Flegler's return, shock Titans selection call likely and Dolphins backline: NRL pre-season, Dolphins vs Titans talking points

The Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans had their first competitive hit-out of 2026, with the Titans claiming a 24-12 win at Redcliffe. Here are all the key talking points out of the game that will leave both Krisitan Woolf and Josh Hannay with plenty to think about ahead of Round 1. Thomas Flegler must start for the Dolphins There are no ifs or buts. Thomas Flegler must lead the forward pack in the middle third for the Dolphins throughout the 2026 campaign. He was very impressive off the bench in his return on Thursday evening, hitting hard and charging ahead up the middle, with some of the aggression he displayed at the Broncos on display. Flegler, when he was signed by the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 campaign, was always going to be the forward pack leader and enforcer for the Dolphins. Ultimately, that didn't bear a whole lot of fruit, with a horrific shoulder injury and nerve damage ensuring Thursday's trial was his first game since Round 5, 2024. The Dolphins have plenty in the middle third, but Flegler and Daniel Saifiti are shaping as their starting options, with Francis Molo playing off the bench. It's not a bad middle third rotation, particularly when you consider Max Plath will be at lock once they get to full strength and he is back fit, but it doesn't work without the added aggression that Flegler brings. Surprise Titans name ready for first-grade Sialetili Faeamani made the move from the Panthers to the Titans during the off-season, and it looks as if it will be the best thing he ever did. While he was stuck behind plenty of talent at the foot of the mountains - including the man he has been compared to in Brian To'o - that isn't the case on the Gold Coast. Jaylan de Groot and Jojo Fifita were nonetheless expected to be the starting wingers, until a report a few weeks ago suggested Faeamani had jumped the queue. And it's not hard to see why he has impressed coach Hannay given his performance on Thursday. It's not hard to see why he has been compared to To'o either. He could be exactly what the Titans need to get their sets rolling onto the front foot, taking pressure off their forwards and Jayden Campbell as he continues to adapt to being the number seven for the Robina-based outfit. Premiership winners son will have a big career One of the more impressive players on Thursday evening was Noah Fien, who played in the halves for the Dolphins. The son of former premiership winner and representative player Nathan Fien, Noah is still an under-19 player, but looked well ahead of that in terms of the maturity he played with. The youngster, who is part of Queensland's under-19 emerging State of Origin squad and could play in the annual fixture against the Blues later this year, just looked in control of his game, and not over-awed by the occassion at all. The Dolphins may not have quite been at full strength, but he played what was in front of him, put his best foot forward, and looks to be a player for the black book of talent scouts all over the country. What will be intriguing is just how tempted he is to leave the Dolphins in the coming years, given his path to first-grade will ultimately be blocked by Isaiya Katoa. Averillo a likely exclusion in 2026 The Dolphins backline - and the number of players out doing the number of spots available - has been one of the storylines to follow throughout the pre-season. While many of the top options didn't play on Thursday evening, there are seven top options for five spots, with more if you consider last year's rookie Tevita Naufahu. What is clear is that Jamayne Isaako will start on a wing, Jack Bostock will do the same once he returns in Round 10, and Herbie Farnworth, who is one of, if not, the best centre in the game, will be at centre. That leaves just two spots in a full strength side. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow takes one of those, although whether it's at centre or fullback depends on whether Trai Fuller plays. Even if he doesn't, there is an argument to be made that Selwyn Cobbo, who has joined the club from the Broncos over the off-season takes the vacant spot, relegating Averillo to a back utility role on the six-man bench. Cobbo looked extremely good on Thursday night when he did get the ball in hand, although probably needs to go looking for more work if he is going to mount a serious case to hold a spot in this stacked backline throughout the course of the year. Klese Haas to rise after middle move One of the positional moves that has gone under the radar this off-season is that of Klese Haas into the middle for the Titans. A second-rower for the entirety of his career to date, Payne's brother now follows him into the middle third of the park, and looked the goods on Thursday night. It's hardly a surprise, but he had agility and ball playing, while also running the ball hard and doing the little things a good prop should do. While he is unlikely to land a starting spot for Hannay's side given Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika exist, Jaimin Jolliffe's season-ending ACL injury could leave Haas as the first man called off the pine each and every week, playing a monster role for the Titans.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	CBR	24	19	5	44	148
2	MEL	24	17	7	40	212
3	CAN	24	16	8	38	120
4	BRI	24	15	9	36	172
5	CRO	24	15	9	36	109
6	NZW	24	14	10	34	21
7	PEN	24	13	10	33	107
8	SYD	24	13	11	32	132

Flegler’s return, shock Titans selection call likely and Dolphins backline: NRL pre-season, Dolphins vs Titans talking points

All the big talking points from Thursday night’s pre-season action.

4. Surprise Titans name ready for first-grade

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