Hammer time as Dolphins soar back into NRL top eight
The No.1 ran amok in his 100th NRL game as the Dolphins reached 50 points for the third time in four games and consigned the Rabbitohs to a fifth straight loss.
Halfback Isaiya Katoa had four try assists, while Tabuai-Fidow's display was timely on the day incumbent Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of next Wednesday's State of Origin decider with a foot injury.
Tabuai-Fidow played wing in the Maroons' series-levelling victory but, after 11 tries in nine Origin games on the flanks, has done all he can to show coach Billy Slater he's ready to wear the No.1.
The Hammer has 4️⃣ 🤩 #NRLDolphinsSouths pic.twitter.com/yGERU0RzPk
— NRL (@NRL) June 28, 2025
Victory pushed the Dolphins (8-8) into the top eight but came at a cost, with Kodi Nikorima limping off with an apparent hamstring injury.
The Rabbitohs, with Cody Walker and Campbell Graham back in the fold, started brilliantly when Latrell Mitchell sliced through and somehow offloaded for Jack Wighton's try.
It was all the Dolphins after that, Jeremy Marshall-King raiding from dummy-half to score, then Katoa exploding through the line and producing a no-look assist for Tabuai-Fidow.
The pair combined again in similar fashion, with only a desperate Jamie Humphries tripping up the Dolphins fullback as he pinned his ears back for the line.
Herbie Farnworth had more joy, though, finding open space before Katoa floated a pass perfectly for Nikorima to score.
Katoa tantalised again with a pinpoint pass that dragged the Rabbitohs' defensive line out of shape, Farnworth's quick offload setting up Jake Averillo.
Nikorima limped off but the Dolphins weren't done, Averillo trickling a kick back in-field that was scooped up by Tabuai-Fidow to create a 30-6 halftime lead.
The No.1 completed his hat-trick when he picked up another loose ball spilled in a marking contest to seemingly kill the contest with 30 minutes still on the clock.
But Walker stepped through to create a try for Tallis Duncan and stop the rot, and the visitors had their tails up when that pair combined again to give the back-rower a double.
Tabuai-Fidow settled it once and for all, stripping Davvy Moale on his own 30-metre line, darting sideways into space, then cruising uninterrupted for a fourth try.
Wighton and Moale still had time for tries, while rookie Aublix Tawha was reported and earnt the ire of Mitchell after tackling him before he'd caught a high ball.
The Dolphins had the final say, Kurt Donoghoe snatching a Humphries intercept as the Dolphins raised the bat again.
Walker failed to finish the game for the Rabbitohs after picking up an apparent hamstring injury.
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