Leaving the Broncos was a tough decision for Thomas Flegler, but it’s one the star prop believes “needed to be done.”
Flegler will officially launch a new chapter of his career when he runs out for his new club the Dolphins — cross-town rivals of the Broncos — in a pre-season trial on Sunday.
The 24-year-old has ambitions to “one day” be the leading enforcer of an NRL pack and told foxsports.com.au that played into his decision to bid farewell to Red Hill.
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“Obviously it’s the only club I’ve been at so it was a big decision but one that I think needed to be done,” he said.
“I think just to be the player I wanted to be and develop a bit further (is why it needed to happen).
“The Broncos had some very dominant forwards and I think I needed to get out of their shadow a little bit and try my own thing.”
Flegler played 96 games for Brisbane over five seasons and started in 56 of them.
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While the Broncos’ pack does boast the likes of Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, every fan and pundit will agree the team is going to seriously miss Flegler’s intensity — especially after a career-best season in which he played Origin and made his Kangaroos debut.
He’s gone from one of the youngest and most exciting packs in the competition to one that has the average age of 30.
The Innisfail product will likely start in Round 1 with veteran prop and Dolphins captain Jesse Bromwich. But with Bromwich set to retire at the end of the season Flegler could inherit the unofficial ‘leader of the pack’ title this year.
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When asked if that’s something he wants, Flegler said: “I do one day.
“It sort of just happens, I’m not going to force it on anyone… Hopefully it will just comes naturally,” he added.
Flegler’s move to the Dolphins has seen him reunite with coach Wayne Bennett.
The two only worked together for “half a year” according to Flegler given he debuted in 2019 after Bennett had left for the Rabbitohs.
When asked to describe the mastercoach, Flegler said “he’s very straight down the line.”
The 74-year-old does know how to win players over too.
Flegler has previously spoken about the three words Wayne said to get him to sign — “we want you” — but he’s since recalled a “pretty funny” moment from their first meeting that helped get the deal over the line.
“Most clubs will do a little powerpoint. Wayne said his bit and then he put his cap over his head and said ‘wake me up when this is done’,” Flegler laughed.
That’s probably all Bennett needs to do in those meetings though because as Felgler said his “resume does the talking for him and his presence is just so powerful.”
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