Teenage tearaway Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is ready for Origin and he has a legend of the sport in his corner
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is electric on the field, and he is determined he has the ability to shock a few Blues when he takes the field for Queensland. But it is a confidence that comes from the private words of one of the state’s finest fullbacks.
Townsville
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HAMISO Tabuai-Fidow is adamant he is ready to take the State of Origin arena head on.
The teenage speedster will realise a childhood dream when he runs out for Queensland in the dead rubber next Wednesday night.
It is part of a blooding of generation next as the Maroons, desperate to add speed and spark to their edges, called the Cowboys centre up in his second season of NRL.
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In his only interview since joining the Maroons camp, Tabuai-Fidow told the Townsville Bulletin he was floored when he received the phone call but is adamant he is ready for the opportunity.
It is not false bravado. It is a confidence that was earned working under some of the greatest speedsters in the game.
While it might appear a meteoric rise for Tabuai-Fidow, it is a pathway he has been on for several years after playing for the Maroons in the under-18s back in 2019.
That year Tabuai-Fidow ended the Blues three-year dominance in the junior Origin arena, and also turned plenty of heads in a camp after he wrong-footed Maroons veteran Will Chambers in an opposed session during the camp.
“It feels like yesterday that I was playing in the under-18s Maroons, I can remember that atmosphere at the game, it was hectic,” Tabuai-Fidow told the Townsville Bulletin.
“We learnt a lot in that camp, and I can’t wait to get into this camp and just soak everything up over the week. I am over the moon, I got the call from Greeny (Maroons coach Paul Green) and was just lost for words.
“With having two pre-seasons under my belt (at the Cowboys), I feel ready and confident going into the camp. I feel like I am playing good footy at the Cowboys. The coaching staff at the Cowboys have really put confidence in me playing at centre.
“It was my dream to play in Origin and now I get my chance. I want to rip in and play some good football.”
The year Tabuai-Fidow wore Maroon for the first time, was the same season he was tucked under the wing of Cowboys legend Matty Bowen in the Blackhawks under-18s program.
Bowen, who was the one player Tabuai-Fidow idolised growing up on the field of Cairns, became a mentor to the young flyer. A bond they still share today.
Bowen checks in weekly on his young protégé and was one of the first to message him after news of his selection broke late on Sunday night.
“To see him grow from an 18-year-old at the Blackhawks to playing first grade footy and now to the big one, I am very proud,” Bowen said. “Anyone who played a small part in his career would be proud.
“I am still pretty close to Hammer. I talk to him every chance I get every week. It is not always about footy, it is just to keep him level headed. I want him to keep having fun, you can see when he scores tries or the best no tries of the weekend, he is smiling. I want him to keep smiling.”
While he is only still a teenager, Bowen is adamant Tabuai-Fidow is ready to make his mark in the State of Origin arena.
It is not just his blinding speed and sharp footwork that will be key for the Maroons in avoiding a series whitewash in Sydney.
“Hammer is up for it, he has been playing well for the Cowboys,” Bowen said. “You can see he is getting more comfortable playing centres with each game.
“Origin will be a big test for him but he has been defending really well. Obviously being a fullback, making one-on-one tackles was crucial. Now he is in the front line, he is still showing that ability.
“The series is all done and dusted but if you want to blood kids for the coming years, what a better way to do it. Hammer is up for it.”
Originally published as Teenage tearaway Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is ready for Origin and he has a legend of the sport in his corner
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