You can take the man out of North Queensland, but not the North Queensland out of the man and that is exactly how a Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow feels after shining for NRL newcomers the Dolphins.
Scoring eight tries in his first six appearances for the Dolphins, keen fisherman Tabuai-Fidow says his only regret leaving North Queensland is the angler spots he came to love.
"You can't beat the north for fishing," he told AAP.
The 21-year-old fullback is only just beginning his clean slate under Wayne Bennett after bringing up a half-century of appearances for North Queensland early in his career.
The fleet-footed Tabuai-Fidow spent the majority of 2022 behind Scott Drinkwater at the Cowboys after suffering an early-season knee injury and struggling for minutes off the bench.
He said it was tough. Having talent and a desire to perform for your home region, club and without ample opportunity left him with a decision to make.
"I'd never come off the bench before and playing 10-odd minutes a game and waiting to get on ... I wasn't happy. Towards the end I knew I had to do what was best for the team.
"The decision to come down to the Dolphins was an opportunity to play fullback and when I'm happy I play good footy."
That jubilation was on display in front of friends and family when Tabuai-Fidow scored two tries in the Dolphins 32-22 triumph over their Queensland rivals on Friday.
When the NRL draw was released late last year, Tabuai-Fidow immediately circled the Dolphins round six matchup with the Cowboys.
"I jumped on it straight away," he said.
"To play in front of my family again and for the fans to cheer me on, it was a crazy feeling."
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was clear in detailing why the club let their former flyer move to the Dolphins after he starred in consigning them to a 2-4 start to 2023.
"I'm not surprised," Payten said of how well Tabuai-Fidow is playing.
"We made a decision around Hammer based on some of the words and his actions at the back-end of last year and I'm not disappointed or bitter about him playing well.
"He's a nice kid, he left here a better person and a better footballer and the Dolphins are reaping the rewards of some of our hard work and his application and talent on the pitch."
