Dolphins Strengthen Community and Cultural Ties Through Immersive Torres Strait Islands Visit

The Dolphins rugby league club has utilised a competition bye to deepen its grassroots footprint and cultural connections within the Torres Strait Islands, with head coach Kristian Woolf, star fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Edrick Lee, and club community teams completing an immersive multi-day regional tour.

Travelling from Brisbane to Horn Island and Thursday Island, the delegation engaged directly with local schools, community leaders, and rugby league clubs, reinforcing the organisation’s long-term commitment to Indigenous engagement, cultural awareness, and player welfare development across regional areas.

The program featured collaborative coaching clinics alongside local squads including the Ngurpay Brothers, Knights, Roosters, and Suburbs clubs, alongside educational sessions at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School and Tagai State College.

The club representatives also met with Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM to inspect proposed local rugby league infrastructure upgrades aimed at supporting future Queensland Rugby League Country Round fixtures and youth pathways.

Reflecting on the personal and strategic significance of the tour, Tabuai-Fidow highlighted the deep cultural alignment fostered by the leadership group.

“It was a pretty special thing to do, especially from the club wanting to go up there and just have that exposure to where I’m from and my background,” Tabuai-Fidow said.

Highlighting cead coach Kristian Woolf’s active participation across Thursday Island and Badu Island, where Woolf engaged extensively with students and local participants, Tabuai-Fidow praised the relational dynamics within the squad.

“I think that’s a big one. Him growing up with Indigenous boys and girls, he sort of knows how to work us out and how to get the best out of us.”

“I think that’s something special to have.

“We can go into our shell and be pretty quiet, but I think we’re growing out of that and just being proud of our culture.

“Obviously Wolfie’s proud of that as well and it’s something special to have as a coach and that bond you can build,” Tabuai-Fidow added.  

The delegation participated in traditional NAIDOC activities, bush soapmaking workshops, and storytelling sessions celebrating regional heritage alongside local families.

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