NRL 2025: Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow says training standards have lifted since Kristian Woolf replaced Wayne Bennett

Wayne Bennett has won seven premierships and is regarded as one of the greatest coaches ever, but a Dolphins star has revealed standards have raised at Redcliffe following the departure of the super coach.

Kangaroos flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has revealed standards at Redcliffe have lifted following the departure of super coach Wayne Bennett as the Dolphins target a maiden NRL finals berth.

Tabuai-Fidow has been playing catch-up with his super fit Dolphins teammates after arriving for pre-season training late following last year’s Pacific Championships Test tournament.

One of the NRL’s most naturally gifted athletes with his blistering speed, ‘The Hammer’ has been blown away by the intensity of training under new Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf.

The Dolphins are hoping to emulate the NRL’s second youngest club – the Gold Coast Titans – by qualifying for the finals in their third season.

But to do that, Woolf has recognised they need to become a fitter and tougher team as he embarks on his first campaign as a full-time NRL head coach following seven-time premiership-winning Bennett’s shift to South Sydney.

The Dolphins had a number of players sent away from the main squad last pre-season for separate training while the fitness of some players, no longer at the club, was also questioned.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow says the Dolphins are training harder under Kristian Woolf. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

The Dolphins were on track to play finals last year but lost six of their last eight matches to finish 10th.

Taubai-Fidow said standards had to lift if the Dolphins were going to be a force until the last round of the 2025 season.

“The standards have gone up a level,” he said when asked how things had changed under Woolf.

“We all needed that coming off last year where we fell off.

Standards have been raised under Kristian Woolf. Picture: NRL Imagery

“The way Woolfy, Rory (Kostjasyn) and ‘Fieny’ (Nathan Fien, assistant coaches) are pushing the boys … they’ve all put their hand up, willing to work hard for each other.

“We dropped off a little bit (last year). Our standards weren’t as high as they are now coming into the pre-season with the way the boys have been training.

“The standards have gone through the roof and the mental state has too. It’s good to see how fit the boys are and how hard they’re working.

“If that makes me get up to their standards then I’ll be a better player.”

The Dolphins have been slogging it out under Woolf since November and ramped up the intensity at last week’s camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Tabuai-Fidow, 23, finished the NRL season at centre to accommodate livewire fullback Trai Fuller at the Dolphins and also featured in the outside backs during the Kangaroos’ campaign.

But he has trained exclusively at fullback this pre-season with Fuller (knee) sidelined and said he wanted to take his game to a new level in his sixth NRL season.

Tabuai-Fidow played centre for the Kangaroos, but has been training exclusively at fullback for the Dolphins. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I don’t mind centre but fullback is my main position,” he said.

“We’ve got to work hard and earn it. That’s what I’m willing to do this pre-season. Hopefully I can make it my primary position for the whole year.

“There’s no guarantees (from Woolf). The boys have worked hard and I’ve got to get up to their standards and the way they’ve been training.

“I started (training) a bit later. I’ve got to earn my jersey.

“I’ve had all my reps at fullback. It’s sad news for Trai but he’ll come back bigger and better from his injury.”

Tabuai-Fidow was recorded as the NRL’s third-fastest player last season, clocking a top speed of 36.8kmh to finish on the podium behind Titans debutant Jaylan De Groot (37.2kmh) and Manly flyer Jason Saab (37.7kmh).

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow thinks we’re yet to see his top speed. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

But we are yet to see him at top speed and the 86-game youngster reckons he can go faster.

“I haven’t (run as fast as I can),” he said.

“If I do find open space I don’t go too fast because I don’t want to pull anything.

“If I can get to the tryline with the speed I’ve got, then that’s good.

“I think I can (go faster) if I do sprint training.

“You’ve got to train for that. I’m getting better.”