Footy fans accuse State of Origin star of a low act after he overcame sex tape scandal to play a big role in Queensland's stunning win
The Maroons fullback was one of the best players for the series-winning Cane Toads - but he came under fire from angry NSW fans after appearing to kick Blues star Latrell Mitchell in the groin midway through the second half.
After brilliantly fielding a bomb and cutting through several would-be tacklers, 'The Hammer' was brought to ground and flipped over by Mitchell.
But as Tabuai-Fidow kicked out with his legs in order to get to his feet as quickly as possible, he lashed out with his right boot and caught Mitchell square in the genitalia, leaving the NSW centre writhing in pain on the ground.
Many fans thought the Queensland No.1 should have been penalised, sin-binned or even sent off - but the match officials had no problems with the passage of play and at the time of writing, he has not been cited by the Match Review Committee.
'Don't understand how he's on the field tbh,' one fan wrote on X.
'Accidental or not I don't know how the play wasn't stopped here,' added another.
'You can't have that in the game. Surely the Hammer will cop a few weeks for that,' a third commented.
'Trell would've got the chair if he did this,' another fan said.
'He definitely kicked out, had a couple of goes at it,' commented another.
However, some fans thought Mitchell got what he deserved after he upended Tabuai-Fidow in the tackle.
'Two cheap shots. Both players in the wrong,' one wrote.
'He was clearly reacting angrily to someone that nearly dumped him on his neck,' said another.
Tabuai-Fidow came into the game under scrutiny after coach Billy Slater made the bold call to move him from the wing to fullback after the injury to regular Queensland No.1 Kalyn Ponga.
Many fans and experts thought Broncos star Reece Walsh should've been called in, with Tabuai-Fidow left on the wing, but he proved them wrong with a five-star display in his new position.
He was safe as houses under the high ball, made several penetrating runs and set up halfback and man of the match Tom Dearden's first try with a brilliant sprint down the touchline after gathering an offload.
But question over his switch to fullback weren't the only worries he had during Origin camp.
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that an explicit sex video of him with another woman is at the centre of his break-up with his NRLW star ex Jaime Chapman.
News of the couple's split was also broken by Daily Mail Australia after they both left telling clues on social media that revealed it was game over for their romance.
Chapman is arguably the poster girl of the NRLW competition after first entering the league with St George in 2021 before shifting to the Broncos and now, the Gold Coast Titans.
She has gone from star club player to being one of the NSW Blues' best in State of Origin and earning five appearances for the national side, the Jillaroos.
Chapman's career trajectory is mirrored by Tabuai Fidow's. He debuted for the Cowboys in 2020 before moving to the Dolphins in 2023 and stamping himself as one of the league's most exciting talents while excelling for Queensland and Australia.
They went public with their romance in December last year and featured heavily on each other's Instagram accounts.
One of their last public appearances together came on May 1, after Chapman's Blues team steamrolled Queensland 32-12 in the first match of the women's State of Origin series.
In heartwarming scenes, she went to the sidelines to greet friends and family after the win and kissed and hugged her man, who was holding a huge cardboard cut-out of her face.
Before the match, there was speculation about how the couple would deal with being on opposite sides of the hotly contested interstate battles.
'It'll be pretty weird when it comes around,' Tabuai-Fidow told NITV News.
'But she's got my support.'
Chapman said she would support Tabuai-Fidow when he runs out for the Maroons - but drew the line at backing the Cane Toads.
'I'll support him no matter what he does and no matter what team he plays for,' she said.
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