Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King is set to miss the start of the NRL season after undergoing surgery for a knee injury suffered in a fall at home.
The gun hooker suffered a meniscus injury in his right knee after accidentally slipping over, according to the club.
With a three-to-four-month recovery timeline, he has been ruled out for the opening rounds of the season.
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Jeremy Marshall-King in action for the Dolphins. Getty
In a club statement, head of performance Jeremy Hickmans confirmed that the surgery was successful but noted that while the 30-year-old has begun his recovery, his return date remains flexible.
“The surgery was successful, so Jeremy will now begin his rehabilitation,” he said.
“The timeline will be dependent on how that rehabilitation progresses, and he is certainly going to miss some games at the start of the season.
“But if all goes well, he will be a chance to return somewhere around our first bye in round six.”
As a linchpin of the Dolphins’ spine, Marshall-King’s absence leaves a significant void for the start of the 2026 season.
To fill the gap, the club will look to internal depth at dummy half, with Max Plath, Kurt Donoghoe, and youngster John Fineanganofo all capable of stepping into the role.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jeremy Marshall-King, Trai Fuller, and Sean O’Sullivan of the Dolphins celebrate a try. Getty
Marshall-King is widely regarded as one of the premier hookers in the NRL.
Despite several minor setbacks, the Kiwi international remained durable for the majority of the 2025 season. He maintained elite defensive standards, finishing the year with an impressive 90.2 per cent tackle efficiency.
Marshall-King featured in 19 games last season, marking a notable improvement compared to his previous two seasons, where he was restricted to 17 appearances in 2024 and 15 in 2023.
A freak setback briefly interrupted his 2025 campaign when he missed rounds eight and nine because of an infected leg wound.
While the Dolphins finished ninth last season — agonisingly close to a maiden finals appearance — history suggests they struggle significantly without their star No.9.
Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King is assisted from the field after suffering a foot injury during the round 17 NRL match against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Getty
Marshall-King’s history of injury setbacks — combined with the Dolphins’ visible struggle to control the ruck in his absence —highlights just how vital his presence is to the team’s structure.
In 2024, an injury to Marshall-King in round 17 proved to be the Dolphins’ turning point.
At the time, the club was in the top eight and cruising toward the finals, but in his absence, the Dolphins dropped six of their last eight games to finish 10th.