NRL 2025: Tom Gilbert ruled out of Origin but could make Dolphins return
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Luckless Dolphins skipper Tom Gilbert is set to miss 12 weeks with a ruptured pectoral muscle, but the club hasn't given up hope of him returning at the back end of the season when they could still be in the finals hunt.
Gilbert will have surgery on Wednesday after injuring the muscle while trying to tackle Warriors forward Marata Niukore, who broke through to score a try on Saturday afternoon.
The injury has ruled Gilbert out of the entire State of Origin series and is the latest setback for the enforcer who missed a large chunk of 2023 with a shoulder injury and then missed the entire 2024 campaign after he ruptured his ACL in the trials.
While the injury is a huge blow for the club, Gilbert could return against the Broncos in round 24 and be available for their final four matches.
'These type of rehabilitations always have some variables, but if Tom was able to come back somewhere around that 12-week timeframe, he would certainly be in line to play some games at the back end of the season,' Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said.
'In previous seasons he has shown how diligent he is with his rehabilitation and that will also be a factor.'
Originally published as Silver lining: Tom Gilbert to miss entire State of Origin period, but luckless star could return for the Dolphins later this year
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