How fast can Hammer run in 2025?

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow honestly doesn’t know how much faster he can run, but the Dolphins NRL star fullback reckons he hasn’t hit full tilt just yet.

In an ominous sign for opposing teams, Tabuai-Fidow’s determined to improve in all aspects of his game.

He spoke to the media after a tough preseason training session in stifling heat at Redcliffe.

“Today’s one of our big days. The boys are working hard, preseason’s been tough. I’m pretty happy with all the boys, coming back later than them, they all look fit and ready to go,” he says.

“I think I had a good break, had my rest and I’m just coming back in and finding my feet again. I can see how tough they’ve been training and that brings my standards up as well.”

Today’s session follows a three-day training camp for the team on the Sunshine Coast last week, designed to deliver intense sessions but also unite the team.

“It was a good camp. It was a footy-based camp and it was a tougher week than a normal week, but the boys all put their heads down and worked hard. We all got something out of it. I think the big thing was trust,” Tabuai-Fidow says.

The 23-year-old says he’s feeling good at this stage in the preseason.

“It’s been pretty good … a bit sore today after coming off that tough camp but the body’s sweet. I’m ready to go again and just excited for what’s to come in the next couple of weeks,” he says.

“I think the standards have gone up a level. I think we all needed that coming off last year where we sort of fell off, but the way Woolfie and Rory and Fieny are pushing the boys … they’ve all put their hands up and are willing to work hard for each other.”

He says preseason has focused on making the squad mentally and physically fitter.

“It’s good seeing how fit the boys are and how hard they are working,” Tabuai-Fidow says.

For him, the focus is one making the fullback position his own.

“(There’s) no guarantee. I think you’ve got to earn it and I think the boys have worked hard. I’ve got to get up to their standards with the way they’ve been training,” he says.

“I don’t mind centre, but fullback is my main position. I think we’ve got to work hard and earn it. That’s what I’m willing to do in this preseason, to work for the position and hopefully make it my primary position for the whole year.”

Renowned for his electrifying attack, Tabuai-Fidow sees defence as the area he can most improve in.

“Just helping the D line and helping the boys out as well. I think that goes a long way when I do help the line out. It tips juice into our line and into myself being confident that I can lead the boys around to the right spots,” he says.

Moreton Daily asked the speedster, who is nipping at the heels of some of the fastest players in the NRL, if he can get any faster?

“I think I can if I do sprint training … you’ve sort of got to train for that. I’m getting better at that,” he says.

Tabuai-Fidow has previously said he only runs as fast as he needs to, and today confirmed he doesn’t know how fast he can run at top speed.

“If I do find an open space, or I’ve got a clear space in front of me, I don’t go too fast. I don’t want to pull anything. If I can get to the try line with the speed I’m going at, I think that’s good,” he says.

During the 2024 season, Tabuai-Fidow was the third fastest player in the NRL behind Jason Saab (37.7 km/h) and Jaylan De Groot (37.2 km/h).

Tabuai-Fidow clocked 36.8km/h, according to data collected by Telstra Tracker.