Rip and tear Dolphins lock Tom Gilbert has made a lasting impression on current and former players in the opening six rounds of the NRL season.
"I reckon he would fight over a 10-cent piece, and he'd do it for his mates. He's one of those blokes who is the ultimate competitor," Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls said.
Tough as teak former Dolphin and Australian forward Wally Fullerton-Smith recognises elements of himself in the 22-year-old Gilbert.
"Tom does remind me a bit of myself," Fullerton-Smith told AAP.
"Everything is OK, but you cross that white line and all of a sudden you have capital M-A-D on your forehead.
"You do go mad for your teammates. Tom has done a wonderful job for the Dolphins."
Gilbert will line up against South Sydney on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium. He was one of the best in the 32-22 win over his former club North Queensland last week and has been integral in the club's surge to fourth position on the ladder.
Fullerton-Smith, known as 'Gator', played for the Redcliffe Dolphins for six seasons before joining St George in 1987.
He was highly regarded for his no-nonsense style on the park and his good nature off it. The 62-year-old has been watching Gilbert more closely than most after savouring a special moment with him before the Dolphins first game.
"The club organised a jersey presentation before the first game and I had to give Tommy Gilbert his jersey," Fullerton-Smith said.
"I said 'You'll do us proud'.
"It was a superb moment and an absolute pleasure for me. Tom's a nice young kid. He is a very calm, happy sort of guy off the field and he's shown himself to be one of our most consistent on the field."
At Dolphins training Gilbert is a voice often heard as he drives his teammates to give more.
The veteran Nicholls has been blown away by the maturity of the former Cowboy.
"You play the way you train eventually, and what you see from him on the weekend every 80 minutes is what we see every day," Nicholls said.
"I thought he was a bit older than what he was because he is very professional. He is a bit of a 'straighty 180' but he has been great.
"I've loved playing with him. I've loved training with him. He is quite inspirational really."
