The Dolphins were the NRL's best attacking team in 2025, and enter 2026 looking to play finals for the first time.

Now three years into their journey as the NRL's 17th side, the Dolphins have narrowly missed the top eight in each of the last two campaigns, but certainly have all the tools to go a step further than they have to date.

But the Dolphins face numerous big selection calls heading into 2026.

An enormous injury ward over the last 12 months will do that. Youngsters have broken out and others need to make their returns.

Add all that to a couple of key off-season recruits, including Selwyn Cobbo from the Broncos and English forward Morgan Knowles from St Helens, and it's not difficult to understand where the headaches are about to be.

Here are the key Dolphins' selection questions heading into 2026.

Flegler, Gilbert and Plath return. Where do they play?

The forward pack for the Dolphins will see the return of Thomas Gilbert and Max Plath, as well as, hopefully for the first time in almost two years, Thomas Flegler.

The returns are much needed for the Dolphins, but will leave some players missing the side.

There is almost no doubt Plath will be the first-choice lock, and Gilbert in the second-row, while Flegler slots into the front-row if able to return from his long-term shoulder issue.

That means only one of Daniel Saifiti or Francis Molo can start, while the likes of English international Morgan Knowles, former Queensland representative Felise Kaufusi and young gun Kulikefu Finefeuiaki are all fighting over one starting spot.

Another of those guys, as well as either Saifiti or Molo, will feature on the bench, with the likes of Ray Stone, Oryn Keeley (who has agreed to join the Storm for 2027) and Connelly Lemuelu are all in danger of missing out.

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