Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe is set to miss at least two games following surgery on his thumb, which was fractured in the club's cross-town rival win against the Broncos.
Donoghoe and the club will be hoping he returns for the Round 26 clash against the Sydney Roosters, as the club has confirmed his two-week omission on Tuesday.
The Roosters clash is set to be a blockbuster fixture that will no doubt shape the NRL's top four come the first week of the finals.
The Fijian international will miss the club's trip to the Northern Beaches when the Dolphins face Manly this Friday before hosting the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp next week.
“Kurt had the thumb repaired on the weekend and will definitely miss upcoming games against the Sea Eagles and Eels,” said Dolphins' Head of Performance Jeremy Hickmans in a club statement.
“The two-to-three-week timeline on the injury gives him a real chance of being ready to take on the Roosters later this month.”
Despite a short layoff, Donoghoe's presence will be missed during his fortnight on the sidelines.
The utility continues to showcase tenacity and grit on both sides of the ball, while also displaying silky ball-playing skills in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Moss Vale product Ray Stone will be available for selection this week following a neck complaint.
The 29-year-old has been limited to 17 appearances in 2026 and has been a key interchange forward in the Dolphins' mobile pack.
The Dolphins sit in fifth position on the ladder; however, they are on equal points with the Cronulla Sharks with one month to go before the finals.
Below them sit the Knights, with one win separating them, while the Panthers and Roosters are equal at the top before they face off on Thursday.
The high-flying Warriors sit in third, with two points more than the Dolphins and Sharks.
