NRL 2022: Dolphins recruit Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow requires surgery after RLWC injury

The Dolphins’ debut season will get off a slow start with the club confirming that one of their star recruits will undergo surgery due to an injury suffered at the World Cup.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will miss the majority of the Dolphins 2023 pre-season due to an ankle injury. Picture: AFP.

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have copped a ‘Hammer’ blow with star recruit Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to undergo surgery immediately.

Just a fortnight after signing a deal with the Dolphins, the former Cowboys flyer will miss the start of the 2023 pre-season and could be sidelined for three months in a setback for the NRL’s 17th team.

Tabuai-Fidow suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury during Samoa’s 60-6 loss to England last Sunday and has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup tournament.

The Hammer underwent scans upon his return to Australia and a specialist on Friday morning advised the Queensland Origin speedster must go under the knife to repair his damaged ankle.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will miss the majority of the Dolphins 2023 pre-season due to an ankle injury. Picture: AFP.

On a positive note, the 21-year-old is expected to be fully fit by mid-January, which would give Tabuai-Fidow sufficient time to work on his fitness ahead of his Dolphins debut in the 2023 premiership opener.

Dolphins coach Bennett plans to play Tabuai-Fidow at fullback and said it wasn’t ideal timing for the club to lose its top recruit to injury.

“Those injuries recover well but it will still take a while,” he said.

“He is going to be out for a while.

“The club has been in touch with him and we’ve heard from Samoa. We will liaise with the Cowboys and Hamiso about it all. Everyone has his best interests at heart.

“I don’t think (it’s a huge setback) because it’s happened early enough.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s #RLWC is likely over after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury. Can see R lower leg get stuck in turf - stress on high ankle + medial knee. Likely moderate/high grade (boot/crutches) which would mean at least a month out, 6-8 weeks if surgery required pic.twitter.com/RhFgQtR5pd

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) October 16, 2022

“He should start the season with us regardless.

“It’s a syndesmosis so it just depends on the severity of it. He obviously wasn’t going to play in the next few weeks otherwise they would have kept him over there.”

One of the code’s fastest players, the Cairns sensation scored 21 tries in 50 games for the Cowboys since his NRL debut in 2020.

The Tabuai-Fidow injury is a blow for the Dolphins who were left reeling after No. 1 recruitment target Cameron Munster rejected a massive $5.6 million offer to remain in Melbourne.

The Dolphins made no secret of their desire to poach Munster from 2024, but not even the $1.4 million-a-season offer was enough to prise the Kangaroos five-eighth from the Storm.

Tabuai-Fidow is one of the Dolphins’ prized foundation signings, but will not be able to hit the training paddock until the New Year.

The Dolphins will also be without experienced Storm trio and World Cup participants Felise Kaufusi (Tonga) and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich (New Zealand) when they launch their pre-season on November 7.

SAMOA’S WORLD CUP WOES CONTINUE

— Michael Carayannis

Samoa’s horror showing in the opening match of the World Cup has been compounded with star Braden Hamlin-Uele flying back to Australia.

His tournament ended prematurely after picking up injuries in the opening match embarrassing showing against England.

Hamlin-Uele is due back in Australia alongside injured teammate Tabuai-Fidow on Wednesday.

Despite fears the Cronulla prop may have suffered a broken leg, scans confirmed it is a calf injury which will not have any long-term ramifications.

Samoa’s Braden Hamlin-Uele also likely done for the #RLWC with a calf injury. Suffered in non-contact situation (off camera), concerns present for at least moderate grade strain which would require a best case 4-6 week recovery #RLWC2021pic.twitter.com/axG98QXpmH

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) October 16, 2022

‘FOOTY GODS ARE TOUGH’: MAY OPENS UP ON GRUESOME INJURY

—Brent Read

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has reached out to his former charge Tyrone May as the Samoan utility prepares to fight his way back from a horror injury that has ended his World Cup.

May was carried from the field on a stretcher on Saturday night (AEDT) with his immediate playing future in doubt after suffering a dislocated hip in Samoa’s embarrassing loss to England.

The hip was put back into place in the early hours of Sunday morning (AEST) and May revealed that Cleary was among the first to make contact.

May, now playing with Catalans in the English Super League, has a close relationship with the Cleary family – during grand final week he spoke about how the Penrith coach had been like a father figure to him during the difficult moments of his career.

Tyrone May in agony on the field after dislocating his hip. Picture: Getty

As May prepares to face another test of his mental fortitude, Cleary has offered him support yet again – the Panthers coach suffered a hip dislocation during his own playing career.

“I know Ivan Cleary did his as well,” May told News Corp from his hospital bed.

“He rang me after I had done mine. It helps that I am close to him because I can get a good idea of how it is going to affect me.

“I am not allowed to bend at 90 degrees from the hip. I have to learn how to sit down and do stuff like that.

“They say three months but I think that is for everyday people. I need a booster chair to go to the toilet. I need a booster chair to sit down.

May gives an update on Instagram.

May remains in good spirits.

“I don’t really know too many people who have had this type of injury. The only person who comes to mind was (former Wests Tigers player) Chris Lawrence but that was a few years ago.

“You never know now with sports science, how much more advanced it is compared to then. I will just play it by ear, take a week to digest it and go from there.”

May also plans to thank English centre Kallum Watkins, who was involved in the tackle that led to the injury but then protected him on the ground when he realised the extent of the Samoan player’s woes.

“I remember getting the ball and Dom Young going out, so I had a one-on-one with Kallum Watkins,” May said.

“He just tackled me and I fell awkwardly. I actually have to thank him because when he tackled me, he watched over me because I grimaced straight away.

“I have to thank him for helping me. Straight away I heard a pop and a click. I have done my ACL before and I knew it wasn’t that.

“It felt like my hip was in my arse, I couldn’t feel my leg.”

Tyrone May with a suspected hip dislocation, off to hospital. Rare mechanism with rotation causing anterior dislocation - bone “pops out” the front, 90% of hip dislocations “pop out” the back due to contact. Fracture/nerve/blood vessel considerations. Usually 3-5 months recovery pic.twitter.com/i6jL4KhZmZ

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) October 15, 2022

May hopes to stay in camp with the Samoan team, alongside his brother Taylan, for the remainder of the World Cup. The pair had hoped to play together during the tournament but injury has put paid to that.

“It is funny – even last year when my brother debuted I got injured the week before,” May said.

“It’s a bit weird that it has happened again this year. The footy Gods are just making it tough on us.”