Rule changes were introduced in 2016 to ensure that NRL players of Pacific heritage didn't have to make a choice between either their State of Origin representative team or playing for their nation.
Further refinements were then made in 2020 to remove all waiting periods when a player wishes to switch from a Tier 1 team (Australia, England/Great Britain, New Zealand) to a Tier 2/3 side (all others), with the exception that a player cannot represent two national teams in the same calendar year.
It means that Tabuai-Fidow could choose to follow the likes of Hayne Paas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, both of whom have expressed an interest to play for Samoa later this year should they miss out on the Australia squad for the newly revived Ashes series in England.
The Dolphins fullback is likely to be part of head coach Mal Meninga's considerations for the preliminary squad for that series, and he told reporters on Tuesday that he would be delighted to wear the national kit of his Samoan father's team.
“Just to be part of it and represent my dad’s side. I know I have already done it once but it would be pretty special to do it again in the near future.
“My mum is a Torres Strait Islander and my dad is Samoan so it is pretty cool to run out with the flags on representing them. They've been a big part of my life and to have those two cultures is pretty special.
"It’s pretty cool how many Samoans play in the NRL. If they get the crew together it’ll be a pretty special team."
When asked if he was in consideration for the Kangaroos' end-of-season tour of England, Tabuai-Fidow admitted his first four performances of the season were well below his best.
“Going off the last four weeks I need to come out of my shell. I'm not thinking too much about the end of the year. I just want to play good footy and see what happens from there.”
Tabuai-Fidow's Dolphins open Round 6 with a home game against the Penrith Panthers.
After they missed the 2024 Pacific Championships to tour England, Samoa will re-enter this year's tournament in place of Australia, joining Tonga and New Zealand in the Cup division.