Cowboys coach Todd Payten addresses rumours Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow could return to North Qld

Cowboys coach Todd Payten weighed in as rumours swirl Dolphins export Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is “home sick” and could come back north. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in action for the Cowboys gets past ex-Warrior Reece Walsh on August 19, 2022, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Cowboys coach Todd Payten says he’d “love to have Hammer back” as rumours swirl Dolphins export Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is “home sick”.

Payten avoided pouring too much water on talk of an unlikely Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow homecoming as he spoke to media ahead of the West Tigers clash, joking that Valentine Holmes might be open to a large pay cut to get a deal done.

“Maybe we can talk to Val during negotiations into taking a bit of a pay cut to play with him (Tabuai-Fidow),” Payten said.

“I’d love to have ‘Hammer’ back. He’s a local kid, he’s gone down there and played some really good football at fullback. (I was) sorry to see him leave, so (we) always take good footballers.”

Tabuai-Fidow is contracted to the Dolphins until the end of the 2027 season.

Bucking the trend

The Cowboys will have to buck history to secure the two points in Sydney tonight when they face Wests Tigers at their spiritual home in the Inner West.

Since the turn of the millennium the Cowboys have tasted victory just once from ten games at Leichhardt Oval – the worst record of any team to play at least three games at the suburban venue.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

It’s a trend that wasn’t going to be overlooked by North Queensland coach Todd Payten, who saw first-hand what playing in front of the historic hill can do for a player during his playing days at the Tigers.

Especially after the 66-18 demolition that is still Payten’s largest coaching defeat.

“They’re a 16-20-points better team at Leichhardt, they’ve got nothing to lose and I know they can get it over us, last year was proof of that,” Payten said.

“They’ve named a really strong team, probably the best team they’ve put out on paper in the last month so we expect a fast start from them.

“They’ll ask questions. They move the ball from their own end, they offload, and they’ve got some good attacking weapons.”

The Tigers are currently riding a five-game losing streak, but two of their four wins this season have come at Leichhardt.

Popular Papua New Guinean centre Justin Olam will make his return from a knee injury and he also loves the Lilyfield venue, scoring three tries in three games at Leichhardt.

The Cowboys welcome back Heilum Luki but will be without Reuben Cotter and Jason Taumalolo who were injured last week against the Sharks.

Heilum Luki of the Cowboys during the round 20 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on July 21, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Payten elected to start Tom Mikaele at lock with veteran utility Jake Granville joining the interchange.

“Tommy (Mikaele) is a first grader, he just had to bide his time,” Payten said.

“His role in Q Cup over the past three weeks, he’s punched out some really big minutes and we’ve seen how potent he can be when he’s in our team.

“He just has to go out and do his job, he’s not expected to play large minutes, just get his job done when he’s on the park. He’s coming up against his old club so there’s a bit of motivation there for him.

“He (Granville) can make everyone feel better when he’s in the team. Talks really well, moves really well, tackles like a demon, so he’s gonna do the job whether he plays in the middle, hooker, fullback, centre – I don’t think he’s played wing yet but who knows.”

The Cowboys open round 22 of the NRL when they play Wests on Thursday night. Kick-off is at 7.50pm.

Originally published as Cowboys coach Todd Payten addresses rumours Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow could return to North Qld