Gilbert makes Dolphins position shift, Plath locked in

Max Plath stays in the lock position, where he played so well last week in the 36-10 win over Gold Coast and also for a large chunk of 2024 when he was club player of the year. 

Gilbert started the season at No.13, where he played for the Dolphins in their inaugural campaign in 2023.

He did play all of 2022 at North Queensland as a back-rower, and also his second State of Origin match in 2023 in the position before getting injured. 

It is a tribute to Plath's quality that coach Kristian Woolf is willing to accommodate him in his best position and move his captain, but that was the intention all along after Gilbert missed one and a half years with injuries. 

"That was always our plan. I have never seen Max Plath as an edge back-rower," Woolf said.

"Tom Gilbert is coming back from the best part of two years not playing or training so the best passage for him (back into the NRL) was a simple role in the middle.

"As he got more confidence in his own movement and playing we have moved him to the edge. I think our best team has Max Plath in the middle."

Plath has proven to be a valuable utility and played hooker last year with panache.

His stint in the back row was also brought on by circumstances.

"We had a lot of disruptions to our back-rowers in the pre-season," Woolf said.

"Connelly Lemuelu missed the majority of the pre-season including trials. Oryn Keeley broke his foot and his game (in round two) against Newcastle was his first full stop this year.

"Kulikefu (Finefeuiaki) had some health issues at the end of the pre-season as well. We just had so much disruption that we knew we had a back-rower who could go out and play 80 minutes and do a really good job and that is what Max Plath was."

Gilbert wore the 13 against Brisbane a fortnight ago but played that night as a back-rower with Plath in the middle. Now the numbers on their backs will reflect that reality.

The skipper's return is a boost all-round.

"It adds leadership and work ethic. He's the ultimate competitor and leads from the front in all areas," Woolf said.

"He is as honest as you can be, not with just what you see on the ball but what you see around the club."