Star Dolphins dummy half Jeremy Marshall-King has revealed he is progressing slower than expected through his recovery from a knee injury suffered during the pre-season.
The former Bulldog, who has become one of the game's most reliable rakes, was due to return around Round 6 - potentially the Dolphins' next game against the Penrith Panthers in Darwin given they have the bye next weekend.
Coming after a defensive horror show against the Manly Sea Eagles on Thursday evening in Redcliffe, his addition would have been a major boost for Kristian Woolf's side too, but he has now revealed he is still a month away from playing.
Fox Sports sideline commentator Jake Duke revealed the update during Thursday night's broadcast of the game against Manly.
"I just spoke to Jeremy Marshall-King - he reckons he is still a month away from playing," Duke said during the second half.
It means the Dolphins, who now sit with a three and two record after losses to Brisbane and Manly, will likely be without their first-choice number nine for at least another three games - and none of them easy.
The Dolphins face the Penrith Panthers in Darwin, the New Zealand Warriors in Wellington and the Melbourne Storm in Brisbane following next weekend's bye, before they will hope to welcome Marshall-King back for the second of three straight games at Suncorp Stadium when they clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 10.
Brad Schneider started the year at dummy half for the Dolphins, before a returning Max Plath took over the role in Round 2.
There is a feeling though that Plath needs to be playing at lock for the Dolphins to be at their best, which could open the door for either Kurt Donoghoe or Brad Schneider to start there in the coming weeks.
Kristian Woolf rejected the idea of making personnel changes during his post-match press conference on Thursday evening after his side let in 52 against Manly, but he doesn't have to name another team for almost two whole weeks, so changes are certainly possible.
The Dolphins, on the back of their twin defeats and now with a negative for and against, sit in 13th spot, a place that could drop as far as 16th by the end of the weekend if results go against them.
