Max Feagai, The Dolphins, 2025 NRL Season, NRL Pre-Season, Mathew Feagai, Dragons, Twins

Former Dragon Max Feagai admits it’s a “pretty strange feeling” pursuing his football career separately from his twin brother, but is embracing the challenge of forcing his way into the Dolphins’ defensive line.

Feagai, who moved with his young family to live alongside Kristian Woolf, made his NRL debut with St George Illawarra in 2020, a year earlier than twin Mathew, who remains with the Dragons – said although it was “a bit scary” After branching out, the center felt welcomed by his new club.

“At first it was a little scary and also exciting, which is a pretty strange feeling,” Feagai said.

“We definitely did everything together; Even with every team we’ve made, I’m pretty sure we’ve done it together. So it’s definitely strange to be without him, but hopefully it will be good to compete against them.

“We’re very family orientated (so we miss them) but other than that the boys have made it easy for me and my partner and daughter love it up here so it’s good.”

Feagai too recently announced his engagement to partner Maddison Weatherall (who is also a former Dragons player) and expanding his family, with another baby on the way.

The move away from New South Wales was also made somewhat easier for Feagai – who joins his twin brother Daniel Saifiti as new signings at the Dolphins – as he had some familiar faces at the club, including former Dragons and now Dolphins assistant coaches and younger Ben, Kristian Woolf’s brother, helps him make the decision.

“I talked to him about it when I made the decision last year about where I wanted to go with my future… (and) I know from experience with them and playing against the guys what they are like,” Feagai said.

“You can see the class of the team just by watching them. So I was pretty excited to just come along and learn as much as I could, and I know what Kristian Woolf is like. So all of that together was an important reason.”

Like the Dolphins, the Dragons were also in contention for the finals late in the 2024 season, with Feagai saying he sensed a strong mindset among the group of players to secure a place in the top eight for the first time.

“I can definitely feel that,” said the former Under-18 NSW Blues and Australian Schoolboys representative.

“Usually you always feel it from the coach, but when you feel it from the players, it’s a completely different feeling. So I can feel it from the players and I know what it’s like, I was pretty much in the same boat last season (2024)… I have the same hunger.

“In terms of fitness (in pre-season), I think the way we want to play the game and the way Woolfy wants us to play the game has to be exactly where we are have to be, so let’s just keep working hard.”

Due to his own motivation, Feagai did not shy away from breaking into the starting lineup, with the Dolphins having an impressive defense that also included representative center Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo, who also demonstrated his strength at the center position last season .

“To be honest, I know it will be hard to crack but I am doing my best to learn not only from the coaches but also from the group of players because there is a lot of class in the full-backs. Feagai said.

“Sometimes you shy away from challenges and while I have my moments, at the end of the day I think about the big return.

“I think this move will bring out the best growth in me… especially given the other challenge of moving away from home and staying comfortable.

“(In training) everything is healthy competition and at the end of the day it takes the whole club to win.

“It’s definitely not just about the starting XI, so the better I am, the better they are, and the better they are, the better I am.”