NRL: Former coach gives Tabuai-Fidow green light after debut
Cowboys superstar Val Holmes is under an injury cloud, though a former coach says Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow looked more than ready to cover the fullback position in the superstar’s absence.
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The footwork, the slick ball movement, and the effortless way in which Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow looks as if he’s gliding across the field has finally been put on show in the NRL.
Cairns rugby league fans had a front-row seat to the skills teenage Tabuai-Fidow had at his disposal during his time with the Northern Pride’s Mal Meninga Cup side and Cairns Brothers’ colts team in 2018.
FLASHBACK: TABUAI-FIDOW RUNS 100m IN 11 SECONDS
Highlight packages featuring hat-tricks for the Pride and an epic five-try haul for Brothers against his junior club Kangaroos were circulated en masse before and after he made his official debut for the Cowboys in their 37-26 loss to the Warriors on Friday.
He finished the game at fullback after Valentine Holmes suffered an ankle injury, and jagged two try assists in the loss at Central Coast Stadium.
Holmes is under an injury cloud heading into this week’s clash with Wests Tigers, though a former coach said Tabuai-Fidow looked more than ready to cover the fullback position in the superstar’s absence.
Tye Ingebrigtsen coached the flyer, who in 2018 ran 100m in 11.04 seconds, in the Pride’s Mal Meninga Cup team that year, and said Tabuai-Fidow had all the tools to succeed in the NRL.
“I’ve seen a lot of players over the years but the things he could do, I’ve not seen before,” Ingebrigtsen said. “(If Holmes is injured), this could be a really good opportunity for him to show what he can do.
“Apart from the Nines, he hasn’t played Queensland Cup, and he hasn’t played much footy against men, but he was outstanding on Friday night.”
A season at Townsville last year had the 18-year-old learning directly from Cowboys legend Matty Bowen, and he announced his arrival to the rugby league world when North Queensland won the NRL Nines title in Perth earlier this year.
He replaced fellow Far North product Ben Hampton on the wing for his debut, but Holmes’ injury meant Tabuai-Fidow moved to the position he’s played for most of his junior career.
Tabuai-Fidow finished with two try assists, though missed the read on a kick which led to a Warriors try.
“He got caught out on one of those kick tries but generally speaking he did a pretty good job,” Green said.
Originally published as NRL: Former coach gives Tabuai-Fidow green light after debut