Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has reportedly sent a powerful 21-word message ahead of the Dolphins’ enormous preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters, sending supporters into a frenzy just days before the biggest match in the club’s young history.
The exact wording of the reported message has not been independently confirmed, but its timing has captured the imagination of Dolphins fans. With a place in the NRL Grand Final at
stake, the Queensland superstar has every reason to believe that something special is possible, especially after declaring earlier this month that the Dolphins can go all the way.
The real secret behind the excitement is that Tabuai-Fidow is entering this match with a deeply personal connection to the Dolphins’ history. He was the player who scored the first-ever try
in the club’s NRL history against the Roosters in 2023. Now, three years later, he is preparing to face that same opponent in a preliminary final with a Grand Final place on the line. The symbolism is extraordinary.
The player who helped write the first page of the Dolphins’ NRL story could now become one of the central figures in its most important chapter.
Tabuai-Fidow has already made his feelings about the Dolphins’ chances perfectly clear. Before the finals began, he told the club that he believed the team could “win it” and described
the atmosphere inside the squad as confident, relaxed and excited. He also called reaching the finals “pretty surreal,” particularly because the Dolphins are only in their fourth NRL season. Those
comments were not the words of a player simply happy to participate. They revealed a group that believes its remarkable rise can continue much further.
That confidence was tested dramatically against the New Zealand Warriors in the qualifying final. The Dolphins entered the match facing an intimidating home crowd and found themselves trailing 12–8 at halftime.
The Warriors then extended their advantage early in the second half, creating enormous pressure on the inexperienced finals side. Yet the Dolphins refused to collapse. Isaiya Katoa began controlling the contest with
his kicking game, while Tabuai-Fidow and Herbie Farnworth eventually found the space needed to break the Warriors apart. The Dolphins finished with a stunning 26–16 victory and secured their place in the preliminary final.
For Tabuai-Fidow, the performance was another reminder of how far he has come since joining the Dolphins. The official NRL profile shows that he has now played 77 games for the club
from 2023 through 2026, scoring 66 tries and producing 44 line breaks. His combination of acceleration, power and attacking instinct has made him one of the most dangerous players in the Dolphins’ system. Yet his importance goes beyond statistics.
He is one of the few players who were there when the Dolphins began their NRL journey, making his presence during this historic finals campaign particularly significant.
The opponent waiting at Suncorp Stadium makes the story even more compelling. The Roosters destroyed the Sharks 46–10 in their semi-final on September 19, scoring five second-half tries and producing the highest-scoring finals performance in club history.
James Tedesco was outstanding, while Mark Nawaqanitawase scored twice. That result ensured that the Roosters would return to Brisbane for a preliminary final against the Dolphins, creating a remarkable full-circle moment for the expansion club.
The same opponent that faced the Dolphins in their first NRL match will now stand between them and their first Grand Final.
There is also an emotional layer to the rivalry that few other matches could produce. The Dolphins defeated the Roosters 28–18 in their inaugural NRL match in 2023, immediately announcing themselves to the competition.
Tabuai-Fidow scored the first try that day, creating an image that became part of the club’s identity. The Dolphins later defeated the Roosters 26–12 in Sydney during the 2026 regular season.
Now the two clubs meet again with the stakes dramatically higher. The winner at Suncorp Stadium will advance to the Grand Final, while the loser’s season will end one victory short.
Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader has also reflected on the significance of that original Roosters victory, explaining that people did not fully understand what the club had been building behind the scenes.
Reader said the Dolphins had developed a nucleus of players who debuted together and continued growing together, with their resilience and willingness to work for each other becoming central to the team’s identity.
Tabuai-Fidow is one of the clearest examples of that long-term development. He was there at the beginning, and now he is preparing to help lead the club toward its biggest opportunity yet.
That may be the real secret behind the viral 21-word message. It is not simply about one emotional sentence sent before a football match. It represents the belief that has carried the
Dolphins from an expansion club into a team standing one victory away from an NRL Grand Final. Tabuai-Fidow has already said publicly that the players are enjoying the experience and believe they can go all the way.
Whether the reported 21-word message is eventually confirmed or not, his challenge is now clear: turn that belief into another unforgettable performance when the Roosters arrive at Suncorp Stadium.