Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been a star on the rise and it is not about to stop

The Hammer has enjoyed the biggest week of his life with a try on Origin debut and a starring game at fullback, but there is a secret behind his continued success.

The meteoric rise of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has shown no signs of stopping.

But even the back of the biggest week of his life, let alone rugby league career, it has been the influence he now has on young lives which drives him the most.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Maroons celebrates with Valentine Holmes of the Maroons after scoring a try during game three of the 2021 State of Origin Series. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

At just 19, The Hammer has captured the attention and imaginations of rugby league pundits across the country, his lightning speed and infectious grin quickly making him a fan favourite.

After his victorious try scoring exploits for Queensland in his State of Origin debut, Tabuai-Fidow almost single handily steered the Cowboys to a win against the Sydney Roosters, only for ill-discipline elsewhere to cost them.

When he crossed the line for the Maroons on Wednesday night, the second showing of ‘The Hammerhead Shark’ try celebration came out.

Ever since becoming an ambassador for Cowboys House, the teenage wunderkind has become even more engrossed in his indigenous culture.

Tabuai-Fidow has always been proud of his upbringing, but now he is a beacon of inspiration for a plethora of kids who were just like him.

Surreal though it is for the emerging star, given less than two years ago he was graduating from Kirwan State High School, it is a job he considers far more an honour.

“Being indigenous and proud of having an indigenous background, the shark is one of my totems,” Tabuai-Fidow explained of his celebration.

QLDÕs Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scores. Queensland vs New South Wales at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast. Pic Peter Wallis

“I just go out there to show the young indigenous kids they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. I’m passionate about it.

“Going from graduating a couple of years ago to making my debut for the Cowboys and in Origin it’s been a hectic couple of years.

“But I’ve enjoyed every step that I’ve taken. It just shows you can do whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it.”

Tabuai-Fidow was the centre of attention in Saturday’s 34-18 loss in Townsville, running for 253 metres and busting eight tackles, while making two line breaks and scoring a brilliant try in the process.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Cowboys makes a break during the round 18 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Sydney Roosters. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Given the chance to play his preferred fullback position in the injury absence of Valentine Holmes, he is intent on announcing himself as the club’s long-term number one.

The demands of being an NRL custodian are still ones Tabuai-Fidow is adjusting to, limping in discomfort as his calves began to cramp in the final minutes of the weekend’s clash.

But despite the pain, despite the disappointment of another Cowboys loss, he was on cloud nine.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

In the blink of an eye he has gone from the electric talent who lit up the Perth Nines last year to among rugby league’s elite and impressing in the State of Origin arena.

However there was one moment from the experience which deflated him.

Ever since Tabuai-Fidow burst onto the scene, a question has lingered.

Is he fast than Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr?

Maroons’ Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is tackled in goal by Blues’ Josh Addo-Carr. One of the few times the pair of speedsters came together in Origin. Pic Peter Wallis

In the first half of Queensland’s triumph, The Foxx swooped on a loose ball which was called back for a knock on.

For a fleeting second NRL fans were set to be treated to the foot race everybody wants to see.

Now, the wait continues.

“I was a bit off with them blowing the whistle because everyone has asked me who’s faster,” Tabuai-Fidow confessed with a laugh.

“That would’ve shown who’s faster then. I was pretty keen to have that race with him, hopefully some time down the track it happens.

“The atmosphere just running out there in a Maroons jersey I’m still buzzing now. I’m still pinching myself I did make my debut, I loved it out there and loved playing for my state.

“I was over the moon to be out there. Playing in that Origin arena it has given me a big confidence boost.”

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Cowboys is tackled by Sam Walker of the Roosters during the round 18 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Sydney Roosters. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

PRESERVING THE TALENT

The trick now for Tabuai-Fidow is to bottle this form.

Still so young and raw in the NRL, many a rugby league rising star before him have failed to groom their potential into a consistent and dominant career.

It is a test North Queensland coach Todd Payten is wary of.

The still developing teenager showed signs of wear and tear post-game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, and will be crucial to his side’s prospects against the Storm on Friday night.

Payten said he would be keeping a watchful eye on the prodigious talent, and ensure the excitement around his assent was managed.

“It’s always the challenge; he’s a young kid, he’s 19, he’s played the biggest game of his life,” he said.

“It’s emotionally draining, not just physically. I think with all the hype around him and the game it’s going to be a challenge for him.

“We will look after him, maybe not this week but definitely moving forward from this next round we have a longer week and we’ll be making sure he gets enough rest and recovery.”

Cowboy reveals the reason for teammate’s anguish

Scenes of a distraught Tom Gilbert on Saturday afternoon spoke volumes of the frustrations felt in the midst of the Cowboys’ losing streak.

But for his fellow forward Coen Hess, it is exactly the passion he wants to see as they seek to find the catalyst which rescues their season.

North Queensland slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat when they were run down 34-18 by the Roosters. It was the third time within this losing run they have scored the opening two tries only to capitulate.

Gilbert was seen in the dressing sheds being comforted by teammates and staff, in tears after another game slipped through the Cowboys’ grasp.

However as devastating a sight as it may have been, Hess said it summed up two things: the position they were in and the passion of the emerging weapon.

Tom Gilbert cut a devastated figure in the dressing sheds after the Cowboys loss to Sydney. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“That’s just Tommy, he’s the ultimate competitor. He loves winning and that’s what we love about him,” he said.

“That’s just Tommy, and when he doesn’t win he’s upset and that’s what you want in a teammate. It shows he cares.

“Everyone is feeling the same pain, that’s just how he deals with it and it goes to show how much it means to him and how much the jersey means to him.

“That’s what you want to see in the younger guys.”

Back to back concerning losing streaks have bookended a six from eight winning run for North Queensland in 2021, and they are yet to find the right balance for 80 minutes.

During their victorious charge into the bye they were often behind on the scoreboard, before fighting their way back into the contest.

Now the Cowboys are starting brightly, but unable to halt the momentum when something goes against them.

Coen Hess of the Cowboys looks on. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Hess was critical of his own role off the bench against Sydney, adamant he and his fellow interchange forwards did not match the intensity of those who started.

While they rectified that in some capacity after halftime, he believes that was what triggered the tri-colours fightback.

Statistically the campaign is not yet lost, as the club sit just two points outside the top eight.

But a drastic change in the way they approach a contest needs to occur to make that happen.

Hess vividly recalls the 2017 run to the grand final, when the Cowboys surprised many with a late season assault.

Back then he said he remembers feeling free, with he and his teammates playing for the same reason which got them first involved in rugby league — enjoyment.

In an ever scrutinised era for the NRL it is easier said than done, particularly when the losses are piling up.

However Hess said it was a simple philosophy which has worked wonders in the past, and was a mentality they needed to revisit.

Coen Hess of the Cowboys is tackled during the round 17 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the North Queensland Cowboys at McDonald Jones Stadium, on July 09, 2021, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

He said that approach kept the direction of the team concise and clear, and their current manner of overcomplicating proceedings needed to be altered.

“We didn’t really have any pressure on ourselves and there was no real expectation for us to go well. I thought we just went out there and everyone played for each other,” Hess said.

“We didn’t have the feather on the shoulder saying ‘will this work’? Everyone was concise, went out there and just played our game.

“When we won the Nines tournament everyone was just having fun. Obviously Nines is different to NRL, but if we can go out there with that mindset and compete that’s what we did when we went on that good stretch of games in the middle of the season.

“We were competing in everything and that’s what Toddy (Payten) has drilled into that. If we can go out there and have fun, be clear, be concise and compete that’s the recipe for our best games.”

Originally published as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been a star on the rise and it is not about to stop