsh was 18th man in the decider and is another option for Queensland this year if he is fit and healthy.
The availability of all players is in flux until the eve of the team for game one being selected due to form and also the vagaries of injury which often mean the Queensland selectors are forced to draw on the depth of the entire Maroons player pool.
Due to changes in Origin eligibility rules, that pool has increased with AJ Brimson, Jason Taumalolo and Briton Nikora all now Maroons qualified players. Whether they get chosen is yet to be decided but Nikora and Brimson have both spoken of their desire to play Origin.
“I obviously love Queensland and want to play again if chosen,” Brimson said.
Nikora, a hole running back-rower of quality for the Kiwis and Cronulla, grew up on the Gold Coast and said recently he would relish the opportunity to debut for the Maroons.
“Of course I want to put my hand up for Origin. That’s the biggest thing in this sport,” he said.
In Brimson’s case he has already played for the Maroons but when he made himself available for England and played three Tests he was no longer qualified.
That has now changed with tier one internationals from England and New Zealand now available to play Origin so long as they fulfill the eligibility requirements.
