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'Special player': Samoa speedsters plan World Cup havoc
Joel Gould, AAP •  May 5th, 2026 7:56 am
Melbourne's Sua Fa'alogo (l) and the Dolphins' Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (c) will play for Samoa | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is fresh from a classic duel with Melbourne counterpart Sua Fa'alogo and now he can't wait to play alongside him at the World Cup for Samoa.
Fa'alogo scored one of the great individual tries in an 85m burst in the Storm's 28-10 loss to the Dolphins on Friday night.
The livewire fullback was pursued by Tabuai-Fidow, who caught up to Fa'alogo but then was left in the dust when the Storm custodian changed direction for his 11th try this season in just nine games.
Tabuai-Fidow caught him after another line break in the second half in what was a wonderful battle.
Fa'alogo played two Tests for Samoa in 2023 but injury prevented his selection when Toa Samoa reached the Pacific Cup final last year.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow thrilled Samoa fans when he announced his World Cup allegiance | Photo: Darren England/AAP
Tabuai-Fidow played one Test for Samoa in 2022, then represented Australia six times but will wear Samoa colours at the World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea at the end of 2026.
He sent the fans at a Samoa fan day in Logan last year into delirium when he made that announcement.
"Sua is a special player, just with the speed and agility he possesses," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"I'm excited to see what he is going to be like when he gets older."
"The way he's been playing, I'm excited to hopefully put that (Samoa) jersey on with him and run alongside him at the end of the year."
So who wins a sprint race between the two?
"Me," Tabuai-Fidow fired back in record time.
Samoa are building a side that can go one better than 2022 when Australia overpowered them in the World Cup final.
The backline alone could boast the likes of Tabuai-Fidow, Fa'alogo, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Brian To'o, Deine Mariner, Murray Taulagi, Izack Tago, Blaize Talagi, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai.
Jarome Luai is one of the leading lights in a star-studded line-up for Samoa | Photo: Craig Golding/AAP
"On paper, it's a pretty special team," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"It'll bring heaps of competition to the World Cup."
Tabuai-Fidow is a bit like the Road Runner in the cartoon who disappears into the distance when Wile E. Coyote closes in pursuit. In a similar way, Tabuai-Fidow taunts his pursuers before accelerating and leaving them clutching at wind.
How fast can he run?
"I don't know to be honest," he grinned.
"When I'm in open space, I try to have a look behind me and if there's no one I will slow up. I don't really need to go too fast if no one is chasing.
"When there is someone chasing I have to get on my bike. I don't go all-out."
The Dolphins will go all out against Canterbury on Thursday night when Bulldogs and Samoa captain Crichton and Dolphins superstar Herbie Farnworth are expected to have the major influence on who wins at Suncorp Stadium.
"The way Herbie's been playing, his workrate and the type of player he is, he goes looking for the ball and breaks tackles," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"This will be a good challenge for him against Stephen. I'll back Herbie every day of the week."
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