Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls is the oldest forward in the NRL but right now he has no intention of hanging up his boots at the end of the year.
The 35-year-old, known universally as 'Goat', was 29 when he played his first full season of NRL at South Sydney in 2019. He's been a regular performer ever since but is off-contract at the end of the year.
"The club and myself have been pretty open and honest in pre-season about seeing how the year plays out. Half-way through the year we will have a chat," Nicholls said.
"Obviously at my age a serious injury (can occur) or even just the body can go. At the moment I am still enjoying coming to training and competing.
"Playing footy is the fun part. A lot of people say they knew it was time (to retire) and they get sick of training, but I am not at that point yet.
"If the club feels there are some young players coming through that are ready to step up then I am pretty content with how my career has gone. By the same token I am still enjoying what I do and love competing. I guess I'd be silly to walk away from that."
Nicholls and his wife are from regional areas and enjoy the quietude of life in Redcliffe where they are building a new home and bringing up two young daughters.
"We don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon," the 177-game veteran said.
The Dolphins host Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night fresh from two wins on the trot, including last week's 30-12 win over four-time defending premiers Penrith.
In that match star hooker Jeremy Marshall-King sustained a nasty leg gash which has prevented him from training this week. He has been named in the side but will be given until captain's run on Thursday to prove his fitness.
Lock Max Plath or utility Kurt Donoghoe will play hooker if he is out.
Meanwhile, former Newcastle prop Sebastian Su'a officially signed on Monday for this season after he had already been secured for 2026 and 2027.
Su'a will spend the next month rehabbing a knee injury and is not expected to be available to play until later in May.
Nicholls will line up against his former club on Friday night. He said the Storm were a "step up" on teams they had faced this year but the Dolphins forwards have started to fire after a slow beginning to the year.
"We were slow out of the blocks but as a team and a pack we felt we were taking the right steps without getting the results," he said.
"Against the Storm we will have to take another couple of steps as well.
"There were a lot of individuals, myself included, who were disappointed with how we started the year but most of the boys have improved every week."
