NRL 2023: Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow pipped by ‘stunning’ Bronco in close call for team of week
Brisbane’s two rugby league teams unveiled cult heroes in the same position on the weekend — so who got the nod in our Queensland team of the week? It wasn’t an easy choice.
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It was like having to pick between Rembrandt and Picasso …
Our team of the week is sure to divide fans this week as Broncos fullback Reece Walsh and Dolphins Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow produced two of the best performances imaginable under vastly different circumstances.
Walsh, in his first grade debut for the Broncos, destroyed the Cowboys with the type of pace and electricity that took the Broncos to a new level of performance. Fox League’s Greg Alexander called Walsh’s performance “stunning’’.
I made him fullback in our team of the round from Queensland’s four teams ahead of Tabuai-Fidow who could not have been more impressive in the Dolphins’ defeat of the Raiders.
Walsh got the nod because his attacking class was of a standard rarely seen, a great game as opposed to a very good one.
Very few players can reach the sort of heights Walsh did against the Cowboys. If he maintains that level for the entire winter he will surely carry the Broncos not simply into the top eight but the top four.
Walsh had an excellent first half then went even better after the break, setting up a try for Kotoni Staggs, scoring one of his own and narrowly missing another.
The Hammer’s performance also stood out.
Smoothly soaking up the stresses of a wet night and a sodden field, he was both conjurer and clean up man, scoring two tries and reading the Raiders kicks towards the Dolphins in-goal with stunning predictability.
He is quickly becoming a crowd favourite — who said the Dolphins lack marquee signings?
The Dolphins were again heavily represented in the team of the round.
Young forward Tom Gilbert got the nod for an emotional, highly committed performance, and halfback Sean O’Sullivan, rated by Andrew Johns as one of the game’s best thinkers, got there for solidly marshalling his troops.
The Broncos Ezra Mam makes the team for the second week in a row on the back of another livewire performance. The twin threats of Mam and Walsh could be a nightmare for rival defenders this season.
Broncos’ Herbie Farnworth, bound for the Dolphins next season, maintained his promise to give his all for Brisbane this season and has started with two strong performances.
Brisbane missed him during their late season fade out last season as his natural competitiveness seems to lift the team.
He is quickly becoming a crowd favourite — who said the Dolphins lack marquee signings?
The Dolphins were again heavily represented in the team of the round.
Young forward Tom Gilbert got the nod for an emotional, highly committed performance, and halfback Sean O’Sullivan, rated by Andrew Johns as one of the game’s best thinkers, got there for solidly marshalling his troops.
The Broncos Ezra Mam makes the team for the second week in a row on the back of another livewire performance. The twin threats of Mam and Walsh could be a nightmare for rival defenders this season.
Broncos’ Herbie Farnworth, bound for the Dolphins next season, maintained his promise to give his all for Brisbane this season and has started with two strong performances.
Brisbane missed him during their late season fade out last season as his natural competitiveness seems to lift the team.
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow pipped by ‘stunning’ Bronco in close call for team of week
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