NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett compares Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Steve Renouf, freak try that sealed first NRL contract

A 15-year-old Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was leaving defenders on the deck just like he is in the NRL today. Watch the try that sealed his first NRL contract.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow try that sealed his contract

Wayne Bennett says Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the closest thing to Steve Renouf as the ‘Hammer’ put NSW on notice by outlining his mission to emulate the Broncos legend by scoring four tries in a game.

Tabuai-Fidow terrorised the Blues with a hat-trick of tries to spearhead Queensland’s 38-10 win in the series opener and the Maroons speed demon is aiming to go one better in Origin II next Wednesday night.

The Hammer is the NRL’s man-of-the-moment after his 95-metre classic against the Sharks last week and the Maroons centre wants to entertain at the MCG ground where his AFL idol, ‘Buddy’ Franklin, was a frequent matchwinner.

Indigenous ace Tabuai-Fidow, who was snapped up by former Cowboys scout Clint Zammit for $5000 after beating four defenders in a trademark surge to the tryline as a 15-year-old at Brisbane Grammar, wasn’t even born when Broncos centre great Steve Renouf put his stamp on the code.

HTF try

Renouf scored 142 tries in 183 games for Brisbane, including four tries in a match on a staggering five occasions.

Buoyed by his terrific treble in Game One, Tabuai-Fidow has the hot hand and says he would relish the prospect of following in the footsteps of Renouf by crossing the line four times in his NRL career.

Origin II could be his moment as Hammer’s Maroons look to bury the Blues in straight sets and seal a hat-trick of interstate titles.

“No, I haven’t scored four yet,” Tabuai-Fidow said.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow wanting four tries is a scary thought for NSW. Picture: Adam Head

“I’m just waiting for that day that I do get lucky and get over the line four times.

“I’ve seen bits and pieces of him (Renouf).

“He’s done a lot in the game and the type of player he was … he was pretty special.”

If anyone can offer an apt comparison of Renouf and Tabuai-Fidow, it is super coach Bennett.

Bennett was Renouf’s only NRL mentor during a glittering 10-year career that netted four premierships and the Dolphins coach was in awe of his fullback protege Tabuai-Fidow’s act of magic against the Sharks.

Bennett has been equally impressed with the Hammer’s seamless transition to the Origin arena, likening his movement, swerve and blinding acceleration to that of ‘The Pearl’ Renouf.

“Steve Renouf … he was wonderful and had special gifts,” Bennett said.

“He and Hammer would be the two in my time who have that absolute magic to get to the tryline and create that moment.”

Tabuai-Fidow is also creating special moments in Maroon and at his current strike rate, the 22-year-old could become State of Origin’s greatest tryscorer.

Greg Inglis sits atop the Origin tryscoring summit with 18 from 32 games, but Tabuai-Fidow already has eight four-pointers from just five appearances.

Entering Game Two, Hammer’s strike rate of 1.6 tries per game is the best in Origin’s 44-year history _ and the Maroons speed machine warned the Blues he has more four-pointers up his sleeve.

“Yeah, I think I do,” he said.

“I love scoring tries and just getting over the line for the boys.

“Hopefully in this game I can get at least one again.”

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will look to keep up his freakish Origin tryscoring rate in game two. Picture: Adam Head

Queensland hooker Ben Hunt says Maroons players are constantly stunned by the raw speed of Tabuai-Fidow, who has been clocked at 10.85sec over 100 metres.

“He is the fastest league player I have seen,” Hunt said. “Even then, I think Hammer only runs as fast as he has to.”

The former Cowboys young gun hopes to light up the MCG like Franklin in his pomp.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories about the stadium and how big it is and I’m just excited to get out there and see it,” he said.

“It’s a famous stadium within the AFL sport.

“Buddy Franklin was my AFL idol, just the stuff that he did during the game.

“He was a big body and just those goals and those marks that he did take were pretty special.

“Just watching him grow up was pretty special.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wayne Bennett compares Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Steve Renouf, freak try that sealed first NRL contract