The Dolphins are preparing to be without Queensland prop Thomas Flegler for the rest of the year, but there are positive developments around his shoulder.
There was confusion around Flegler's return date due to the NRL casualty ward, up until Thursday morning at least, listing his return as round 14.
The 25-year-old Queensland enforcer has not played since round five last year, when he sustained nerve damage to his left shoulder.
Flegler was forced to have nerve transfer surgery and the progress, while incremental, has been positive.
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has cleared up the casualty-ward matter and confirmed Flegler's likely unavailability for this season.
"The NRL casualty ward are wrong there. He won't be back in round 14," Woolf said.
"We have had positive news with him. There are steps along the way. The first round of testing showed the graft he has had done with the nerve has been positive, and there has been some change in the muscle.
"That is all we can hope for at this stage. It is still a long process. We don't believe he will play this year. We are very hopeful that keeps progressing at a good rate so that he will be available in 2026."
The Dolphins signed Flegler to a lucrative four-year deal starting in 2024, but will keep the faith with the feisty front-rower.
"We have been (patient) and he deserves that. He is a great player," Woolf said.
"He is also a great person and we enjoy him around the club and his influence. He has handled a really tough position really well.
"Most injuries you know if you go through a procedure and do your rehab and everything goes well you will be back at a certain date. He has never had that.
"He has had a grey ending since the injury started. If you remember back we thought it was going to be a week (out) and it's still going. That is really difficult to deal with and he has handled that extremely well."
While he has not made a contribution physically on the field, he has been a source of great inspiration and encouragement off it.
"I can't praise him enough for how he has carried himself around the group and helped younger players be better as well," Woolf said.
The Dolphins have a contingency for Flegler in the depth department, signing former Knights prop Sebastian Su'a and ex-St George Illawarra front-rower Frank Molo for this year.
Su'a is rehabbing a knee injury and won't be available for a month, but Molo has impressed for the CQ Capras in the Queensland Cup.
"Frank is going to be 18th or 19th man this week and in and around the team," Woolf said.
"We see him getting himself into a physical position where he is getting closer and closer to playing."
