Tom Gilbert’s rising to the challenge

Two season-ending injuries in two years have challenged the typically optimistic Tom Gilbert but the Dolphins’ young gun has found a way to channel his desire to make difference on and off the field.

The 23-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in his right knee during a trial game against the Warriors in Auckland in February, and then experienced a blood clot after the flight home which delayed his surgery until May 14.

This season’s injury followed a serious shoulder injury during the State of Origin opener in 2023, which resulted in a reconstruction and lengthy rehabilitation.

“It’s tough. It’s devastating. I had big ambitions for this year, coming off an injury last year, and big ambitions with the team as well,” he explains.

“I’ve learnt it the hard way that when you step past that white line, you have to accept you play a physical sport, a collision game and injuries are a part of it.

“You take me out of a football environment and tell me I have a sore knee, life’s pretty good. I can’t sit here and complain too much because I wake up and get to train for a living and stay fit for a living and do it all with my mates and that’s pretty special.

“I’m enjoying the success and the journey this team’s on. It helps me stay driven and makes me want to be back there next year and have even bigger ambitions, but I’ve got to stay the course and keep being patient and working hard.”

Gilbert, renowned for his work ethic at training and on the playing field, knows he has to pace his recovery.

“You get very motivated and very driven but it’s a really long process, so you need to balance (it) out ... the physical stuff is really a priority but so is the stuff away from football, managing yourself mentally,” he says.

“That’s something this time around I’ve really wanted to get right ... every time I’m doing a session, there’s a lot of quality. I’m managing the soreness and my fatigue really well. Doing back-to-back injuries, you definitely learn a lot.”

Key to striking that balance has been the work Gilbert quietly does away from Dolphins HQ, in schools, as a youth mentor and for charity.

Making a difference

Gilbert works with Hampo’s Youth Foundation, set up in memory of Redcliffe Dolphins player Liam Hampson who died on an overseas holiday in 2022.

The foundation aims to help young people reach their academic and sporting potential by funding education fees and expenses, sport fees, and tutoring, equipment and transport costs.

Gilbert is mentoring a grant recipient from Redcliffe State High School.

“I’m really fortunate to be part of that because, not only do I get to help people, I’ve also found a group of people who are just really good people, genuine, lovely to be around,” he says.

“Under their circumstances, it’s tragic but I look at (them as) other role models to turn a negative into such a positive. That’s where I come in and try to spread that to one boy. All the stories I’ve heard about Liam, he used to (do that). I didn’t know him, but I try to continue his legacy.”

Gilbert is also working with young men at St Patrick’s College, where he spent one year of his senior schooling.

“If some boy is struggling, I’m able to come in there and chat to him. I went and had a chat with the senior rugby league side, I’ve gone to the Year 9 The Right Journey resilience program.

He has also helped out with Paddy’s Van, feeding the homeless.

“They (the college) helped me when I was growing up and a lot of my mates. To be able to have that full-circle moment where I wish I had a role model but now I can be their role model,” Gilbert says.

He’s also an ambassador for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, raising awareness and money during its Giving Day.

Gilbert’s efforts have earnt him a nomination for the NRL’s Ken Stephen Medal for Man of the Year, with the winner to be announced in September.

“I’ve always tried to be active in the community I live in. I don’t take this life I have with football for granted. I realise that other people aren’t as fortunate as I am,” he says.

“I think it’s a duty and great responsibility that I have in my position to ensure I give back to people who have helped me ... that’s why I’ve helped in the schools ... and to younger kids or younger people who are forging their career and journey.

“I think playing an active role in the community is really important. I think everyone’s got time to do it. I don’t think it’s subject to being a professional athlete or a football player, but just making sure you’re really grounded, where you are in your life, and realising that some people aren’t doing as well.

“It’s probably up there with, other than playing, one of the best things I’ve enjoyed about my career is trying to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Life in perspective

Gilbert reveals another off-the-field development, which has put his injury into perspective.

“It’s important for me to get back playing but I’m also going to become a father – my partner’s pregnant – that seems a little bit more important at the moment. It’s also helped me along my rehab journey. It makes things feel like they’re going to be OK,” he explains.

“I feel like I’ve got a bigger task ahead of me (in December when the baby is due). Part of that has also motivated me to think about my kid and about the type of person I want them to be ... the role model I want to be and the values I want to set in terms of being resilient, grounded.”

Gilbert is a regular at training sessions and is often seen in the coaches’ box at home games, gaining an insight into the game from a different point of view.

“It’s been actually really good, keeping my mind active while being away from football ... with Wayne and Woolfie, being in there and hearing how they see the game,” he explains.

“We’ve all got different perspectives of how the game’s played – one’s a player’s opinion the other’s a coach’s opinion. It’s really good to see it from their end because they’ve been around football for a while.

“That’s really helped me in terms of how I start off next year playing and get a good grip on what’s expected and get that mindset of what is a good game and what’s a bad game.”

So, how will the challenges of the past year and half shape him as a player when he’s back on the field?

“I already know I’m not taking anything for granted. I know that one bad move or one bad tackle, and you can miss a fair bit of time ...just enjoying that journey and that process of what game days are like, playing football again and being in the grind.

“My attitude towards training, preparation and playing is to play every game like it’s my last ... I mean that in a good way. You never know with the pace of the game and physicality of it ... also just a mindset of enjoying being out there.”

Heartfelt gesture

In the meantime, his teammates are ensuring he still feels like he’s part of the squad – having TG#13 embroidered on their jerseys.

It was an idea Sean O’Sullivan and the senior leaders took to Head Coach Wayne Bennett, when the extent of Gilbert’s injury was realised.

“That gesture made me really feel a part of this season, more than I probably ever thought I would be. I see it on the screen when they’re at an away game and it makes me feel somewhat that I’m still with them,” Gilbert says.

“The whole idea around it was to make me know they’re thinking of me when they’re playing.”

It has reminded him he still needs to be a good teammate, go to team meetings when he can, give advice, keep morale high and be a leader where possible.

“In return, when it’s time to come back it will be time to give them performances that I’ve missed for so long and they’ve missed for a while ... be back adding something to our team and our club.”