The Dolphins have confirmed a season-ending knee injury for forward Tom Gilbert, who has received words of encouragement from Gold Coast’s Beau Fermor who understands his pain.

Gilbert sustained the injury in the trial loss to the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday and scans on Monday confirmed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

The 23-year-old Queensland forward was playing his second trial after recovering from shoulder surgery for an injury that kept him out of action for more than half of last season.

“Tom is now effectively out for the 2024 season because of this injury, which generally requires a nine to 12-month rehab period,” Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said.

“On a positive note, he has already shown us how dedicated he is and that he is willing to go to all lengths through a long rehabilitation with his comeback from last year’s shoulder surgery.

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“I have no doubt he will replicate those efforts and be back ready to go for the 2025 season.”

Titans forward Beau Fermor suffered his second ACL rupture in four years in last year’s preseason. He played his first game back in the trial loss to Parramatta on Sunday and said he was saddened by Gilbert’s injury.

“I am pretty close to Tommy and have been through Origin camps with him,” Fermor said.