Built on belief. Driven by leadership. The Dolphins have locked in their captains for 2026 with eyes firmly set on the season ahead.
Head Coach Kristian Woolf made it clear: this is a squad with expectation and the leadership team is determined to deliver on it.
“We want to be playing finals at the end of this year,” Woolf said.
Tom Gilbert and Isaiya Katoa will lead the Dolphins in 2026, setting the tone, raising the standard and steering the club toward its finals ambitions.
Gilbert: Leading from the Front
Gilbert will continue in the captaincy role he has held over the past 12 months a position Woolf believes he embodies through action rather than words.
“Your team is a reflection of your leaders,”
Woolf said.
Despite a frustrating run with injuries in recent seasons, Gilbert spoke with renewed energy and perspective.
“I’m just going to leave it all out there and see what happens,” he said.
Having worked tirelessly to return to full fitness, Gilbert shapes as a crucial figure in the Dolphins’ forward pack alongside the returning Thomas Flegler and new recruit Morgan Knowles.
As Gilbert put it: if the Dolphins want to be one of the best forward packs in the competition, they must welcome the challenge.
Katoa’s Rise Continues
At just 22 years old, Katoa will co-captain the Dolphins.
Woolf described the young halfback’s growth over the past 12 months as obvious and undeniable, not just in performance, but in presence.
For Katoa, leadership is about action.
“I knew my role as the halfback was to lead these boys around”
“The best way to lead is through your actions.”
Entering his fourth NRL season, Katoa is determined to evolve his game further, while continuing to guide the team with confidence and composure.
“2026 is going to be really special,” Katoa said.
