State of Origin 2021: Maroons team news, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to debut, Kalyn Ponga returns
He was the one that got away from the Queensland Reds. Now Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has the daunting task of stopping Tom Trbojevic.
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Maroons bolter Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the one that got away from the Queensland Reds and now he wants to settle a debate – who is the fastest man in the NRL?
Tabuai-Fidow will make his State of Origin debut for Queensland in Wednesday night’s dead-rubber against NSW in Newcastle.
Nicknamed “Hammer”, Tabuai-Fidow will have the daunting task of marking Blues centre Tom Trbojevic, one of the chief architects of NSW’s stunning series domination.
But on the outside of Trbojevic will be Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr – the man regarded as the NRL’s fastest player.
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“The Fox” has been clocked at a top speed of 38.1kmh this season by the NRL’s Telstra Tracker, sitting ahead of Manly flyer Jason Saab (38kmh) and Maroons winger Xavier Coates (37.6km), with Tabuai-Fidow (37.3kmh) fourth.
But there is a sense Tabuai-Fidow – who says his best time over 100m was 10.85 secs “a couple of years ago” – is yet to hit the afterburners.
That could change at McDonald Jones Stadium if Tabuai-Fidow and Addo-Carr find themselves in a showdown.
“There is talk about who’s faster – I’m not too sure yet,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“He is pretty quick. If he does make a break I will get on my bike. If I make a break he will probably get on his.
“I’m not sure (who’s quicker). He is pretty quick off the mark as well.
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
What isn‘t up for debate is that Tabuai-Fidow will bring some spark to the position after backrower Kurt Capewell plugged a hole at left centre in the opening two games.
Tabuai-Fidow, 19, has scored 11 tries in 24 NRL games and has the potential to be a long-term Maroons player if he steps up on the big stage and does a job on Trbojevic.
“I’ll be nervous rocking up to the game and my heart will be pumping,” he said.
“Once I get out there I have a good feeling I will be ready. I want to do the job for Queensland.
“The boys have made me feel very welcome. I know they will have trust in me to back myself.
“(Trbojevic) is a good player and the way he has been playing this series and throughout the season, he is always moving.
“He doesn’t stop in attack and defence. It’s unreal, I’ve never seen anyone play like that. He is always in support.
“I have to get up on him and be ready for what he’s going to do.”
Tabuai-Fidow’s decision to walk away from a scholarship with the Reds has paid dividends as he prepares to realise a childhood dream of emulating his hero Matty Bowen by playing State of Origin for Queensland.
The Cairns product was signed by the Reds as a teenager and moved to Brisbane Grammar School, before deciding to return to the 13-man code.
“I had a rugby union scholarship at Brisbane Grammar when I was 15 and was in the Reds pathway,” he said.
“It was in Brisbane for rugby but I got homesick so I moved back to Cairns and found my way to Townsville.
“I made a choice to move back to home and pursue league. I’m happy with the decision I made.
“It was the sport I loved the most. My whole family grew up playing and watching league. I had a love for the game growing up.”
Tabuai-Fidow still has plenty to work on in his game but his Maroons teammates are confident he will not let them down as they look to avoid a 3-nil series whitewash.
“He’s going to be fantastic for us,” captain Daly Cherry-Evans said.
“Anyone who’s played the game with the current rules … speed is a really tough thing to mark up against.
“If you can get that momentum rolling on nicely for your team, create opportunities out wide and you have genuine speed it’s really hard to stop.
“It also changes the defensive line. If you know someone out wide is really quick then you’ve got to have one eye on them.
“He’s going to help free up our attack a bit more. We’re not asking him to completely change us, but it’s nice knowing that’s out there and we can get the ball to him when the time’s right.”
Why Origin III could haunt Maroons forever
Origin great Justin Hodges believes Queensland selectors have picked the right combination of skill and x-factor for Game III as the Maroons look to the future to avoid a series whitewash next week.
Kalyn Ponga and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have been pitchforked into Camp Maroon for the first time this year, while AJ Brimson makes his return after injury ruled him out of Game II and Ben Hunt has been handed the No. 9 jersey.
The inclusion of speed demon Tabuai-Fidow has been the big talking point among Queensland fans this week, however Hodges believed Ponga will have more of an impact on next Wednesday’s series finale.
Ponga proved a handful in his return from injury during Newcastle’s 38-nil win over the Cowboys on the weekend – scoring two tries and setting up another two to cement his place as Queensland’s No. 1 man heading into Game 3.
“This squad is probably stronger than the last couple of sides that we’ve had,” Hodges said.
“It’s the perfect mix and having Kalyn back is a massive boost.
“He will take a bit of pressure off some of the other guys.
“If our forwards do the tough work through the middle, it will give guys like Ponga and Hammer the opportunities out wide which we haven’t had over the last couple of games.”
Queensland is staring down the barrel of their worst series defeat, having already suffered a 76 to 6 aggregate in the past two games, and Hodges said the motivation for Game III was the “pride in the jersey”
“Even though the series is over, there’s still a lot of pride on the line,” he said.
“We don’t want to be a side that goes down three-nil.
“The boys have their backs against the wall and the thing now is to build for next year.”
State of Origin legend Chris Close has also challenged the Maroons to break their conservative shackles next week or regret it “forever”.
The Maroons have been criticised for their lacklustre attack in their previous two games and the former long-time Queensland manager took aim at the current squad.
“Queensland haven’t played like Queensland this series,’’ said the Maroons first Origin try scorer.
“They have waited for someone else to do something so they could find their place in the game. You cannot wait to be led. We have not stepped out of our comfort zone.
“We have not extended our physical and mental capacity to the level required to represent the state.
“NSW have done that. Every man, to a man, has extend themselves to the fullness of their capacity.
“If you can do that and get beaten, the state of Queensland will understand. But not if you go at three-quarter pace. Do that and they will regret it forever.
“You cannot blame the person beside you.’’
Maroons gamble on youth to win back respect
It’s Hammer time for desperate Queensland.
Cowboys 19-year-old Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will make his Origin debut as Queensland coach Paul Green takes a gamble on youth and pace to avoid an embarrassing NSW clean sweep in Game Three on Wednesday week.
News Corp can reveal Green has called on the speed of ‘The Hammer’ to help nullify the attacking prowess of NSW sensation Tom Trbojevic after Queensland were burned on the edges in the opening two games of the series.
In other major changes:
* Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga has been named at fullback after missing the first two games with injury;
* Cowboys duo Kyle Feldt and Coen Hess have been dumped from the squad;
* Titans livewire AJ Brimson has been recalled as the No. 14 utility after missing Origin II with a knee injury;
* Hooker Andrew McCullough has been axed in favour of Ben Hunt; and
* Out-of-form Broncos prop Tom Flegler is a shock bolter as the 18th man in Queensland’s extended squad.
The injury-hit Maroons could face further disruption with Titans forward David Fifita in doubt for Origin III after being charged for a late shot on Canberra halfback Sam Williams in Gold Coast’s win on Saturday night.
But the one certainty is Tabuai-Fidow will make his Origin debut at centre, capping a meteoric rise for the Cairns speed demon, who was only blooded by the Cowboys in the NRL 13 months ago.
The teenager first enjoyed a taste of the big time at the NRL Nines in Perth last year, playing a starring role in the Cowboys’ tournament victory.
Since graduating to the NRL, The Hammer has showcased his blistering speed in scoring 11 tries from 23 games, including some magical long-range efforts torching defenders with his blinding pace off the mark.
Tabuai-Fidow says he has been clocked at 10.85 seconds over 100 metres and the Maroons are banking on his speed to match the likes of Trbojevic and NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr, widely regarded as the fastest man in the code.
‘HTF’ was on the verge of a debut for Origin II, only to be overlooked after suffering a headknock on the eve of selection for the return bout at Suncorp, which the Maroons lost 26-0.
But with NSW having wrapped up the series with a record 76-6 aggregate thus far, Green is keen to inject more fresh blood, with the Maroons coach excited by the X-factor Tabuai-Fidow could bring to Queensland’s backline.
“He is one of those guys in the NRL who can do something out of nothing,” said former Cowboys coach Green before Origin II.
“That’s what speed gives you. You can’t coach it.
“When other guys get tackled, Hamiso finds the space.
“We saw him in the NRL Nines, we unleashed him over there in Perth and he was electric.
“I know Nines football is a totally different thing, but as a young bloke then, he took a step up and having played a couple of seasons of NRL, Origin is the next step up.”
In other selection issues, Tabuai-Fidow’s baptism at centre will see Kurt Capewell shift to the back row, with Ponga’s return to fullback moving Valentine Holmes to the wing to partner Xavier Coates.
Hunt will start at hooker in place of McCullough, while Brimson returns as the super-sub off interchange.
Cowboys prop Frank Molo has missed a spot in the 17-man squad, but could still feature with Fifita facing a one-game ban.
Flegler has struggled in a losing Broncos team for the past two years but the 21-year-old will be added to Queensland’s extended squad to help prepare him for future service in Camp Maroon.
FULL SQUAD
1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Valentine Holmes, 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Xavier Coates, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (C), 8 Christian Welch, 9 Ben Hunt, 10 Josh Papalii, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Felise Kaufusi, 13 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Bench: 14 AJ Brimson, 15 Mo Fotuaika, 16 Jai Arrow, 17 David Fifita, 18 Francis Molo, 19 Kurt Mann, Thomas Flegler
Maroons drama as superstar faces Origin ban
– Jasper Bruce
Maroons wrecking ball David Fifita may be forced out of Origin III after being hit with a dangerous contact charge in the Titans’ win over the Raiders.
Fifita faces a one match ban for the late tackle, but as the Titans have a bye in round 17, he will miss the third Origin game unless he successfully argues his case at the NRL judiciary.
The former Bronco was sent to the sin bin for the shot, which referee Matt Cecchin called “late and unnecessary” on field.
“If you go on what they’ve been doing this season … I’m happy with (the sin bin),” said Tigers great Steve Roach in commentary for Fox League.
Should Fifita miss the game, he will join the likes of injured stars Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Reece Walsh and Reed Mahoney in being unavailable for Maroons selection.
Fifita featured as the Maroons’ bench second-rower in Game Two of this year’s series and would likely be replaced by Jaydn Su’A, who filled the slot in Game One.
The outlook isn’t so bleak for Fifita’s Queensland compatriot Valentine Holmes, who escaped suspension for his dangerous tackle on Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga.
Holmes made late contact with his opposite number’s neck in the dying minutes of the Cowboys’ loss on Saturday, sparking concerns he too would join the long list of Maroons unavailable for the final game of the Origin series.
The tackle left Ponga in agony, forcing him from the field for the contest’s final minutes.
“It was one of the more dangerous ones (crusher tackles) I’ve seen. It was ugly,” said 2004 premiership-winner Braith Anasta after the game
“(Queensland Origin coach) Paul Green has just gone, ‘Hang on a second, if there’s any charge, a crusher tackle, you’re gone’,” added Fox League’s Andrew Voss.
“He’s in trouble, Holmes,” Anasta agreed.
Referee Chris Sutton put Holmes on report for the tackle but on Sunday morning, the NRL’s match review committee classified the tackle as “Dangerous Contact – Head/Neck” rather than a crusher tackle.
With the early guilty plea, Holmes can accept a $1350 fine but risks coughing up $1800 should he unsuccessfully dispute the charge at the judiciary.
Despite looking in pain after the tackle, Ponga is confident he will line up for the Maroons in Origin III.
“It’s a bit stiff at the moment but I will put ice on it and I’ll be alright,” he said of his neck after the tackle “Hopefully I will be out there (for Queensland).”
It will be Ponga’s first appearance at state level since 2019 after a cruel run of injuries ruled him out of both last year’s post-season series and the first two games of the 2021 contest.
Ponga’s inclusion in the side is set to push Holmes onto the wing, with either Xavier Coates or Kyle Feldt likely to drop out of the starting 17.
After the Blues cruised to victory in the first two games of the series, the Maroons are now focusing their energy on avoiding a whitewash for the first time since 2000.
Game Three is scheduled for Sydney’s Stadium Australia but as the Harbour City continues to report locally acquired cases of Covid-19, the fixture may be relocated.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has held talks with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys about moving the game to Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium — the Knights’ home ground.
It would be the first game in Origin history to be held in the Hunter and would make 2021 the first series with only one game played in a state capital city.
Huge Maroons blow as star sidelined
Queensland’s hopes of avoiding a State of Origin clean sweep have copped a blow with gun hooker Harry Grant ruled out of the third clash.
Melbourne Storm on Saturday announced Grant, who missed the second Origin match with a hamstring injury, would be unavailable for the dead rubber on Wednesday week.
The Maroons will also be without Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, whose bid for an exemption to play was quashed on Friday.
With Eels star Reed Mahoney also out injured, veteran Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough started in the No. 9 jersey for Queensland in the 26-0 game two defeat.
Ben Hunt came off the bench in the No. 14 jersey and shapes as another starting hooker option.
Storm star turns back on Kiwis to keep Origin dream alive
The injury plagued Kiwis have suffered a massive blow ahead of the Pacific Championships, with a young star rejecting New Zealand to keep his Maroons Origin dream alive.
‘Not happy’: NSW dirty over coach exit
The truth behind Michael Maguire’s sudden decision to quit NSW has come to light as a attentions turn to a Blues legend.