Dolphins utility Max Plath continues to mount his case for a maiden Maroons appearance, with his versatility across the park a valuable asset in the modern game.
Coming through the juniors as a half, Plath transitioned into the forwards out of necessity and has made a number of positions his own, including lock, second row and more recently hooker while established options Jeremy Marshall-King and Kurt Donoghue have been sidelined.
With ‘JMK’ firming to make his return from a persistent knee injury, Plath remained open to changing his role again, content to just find a spot in the team.
“That's his position; he is our best option at hooker so I am just keeping it warm for him until he comes back,” Plath said.
“He is super-experienced and a very talented player.
“Whatever happens, I just want to be in the team somewhere.”
The Wynnum Manly Seagulls junior's ongoing good form since returning to the NRL in Round 2 from an ACL injury will have coach Kristian Woolf room for him, while his efforts have prompted pundits and team-mates to push his case for a Queensland call-up.
"Max is built for it,” Dolphins co-captain Tom Gilbert said after Plath claimed player of the match honours in the win over Melbourne.
“I know he wants to be there too. He was tremendous for us (tonight) and has been since he came back from injury.
“He can play anywhere and do a great job.”
Plath, who listed “Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and obviously, Billy Slater” as his Origin heroes, said he hoped his willingness to play in multiple positions would see him in good stead come selection time.
“I appreciate that from Gilbo,” Plath said.
“At the end of the day, my preferred position is playing lock and in the middle too.
“You have to be fit to be play hooker and getting a lot of confidence there has added another string to my bow. I can play back-row as well.
“If he [Slater] gives me a call, I would be so stoked. We will see how it goes.
“The beauty about playing different positions is that you take a lot out of playing in those positions.”
One Dolphins player who will be in Billy Slater’s Maroons line-up if all things go well is Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who last year proved his own versatility by playing fullback, centre and wing in Queensland Origin series win.
“Hopefully I do get that call and make that squad," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"It's wherever Billy wants me to play. I played all three positions last year and wherever he needs me I can do a job for the team.
"It is just knowing my role and what I can do for the team and knowing my strengths as well.
"I think that is the big thing for me, knowing what I can do on the field in any jersey I am in.
"I take that confidence with me and that is a big part of what I can do, knowing my role and what my strengths are."
All Tries - Dolphins v Storm - Round 9, 2026
Following their drought-breaking win against the Storm last week, the Dolphins are back at home at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, taking on another side looking to break a losing streak of their own in the Bulldogs.
“(We will have) the mindset we had from last week," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"The Storm were desperate and the players they had in their team were world class as well.
"I think the mindset we had last week we can build into this week.
"We obviously have heaps to work on and once we get that going we are a dangerous team.
“It’s not worrying about what they need and want ... we need to worry about ourselves and what we can work on.
“Hopefully we can put on an 80-minute performance.”
Match: Dolphins v Bulldogs
Round 10 -
home Team
Dolphins
11th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
