Family guy Feagai embraces twin challenges in Phins move

Former Dragon Max Feagai admits it’s a ‘pretty weird feeling’ to be pursuing his football career separate from his twin brother, but is embracing the challenge of forcing his way into the Dolphins backline.

Feagai, who has moved up with his young family to join Kristian Woolf’s side, made his NRL debut with St George Illawarra in 2020, one year earlier than twin Mathew who remains with the Dragons - said while it was ‘a bit scary’ to be branching out, the centre had been made to feel welcome by his new club.

“It was a bit scary at the start and also exciting, which is a pretty weird feeling,” Feagai said.

“We definitely did everything together; even every team we made I'm pretty sure we made together as well, so it's definitely weird being away from him, but it'll be good to come up against them, hopefully.

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

Feagai also (who is also a former Dragons player) and expansion of his family, with another baby on the way.

The move away from New South Wales was also made a bit easier for Feagai – who joins fellow twin Daniel Saifiti as a new signing with the Dolphins – by having a few familiar faces at the club, including former Dragons and now Dolphins assistant coach and younger brother to Kristian Woolf, Ben, helping him make the decision.

“I was speaking to him about it when I was making that decision on where I wanted to go with my future last year … (and) I know from experience of versing them and playing against the boys what they're like,” Feagai said.

“You can just see the class in the team when you watch them, so I was pretty excited to just come up and learn as much as I can and I know what Kristian Woolf is like, so all of that together was one big reason.”

Like the Dolphins, the Dragons were also in contention for the finals late in the 2024 season, with Feagai saying he could sense a strong mindset amongst the playing group to earn a maiden top eight appearance.

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

“Usually, you always feel it from the coach, but when you feel it from the players, that's a different kind of feeling, so, I can feel it from the players and I know what it is like, I was in there pretty much in the same boat this past season (2024) ... I have that same hunger.

“With the fitness side of things (in pre-season), I think the way we want to play the game and the way Woolfy wants us to play the game, that's just where we need to be, so, we're just going to keep working hard.”

On his own motivation, Feagai didn’t back away from the challenge ahead to break into the starting side, with the Dolphins boasting a formidable backline including representative centre Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo, who also showed his strength in the centre position last season.

“To be honest, I know it's going to be a hard one to crack, but I'm just doing my best learning from not just the coaches, but the playing group as well, because there's a lot of class in the outside backs,” Feagai said.

“Sometimes you shy away from challenges and I do have my moments, but at the end of the day, I'm thinking of the big return.

“I think this move will get the best growth out of me … especially with a different challenge moving away from home and being comfortable.

“(At training) it's all healthy competition and at the end of the day, it takes the whole club to win.

“It’s definitely not just the starting 17, so the better I go, the better they go and the better they go, the better I go.”