Cowboys young gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow stars for Australian Schoolboys
Hamiso-Tabuai-Fidow proved why he’s Queensland’s most exciting young player with a matchwinning game for Australian Schoolboys just two days after signing with North Queensland.
NRL
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Electric 18-year-old Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is primed to make his NRL debut next year after ripping apart the Junior Kiwis for Australian Schoolboys in Sunday’s Trans-Tasman clash.
Tabuai-Fidow put pen to paper on a development contract with North Queensland on Friday and wasted no time in showing the Cowboys exactly what he’s capable of in a man-of-the-match performance in Australia’s 36-20 win.
Starting at centre to accommodate Keebra Park sensation Reece Walsh, the Mal Meninga Cup player of the year put his pace to use in scoring Australia’s first try in under four minutes before racking up another line-break and 102 metres as the hosts built a 12-point half-time lead.
Only a loose pass denied Tabuai-Fidow a second try during a frantic 40 minutes that saw three more tries and plenty of feeling.
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Kiwi fullback Starford Toa proved why Newcastle rate him so highly with a stutter-stepping try in the sixth minute before a crunching tackle from Brendan Piakura sparked an all-in fist-flying brawl.
New Zealand earned the penalty but Walsh would be the beneficiary as Australia’s physicality marched the Kiwis backwards, leading to a neat grubber from Roosters-bound Sam Walker that found his fullback right under the sticks.
A one-on-one strip from Tabuai-Fidow then laid the platform for skipper Jackson Topine to cross just before the break with the Bulldogs prospect swerving neatly to score near the right corner post.
New Zealand gave themselves a shot when Kayal Iro barged over from their first set after halftime but a second-half blitz from Brisbane Boys College sensation Jack Howarth made their task almost impossible.
The Storm signing bumped two tackles and offloaded for Max Fegai to complete an 80m movement sparked by Tabuai-Fidow before latching onto another Walker grubber to score a try of his own try, putting Australia 20 points clear in the 53rd minute.
The Kiwis rocketed back into contention with a pair of quickfire tries to Selestino Ravutaumada and To’a but Australia’s defence tightened from there as Sam Walker’s full-time try and conversion blew the final margin back to 16 points.
Topine paid tribute to the Junior Kiwis, saying: “they really came back in the second half when we got out to a lead” but rival skipper Jordan Riki was humble in defeat.
“They really went out there and gave it to us today,” Riki said.
“Not the result we wanted but I really want to thank my brothers (teammates), I’ll hold this for the rest of my life.”
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS 36 (Tabuai-Fidow, Walsh, Topine, Feagai, Howarth, Walker tries; Walsh 5, Walker goals) def JUNIOR KIWIS 20 (Toa 2, Iro, Ravutaumada tries, Moala 2 goals).