Max Plath has wasted no time making his mark in 2026, returning ahead of schedule and declaring his body and confidence are exactly where they need to be.
After overcoming an ACL injury that sidelined him for much of last season, Plath made his comeback earlier than expected, ticking off a personal goal to get back on the field as quickly as possible.
“The body feels really good actually,” Plath said.
“Getting that confidence from the staff was a big thing for me. We worked really hard from the start and I’m really happy with where my body’s at.”
While physically ready, Plath admitted the mental side of returning from injury was just as challenging.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” he said.
“My first game back in the Queensland Cup was scary."
Plath made his NRL return last week in the victory over the Titans, he said he wanted to get the nerves out of the way in the first couple of tackles.
With Kurt Donoghoe nearing a return, competition for spots in the Dolphins’ spine is heating up something Plath sees as a positive for the squad.
“It’s good for all of us, it pushes us all,” he said.
“Kurt’s a great player and deserves to be back in the team.
“At the moment, I’m just happy playing a role somewhere.”
Despite his team-first mindset, Plath made it clear where he thrives.
“I prefer to start I like that first 20 minutes when it’s fast and physical. But that’s up to Woolfy.”
The Dolphins come into this weekend’s clash with the Sharks off the back of their first win of the season, but Plath knows improvement is needed.
“The Sharks are a good team they’ll put you away if you give them those opportunities,” he said.
“We had too many errors, especially in the first half.
“But in the second half we completed at about 90 per cent, and that’s what works for us.”
Plath emphasised the importance of simplifying their approach.
“It’s about playing simple footy, holding the ball and backing our defence.
“If we do that and build pressure, we’ll get results.”
With a growing forward pack and increased depth across the squad, Plath believes the competition for spots will only strengthen the team across the season.
“You never really have a fully healthy squad, so it’s good to have depth,” he said.
“There’s guys who can cover multiple positions and that’s good for everyone’s development.”
As the Dolphins prepare for a tough road test against the Sharks, Plath’s early return and growing confidence couldn’t come at a better time.
And after ticking off the hardest part, getting back on the field, he’s ready for more.
