Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been unwittingly dragged into the latest NRL scandal hot on the heels of his highly-publicised split from NRLW star Jaime Chapman.
The Dolphins and Queensland Maroons star will line up against Canberra this weekend, hoping to keep the NRL’s newest franchise in the hunt for a maiden finals berth.
However, his preparation has been impacted by a scandal at cross-town club Brisbane Broncos involving his State of Origin teammate Gehamat Shibasaki.
The Broncos centre had been the rags to riches story of the season, advancing from a train-and-trial contract to Origin representation.
However that was all left in tatters this week when he was dumped by Broncos coach Michael Maguire for breaching team protocols by drinking during a booze ban.
It had first been reported that Shibasaki had enjoyed some drinks in Townsville after the Broncos’ unconvincing win over northern rivals the Cowboys.
The Brisbane Broncos took a dim view of Gehamat Shibasaki breaking a booze ban ahead of the NRL finals
The Broncos centre was reportedly out drinking with Dolphins players, including Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who were doing nothing wrong at the time
However, it has now been revealed that Shibasaki stuck to the team pledge to abstain from alcohol after the win, and that the incident happened the following day in Brisbane.
Shibasaki reportedly went to a Brisbane restaurant late in the day on Sunday, where several Dolphins players were toasting their win over the Gold Coast Titans earlier that day.
That included Tabuai-Fidow, who joined Shibasaki for some Sunday afternoon drinks. There is no suggestion that Tabuai-Fidow behaved poorly or broke any rules or laws.
However Shibasaki was acting against the Broncos team pledge to stay sober ahead of the NRL finals, costing him his spot in the team against the Melbourne Storm on Thursday night.
It came after he arrived worse for wear to training on Monday and was sent home by coach Maguire.
‘It’s obviously disappointing, I’m not gonna go away from that,’ Maguire said.
‘He’s made a mistake and he understands that and you pay a price I suppose.
‘The focus for us is really about this game. I don’t think it’s a big call to be honest. It’s the expectation of what is going on and culture is everything.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire acted swiftly by dropping Shibasaki and putting him through extras at training
‘You have to live by what you’re building and the expectations of each other.
‘The focus for us is this game. We’ve worked really hard this season, learned plenty about each other and had plenty of hurdles and this is no different.’
After Brisbane dispatched the Storm 30-16, it appears unlikely that Shibasaki will play in the first week of the finals either, barring injuries.
Although he did train with the team on Wednesday and was ‘absolutely flogged’ by coach Maguire.
While Tabuai-Fidow did nothing wrong in the Sunday drinking session, it is the second time in recent weeks he has made headlines.
It comes hot on the heels of his widely-publicised split from Gold Coast Titans NRLW star Jaime Chapman.
Tabuai-Fidow and Chapman became Instagram-official in December 2024, quickly emerging as one of rugby league’s most talked-about power couples.
Their relationship captured widespread attention, drawing enthusiastic comments from fans and fellow players.
Tabuai-Fidow and Jaime Chapman (pictured together) were the glamour couple of rugby league until their public split earlier this year
However, just six months later, signs surfaced that the pair had quietly parted ways.
These included Chapman deleting all photos of the couple from her Instagram and unfollowing Tabuai-Fidow, while his account retained just a couple of their past posts.
Reports suggest the breakdown of their romance was caused by a scandal involving an explicit sex video featuring Tabuai-Fidow, which is now believed to be at the centre of the split.
Neither athlete has publicly addressed the split or commented on the alleged video.
The Dolphins, sitting in ninth position, face a tense final round as they chase a maiden finals berth.
To keep their hopes alive, they need Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney Rabbitohs to upset the eighth-placed Sydney Roosters in a fierce rivalry clash.
The equation leaves the Dolphins relying on results outside their control before they even take the field.
Adding to the challenge, they must also defeat the Canberra Raiders, who have already locked up the minor premiership.
The Raiders are expected to rest several key players, a decision that could give the Dolphins a much-needed advantage.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .