Tom Gilbert (rugby league)

Tom Gilbert (born 5 August 2000) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-rower, lock or prop forward for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Tom Gilbert

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Gilbert
Born	(2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 23) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Lock, Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2020–22 North Qld Cowboys 47 3 0 0 12 2023– Dolphins 11 2 0 0 8 Total 58 5 0 0 20 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2019 Queensland Residents 1 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Queensland^[1] 2 0 0 0 0
Source: ^[2] As of 8 January 2024

He previously played for the North Qld Cowboys in the NRL and has also represented Queensland in the State of Origin series.

Background

Born and raised in Brisbane, Gilbert played junior rugby league for the Norths Devils. He attended Wavell State High School, St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe and Brisbane Grammar School, where he was the vice-captain of their first XV rugby union team.^[3][4] In 2015, he joined the North Queensland Cowboys academy.

Playing career

Early career

In 2016, Gilbert played for the Norths Devils Cyril Connell Cup team and was later selected for the Queensland under-16 team.^[5][6] In 2017, he moved up to the Devils' Mal Meninga Cup team and represented the Queensland under-18 team.^[7][8] In 2018, Gilbert moved to Townsville and joined the Townsville Blackhawks. After two games for the club's Mal Meninga Cup side, he moved up to their under-20 team.^[9] Later that year he was selected again in the Queensland under-18 team.^[10]

On 16 October 2018, Gilbert re-signed with the North Queensland Cowboys, moving up to their NRL squad on a one-year development deal.^[11] In 2019, he spent the entire season playing for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup. In July 2019, he was named vice-captain of the Queensland under-20 team.^[12] In September 2019, he was named the Queensland Cup Rookie of the Year and was named at lock in the Team of the Year.^[13]

On 29 November 2019, Gilbert re-signed with the North Queensland outfit until the end of 2022, joining the club's top-30 squad.^[14]

North Queensland Cowboys (2020-2022)

In Round 4 of the 2020 NRL season, Gilbert made his NRL debut for North Queensland against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.^[15] Following his second NRL game, Gilbert was suspended for three weeks for a crusher tackle on New Zealand Warriors prop King Vuniyayawa.^[16] In Round 17, he started at second-row for the first time. In his rookie season, Gilbert played twelve games, starting four at second-row.^[17]

Dolphins (2023-present)

Gilbert signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins and returned to his hometown of Brisbane. In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Gilbert made his club debut for the Dolphins in their inaugural game in the national competition, defeating the Sydney Roosters 28-18 at Suncorp Stadium.^[18] In round 2, he scored a try against the Canberra Raiders at Kayo Stadium. Gilbert's next try was scored in round 6 against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

In May, Gilbert was selected to play for Queensland as a second row forward in Game I of the 2023 State of Origin series against New South Wales on 31 May at Adelaide Oval in South Australia.^[19] During game 1 of the 2023 State of Origin series, Gilbert dislocated his shoulder which required a reconstruction ending his 2023 season. On 26 February 2024, it was confirmed that Gilbert would be ruled out of the entire 2024 NRL season after suffering an ACL injury in a pre-season trial against the New Zealand Warriors.^[20]

Further information: List of Dolphins (NRL) players

Achievements and accolades

Individual

• Queensland Cup Rookie of the Year: 2019
• Queensland Cup Team of the Year: 2019

Statistics

NRL

Further information: List of Dolphins (NRL) players

Season	Team	Matches	T	G	GK %	F/G	Pts
2020	North Queensland	12	0	0	—	0	0
2021		11	0	0	—	0	0
2022		24	3	0	—	0	12
2023	Dolphins	11	2	0	—	0	8
Career totals		58	5	0	—	0	20

References

1. RLP
2. RLP
3. "Gilbert bound for big time". www.couriermail.com.au. 20 June 2017.
4. "Old Boy News Roundup". www.brisbanegrammar.com. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
5. "LeagueUnlimited Cyril Connell Cup Teams - 2016 Quarter Finals » League Unlimited". League Unlimited.
6. "Queensland Under 16 team". Queensland Rugby League. 16 May 2016.
7. "Queensland Under 18 team". Queensland Rugby League. 12 June 2017.
8. "QRL Mal Meninga Cup - 2017 Round 7 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited.
9. "TEAMS: QRL U18s Mal Meninga Cup - 2018 Round 2 » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. 13 March 2018.
10. "Queensland Under 18 team". Queensland Rugby League. 21 May 2018.
11. "Four rookies moving up to NRL". North Queensland Cowboys. 16 October 2018.
12. "Queensland Under 20 team in position". Queensland Rugby League. 6 July 2019.
13. "In pictures: QRL Awards dinner winners". Queensland Rugby League. 27 September 2019.
14. "Cowboys re-sign 2019 Q-Cup Rookie of the Year". North Queensland Cowboys. 29 November 2019.
15. "NRL team list: Round 4 v Sharks". North Queensland Cowboys. 2 June 2020.
16. "Round 5 charges: Crichton pleads guilty, Levi escapes ban". NRL. 16 June 2020.
17. "Why this is the year that will define Cowboys forward Tom Gilbert". Adelaide Now. 10 September 2020.
18. "'I don't want to take the gloss off... but': Kenty's warning for Dolphins after historic first-up win". www.foxsports.com.au. 6 March 2023.
19. "Queensland Maroons Game I team confirmed". 21 May 2023.
20. "Dolphins star ruled out for season AGAIN as luckless lock can't catch a break — Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au. 28 February 2024.

External links

• Dolphins profile
• North Queensland Cowboys profile
• Townsville Blackhawks profile