NRL 2024: Trai Fuller eyes new Dolphins deal as he fills in at fullback for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

At just 170cm, he will be the smallest man on the park when the Dolphins host the Knights. But Trai Fuller is channelling his childhood hero Matt Bowen as he chases a new NRL deal.

Dolphins fill-in fullback Trai Fuller ran riot in last week’s rout of the Eels in Darwin. Picture: Getty Images

He is the Broncos discard who has become one of the Dolphins’ discoveries of the 2024 season.

Born in Monto, the tiny Queensland bush town 200km west of Bundaberg where Mal Meninga first played football, Trai Fuller is steeled by the feats of his childhood hero, Cowboys legend Matt Bowen, that there is still room for the little magician in the NRL.

Standing 170cm — two centimetres shorter than ‘Mango’ Bowen — Fuller will be the smallest man on the park in Sunday’s clash against the Knights at Suncorp Stadium.

But just like Bowen, the fullback livewire is evidence footballing instinct can trump a lack of size, as the hapless Eels discovered when Fuller ran riot in last week’s Dolphins drubbing in Darwin.

Dolphins fill-in fullback Trai Fuller ran riot in last week’s rout of the Eels in Darwin. Picture: Getty Images

Filling the gargantuan void of injured Dolphins superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Fuller resembled a pint-sized version of the ‘Hammer’ as he carved up Parramatta in a dazzling fullback display.

In just his second NRL game, the late-blooming 27-year-old posted seven tackle busts, one line break, set-up a try and scored one himself with a 45-metre burst to finish with 179m in a 44-16 rout.

If not for Kalyn Ponga’s foot injury, Fuller would have waged a fullback duel with the Knights superstar. Instead, he is set for a backfield shootout with Newcastle debutant David Armstrong and has no issues if the Knights attempt to target him.

“Size isn’t everything if you have the desire,” says Fuller, who plays his third NRL game after his round 25 debut last season against Wests Tigers.

Fuller is inspired by the feats of his childhood hero, Cowboys legend Matt Bowen (pictured).

“Growing up, I loved watching Matty Bowen, Johnathan Thurston and Benny Barba.

“Being an Indigenous guy myself, I’m really proud of my culture, and I love the way those guys played the game.

“The smaller fellas like Matty Bowen and ‘JT’ (Thurston) have paved the way and that inspires me.”

Fuller was born in Monto before moving 70km south to an even smaller rural town at Eidsvold, home to just 574 residents.

The NRL could have easily seemed a dream too big, and too out of reach, but the Eidsvold Eagles junior got his break when he was spotted by the Broncos while attending St Brendan’s Yeppoon in Central Queensland.

Fuller came through Brisbane’s under-20s in 2017 with a generation of Broncos young guns. The NRL dream was on his doorstep. Then came the crushing blow.

Fuller (right) won a Queensland Cup grand final in 2018.

“I was at the Broncos for two years,” he said.

“It was my dream to play NRL for the Broncos. I was there with guys like Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs, Tom Flegler, Herbie Farnworth, Patty Carrigan and Keenan Palasia.

“So I was in good company and it’s been great to see them kick on in the NRL.

“Unfortunately for me, my contract ran out and they didn’t keep me. The Broncos had Corey Allen there, too, and he was playing ahead of me, so there weren’t a lot of opportunities.”

Fuller stayed in the system at Redcliffe, then Brisbane’s feeder club, and quickly became a revelation in the Queensland Cup.

The flying fullback starred in the 2018 grand final, scoring two tries in Redcliffe’s 36-22 defeat of Easts Tigers, while now Broncos centre Staggs also crossed in the premiership win at Suncorp Stadium.

The off-contract Fuller made his Dolphins debut last year against Wests Tigers.

Now Fuller returns to Suncorp for his first Dolphins game on home turf, relishing the pressure of replacing Tabuai-Fidow as the off-contract speedster plays for his NRL future.

“It is a big responsibility replacing Hammer, but I don’t think of it like that. I just play my own game and enjoy what I do,” said Fuller, who has scored 52 tries in 87 Queensland Cup games.

“I’m off-contract, so I’d like to stay at the Dolphins but if I can get an opportunity in a top-30 squad somewhere else, I’d be happy to take it.

“I really hope I can get a new deal at the Dolphins, it’s a great club and I’m very happy here.

“I always thought I was good enough to play NRL but I just needed the opportunity I suppose.

“Now that I’ve got it, I hope I can keep it up and continue playing well for the Dolphins.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Trai Fuller eyes new Dolphins deal as he fills in at fullback for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow