Tom Flegler has ended his agonising 677-day absence from the NRL, scoring a try in his return for the Dolphins in their 24-12 trial loss against the Titans.

The former Maroons and Kangaroos front-rower hadn’t played in almost two years due to a serious shoulder injury that threatened to end his career.

The 26-year-old was one of the game’s most feared enforcers before his injury and reminded the world just how powerful he can be against Gold Coast.

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Flegler was injected into the contest after half time and had an immediate impact.

Tom Flegler celebrates a try. Getty

In the 50th minute, Flegler shot out of the line and came up with a big defensive play to force the Titans back into their own in-goal area for a dropout.

Moments later, Flegler got the dream return when he crashed over from close range to score a try and was swarmed by his Dolphins teammates.

“Good on him, have a look at his teammates and the crowd stand as one … I love the reaction,” Steve Roach said on Fox League.

Flegler finished with eight runs for 62 metres and four tackle breaks with ball in hand, while also making 10 tackles without a miss during his stint.

Speaking post-match, Flegler admitted he was “very nervous” but was pleased to get throughout without issue and thanked the Dolphins medical staff for their support.

Tom Flegler is swarmed by his Dolphins teammates. NRL Images

“It’s good to get back and finally put all the training that I’ve been doing off the field, onto the field and it’s good to finish unscathed,” he told Fox League.

“I was very nervous, not gonna lie – I hadn’t played in a while and I was most worried about my fitness. Once I got a few touches of the ball, I sort of eased back into it.

“There’s so many people I could thank right now. First and foremost, I’d just like to thank the Dolphins medical staff, they have been unreal for me throughout this whole process.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.” 

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Earlier in the clash, Lachlan Ilias got his Titans career off to a flying start, scoring the opening try of the match inside 10 minutes after a brilliant piece of teamwork.

The former Dragons halfback threw a cut-out pass to winger Jensen Taumoepeau and he offloaded to Max Feagai, who dropped a deft grubber kick in for Ilias to score.

“Fair bit of ball movement here … they kept it alive,” Roach said on commentary.

“That’s a beautiful play and look at Ilias on the inside, wins the race to the football.” 

Gold Coast continued a strong start to their first trial game when prop Moeaki Fotuaika barged over from close range after a short ball from hooker Luke Sommerton.

In the aftermath of Fotuaika’s four-pointer, cameras spotted Dolphins recruit Morgan Knowles busted wide open and pouring blood in a horror start to his NRL journey.

“He put his body in front of big Mo, but it wasn’t enough,” caller Matt Russell said.

The former St Helens standout had a tough start for his new club, managing only three runs for 19 metres and missing six tackles, struggling with the speed in the middle.

Morgan Knowles during the Dolphins trial game. Fox League

It was a different story for Fotuaika, who had a lean year by his own standards in 2025 but looked to be back to the type of football that had him playing State of Origin.

Fotuaika had over 100 run metres and six tackle breaks before half time as Gold Coast took a 10-0 lead into the dressing sheds.

“Every club has a player that find themselves coming into the season needing to find their best form and Mo Fotuaika is one of those players,” Greg Alexander said.

“The last couple of seasons, his form has wandered and it hasn’t been strong.

“Josh Hannay would be rapt because they can’t be relying on Tino [Fa’asuamaleaui] to get the job done on his own, he needs some help.”

Moeaki Fotuaika celebrates a try with teammate Cooper Bai. NRL Images

Cooper Bai also had an eye-catching performance in the No.13 jumper after putting a contract saga to bed, extending with the Titans and knocking back the Storm.

The son of premiership winner Marcus Bai is one of the club’s rising stars and did his chances of a round one spot no harm as the Josh Hannay era begins.

Things started to unravel a little bit for the Titans in the second half, with Flegler’s try opening things up for Zac Garton to put the Dolphins in the lead.

Noah Fien – the son of Nathan – started to pull the strings in the halves after coming off the bench for the Dolphins and looked a player of real promise.

Noah Fien in action for the Dolphins. NRL Images

But with the game in the balance, Gold Coast scored back-to-back tries to regain the lead thanks largely to Phoenix Steinweide – the stepson of Kieran Foran.

Young halfback Zane Harrison also had a solid outing in the No.7 jumper as he looks to apply pressure on the likes of Ilias, Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson this season.

Steinwede helped set up a try for Dean Ieremia in the 66th minute before scoring one of his own just three minutes later to make it a six-point buffer.

Kurtis Morrin put the icing on the cake with two minutes to go in his first game for the Titans after joining the club from the Canterbury Bulldogs in the off-season.