State of Origin I: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow set for Maroons recall as Billy Slater makes crucial calls
The Queensland team will be chosen next Sunday night and Maroons selectors have discussed a range of important calls — check out the selection latest.
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Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has rocketed into Queensland contention and is set to make history by becoming the first Dolphins player to be picked to play State of Origin.
The Queensland team will be chosen next Sunday night and Maroons selectors have discussed ‘The Hammer’ ahead of the Origin series opener at Adelaide Oval on May 31.
In other Maroons selection news:
* Dragons halfback Ben Hunt is tipped to stave off superstar Storm hooker Harry Grant for the coveted starting No.9 spot;
* In-form Titans back-rower David Fifita is close to a recall and needs barnstorming games against the Knights on Sunday and Canterbury next week to force his way in; and
* Queensland hierarchy are giving Kalyn Ponga every chance as Broncos whizkid Reece Walsh applies pressure to the Newcastle ace at fullback.
But the big push is for Tabuai-Fidow to return to the Queensland fold.
The speed machine has been sensational since his off-season move from the Cowboys to Redcliffe, igniting the Dolphins with his involvement, pace and attacking instincts from the backfield.
The NRL’s new 17th franchise has yet to celebrate producing an Origin player but that is about to change with Dolphins triumvirate Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert and Felise Kaufusi in the mix to wear Maroon.
Tabuai-Fidow has 10 tries from as many games for the Dolphins and has also amassed four line breaks, two try assists, 35 tackle busts, plus 1501 running metres at an average of 150m per game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater lauded Tabuai-Fidow’s attitude as the Maroons look to defend their Origin crown after last year’s epic 2-1 series boilover of the Blues.
“I have really enjoyed watching Hammer and Reece Walsh (Broncos fullback) in the early rounds,” Slater said.
“Hammer has been fantastic for the Dolphins.
“It’s not just the tries he is scoring, it’s his influence in defence and the decisions he makes and they are the habits I watch ... how consistent guys are in those areas.
“There’s a number of young Queensland guys who have jumped out over the pre-season trials and now into the early rounds of the season and Hammer is one of those.
“In the past, Hammer could have been guilty of letting the game come to him but he is now going to the game and impacting it.
“It’s been great to see.”
While Tabuai-Fidow has starred for the Dolphins at fullback, Queensland are looking at him as a centre option.
The Blues have Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Campbell Graham as centre contenders and Maroons bosses believe the Hammer has the skill set to counter the size and speed of the brilliant NSW trio.
The 21-year played his only and one Origin game in 2021 at centre, scoring a try on debut to help Queensland to a 20-18 win in the Game Three dead rubber.
Cowboys ace Valentine Holmes only has to stay fit to wrap up the left-centre spot.
A Tabuai-Fidow blinder for the Dolphins next Saturday night against the Storm could see him clinch the Maroons’ No.4 jumper in a move that would see Newcastle’s Dane Gagai shifted to the wing.
The Dolphins dynamo said he wouldn’t let the Maroons down if called upon by Slater.
“I sat down with some goals this year and I thought, ‘I do want to get an Origin jersey this year’,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“I had time in the Queensland camp last year and just being in the camp around those calibre of players was really good for my development.
“If I do get the call up for Origin, I will play good footy.
“Even if I don’t get picked in the starting side, just being part of the Maroons’ camp is special.
“Whatever Billy thinks, I’ll support it. Hopefully he looks at me for fullback or centre, they are the positions I’m best at, but I’ll always do whatever is needed for the Queensland team.”
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says the Hammer can be Queensland’s version of Souths and NSW superstar Mitchell.
“Hamiso is in the Latrell Mitchell mould,” Bennett said.
“They are different types of players, but they are wonderfully skilled and competitive guys.
“They are good athletes and Hammer has a big motor on him, he is a pretty fit guy and he likes to compete out there and does it well.
“Because of his fitness levels, he keeps turning up ... if there’s a half break, he seems to get himself there.”
STATE OF ORIGIN MADNESS PLAYS INTO QUEENSLAND’S HANDS
By Brent Read
Lo and behold, State of Origin is around the corner and Queensland are underdogs yet again. Outsiders and unwanted by the bookmakers. In one of sport’s great two-horse races, they are apparently the nag running five wide and somewhere out the back.
Can someone please explain how? The Maroons are $2.30 heading into the opening game of the series in Adelaide and as much as coach Billy Slater no doubt relishes being under the radar — to steal a line from a former Manly coach — there needs to be an investigation.
The Maroons, in case you forget, are defending champions. They have a settled spine and a wealth of middle forwards. Save for a scrap for the fullback position, where Reece Walsh continues to heap pressure on Kalyn Ponga, their greatest dilemma will be who to leave out.
A few years ago they were apparently the worst team in Origin history. This squad could be one of the best. There are few, if any, holes. They are flushed with confidence and Slater has been emboldened by a remarkable debut as Queensland coach.
He made the transition from commentary to coaching look easy, living up to the enormous billing that had been placed on him when he was appointed to the role. He will be better prepared the second time round. You can guarantee it.
It’s the way Slater has been his entire career, constantly evolving, adjusting and learning. As always though, Slater and the Maroons are being underestimated, For some reason, the bookies never learn.
They are content to write Queensland off before the series has begun. Madness. Take a deeper look. One of Queensland’s real strengths is NSW’s potential achilles heel.
The Maroons are loaded with middle forwards — Patrick Carrigan, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Reuben Cotter should walk into the team.
Christian Welch would have been there last year but for injury and he looked back to his niggling best on Thursday night in the win over the Broncos.
Lindsay Collins has been a standout in a Sydney Roosters side that has struggled. Tom Flegler produced a spiky performance against Melbourne and would no doubt relish the chance to do the same against NSW.
Tom Gilbert is the sort of player Slater — and Queensland — love. Not the most gifted footballer but tough and willing to do what it takes to win.
That’s not to mention the old workhorse, Josh Papalii. Contrast that wealth of options with the Blues, who have lost Jake Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
NSW are scratching around for front rowers, struggling to decide who to play at five-eighth, vacillating over whether to pick Tom Trbojevic and coming off a series that will be remembered most notably for a couple of selection blunders that bit NSW on the backside.
It’s tough to trust the NSW brain’s trust to get it right after they overlooked Josh Addo-Carr last year, not to mention Jake Trbojevic, for the opener. The pressure will be on. Brad Fittler’s future as NSW coach is up for debate and it will be interesting to see how he reacts.
Freddie has been enormous for the NSW Rugby League. He is the face of the organisation and rightly lauded for the work he does in the community, where he has raised millions for junior footy across the state, not to mention work he has done in lifting the profile of the sport.
Regardless of what happens at the end of this year’s series, he should remain in a role with the Blues. The question is whether it should be as a coach and he faces some telling decisions that could determine not just the series, but his future.
A couple of months ago, Tom Trbojevic would have been one of the first picked. It’s an old chestnut, but if he was a Queenslander, he still would be. The Blues, however, are hedging their bets, challenging Trbojevic to prove he is healthy.
He hasn’t been at the peak of his powers but this is Tom Trbojevic. His selection shouldn’t even be up for discussion. As for five-eighth, Jarome Luai waived the right to play the loyalty card after the Blues lost last year. Loyalty comes with winning. The Blues didn’t win.
The door is open for Nicho Hynes and he can bash it down on Sunday at 4 Pines Park. Then again, it may not matter.
It’s not often Queensland go into an Origin series as favourites. All those years ago, when they were armed with the big four and winning series for fun, they still couldn’t get any respect from the bookies.
It didn’t worry them then. Tipping it won’t worry them now either.
BELLAMY SET TO MAKE CALL AS RYLES WAITS IN WINGS
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is expected to sit down with his advisor Andrew Butler over the weekend and make the decision to go again next year.
Those close to Bellamy have been telling him that if he has any doubts over retirement, the best option would be to coach on rather than call it quits.
The Storm have been inconsistent at times this year but they have a roster capable of challenging for a premiership. That roster won’t change much next year, meaning they should be in the mix again.
Bellamy will then hand it over to a new coach, potentially Jason Ryles. Ryles is deep in discussions over his future and the sense is that he would prefer the Storm to St George Illawarra, although the landscape is constantly changing.
What is clear is that Ryles has decided the time has come to make the leap to head coaching. He has served a high-class apprenticeship and will enter the NRL with some big raps.
His landing spot could determine whether he lives up to them.
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