Flegler’s 677-day wait to end: “I just want to play footy”

After 677 days on the sideline, Thomas Flegler is cleared to finally run out in Dolphins colours next Thursday night, and he admits the moment can’t come soon enough.

The powerhouse forward has been cleared to play when the Dolphins face the Titans at Kayo Stadium, marking the end of a marathon recovery from a serious shoulder injury and nerve transplant.

For Flegler, it is more than just a trial game; it's a long-awaited return to doing what he loves.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

Flegler said.

“It’ll be a sense of relief that the pre-season is finished. I’m sick of training, I just want to go and play finally,” Flegler said.

The journey back has tested every part of the 26-year-old. After undergoing complex surgery, there were no guarantees that he would return to the NRL at all. Doubt hovered, headlines speculated, but Flegler never let go of the belief he’d be back.

“There was doubt in terms of how successful the surgery was going to be, but I was very hopeful the whole time,” he said.

Luckily, it went pretty well. I’ve had a reasonably good recovery and since Christmas I’ve been in training at 100 per cent. The last box to tick is just to play a game of footy.”

That moment now arrives next Thursday.

Since the December break, Flegler has completed full contact sessions with no restrictions, building towards the night that Dolphins fans have waited almost two years to see.

He was quick to credit the club’s medical staff for guiding him through the darkest periods of rehab.

“The medical staff at the Dolphins were unreal through the whole process.

“We stayed pretty optimistic through it all and it’s turned out really well,” he said.

With Flegler and fellow forwards Tom Gilbert both returning, excitement is building around what the Dolphins pack can produce in 2026.

“We look good on paper and we’ve been training well."

“But you’ve got to get out there and play some games. That’s what we need to do now, just play some footy,” Flegler said.

For Dolphins members and fans, Thursday night shapes as one of the most anticipated trial games in club history, the first chance to see Flegler back where he belongs.

677 days later, the wait is over.

Flegler is expected to play; we expect you to be there to watch it happen.