State of Origin 2023: Maroons star Reuben Cotter could be recalled to starting side after 2022 heroics
Maroons star Reuben Cotter could be thrust back into the starting team for Queensland, as Billy Slater considers shaking up his team before kick-off.
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Maroons hardman Reuben Cotter could be thrust back into a starting spot for Queensland following one of the great Origin debuts as coach Billy Slater shakes up his team.
Cotter is a possibility of being elevated from the bench into the starting lock position in Wednesday’s series-opener in Adelaide after thriving in the role last year.
Slater has also made a key change to Queensland’s backline, with centre Valentine Holmes switching sides from his usual position.
Holmes will line up at right centre for Queensland next to Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo.
That puts Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the left alongside winger Murray Taulagi.
Holmes will oppose Blues star Latrell Mitchell while Tabuai-Fidow will go up against Tom Trbojevic.
The Maroons ramped up their preparations with an opposed session against the Hostplus Cup’s Ipswich Jets at Sanctuary Cove on Thursday afternoon.
While he has been named on the bench in jersey No. 16, Cotter spent plenty of time at lock as he prepares to return to the Origin arena.
The Cowboys forward made his debut for the Maroons in Game One last year, punching out 80 minutes in a stellar performance.
Cotter finished with 48 tackles and 13 runs for 119m as Queensland clinched a crucial win in Sydney that set up their series victory.
Cotter starting also allowed Broncos forward Pat Carrigan to play a crucial role from the bench.
Carrigan produced one of the great Origin debuts, stinging the Blues with 18 runs for 165m and 27 tackles.
Cotter said he got through 80 minutes on debut on adrenaline and he could start again if needed.
“Yeah, if that’s what’s decided,” he said.
“We haven’t spoken about it yet. We’ll have a look at it more closely.
“It was just adrenaline and a heap of different stuff, passion.
“I was buggered. We’re doing video now and looking back on the game, after 5-10 minutes you’re gassed and wondering how you’re going to play the rest of the game.
“I didn’t know I was going to play 80 minutes so that helped me in a way.”
While Cotter starred in Origin I last year, he missed the next two games of the series after suffering a hamstring injury back at the Cowboys.
It was a crushing blow following his dream debut and Cotter wants to make amends in 2023.
“It was pretty tough,” he said.
“To finally get there and play the 80 minutes, I was so excited.
“Leading into that Cowboys game I felt fatigued, but great. I did the hammy, which was pretty deflating.
“Billy makes it pretty well-known to the group that it’s all about re-earning your spot in the team and your jersey.
“The theme was the same this year. You’ve got to earn your spot in the team.”
Maroons backrower Tom Gilbert said he was expecting Cotter to produce a big game for Queensland.
“He is one of my favourite players I’ve ever played with because of his selflessness,” he said.
“Regardless of his personal struggles, he’s always put the club or team he’s in first.
“He’s one of my best mates. To be putting on a Queensland jersey for the first time together is extremely special.
“I wasn’t really surprised (by his debut). That’s the Reuben we’ve come to know and love.
“I know there were times he was hurting, but what he resembles is hard work and putting the team first. He is a true competitor.
“If he had to do it (play 80 minutes) again, he will. If he had to play 20 minutes, he will and won’t complain.
“He always puts the team first, that’s why he’s one of my favourite team players.”
EXCLUSIVE - WATCH: HAMMER ‘WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPERSTAR’ IN AFL
—Robert Craddock, Peter Badel and Travis Meyn
Maroons speed machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has revealed he gave serious thought to joining the Gold Coast Suns AFL team before a “gut feeling’’ put him on the road to State of Origin glory.
‘The Hammer’ has been in such rousing form with his new club, the Dolphins, he has squeezed Origin veteran Dane Gagai out of the Queensland side for the first match against the Blues at Adelaide Oval next Wednesday.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH VIDEO OF HIS FREAKISH SKILLS!
But instead of lining up for the Maroons in Aussie Rules-mad Adelaide, Tabuai-Fidow could have been part of the Suns’ challenge for the top eight such was his rich potential as an AFL player.
As a teenager, the gifted athlete was at the centre of a three-way tug-of-war for his services as he was part of the Queensland Reds rugby union academy and the Gold Coast Suns’ Far North AFL Academy.
Underlining his talent, Tabuai-Fidow was judged best-on-ground in the Cairns under-15s AFL grand final in 2016.
AFL scouts felt his natural flair would have been suited to a variety of positions including midfield, wing and half-forward, but a $4000 offer from the Cowboys sealed his NRL future and put him on the path to Queensland Origin stardom.
“I think I was about 16 and I got an offer from the Gold Coast Suns and Cowboys at the same time,” said Tabuai-Fidow ahead of his second Origin game.
“It was a close decision because I was playing and enjoying AFL at the time.
“But I stuck to my gut feeling to stay with league because it is what I did growing up.
“Sometimes I watch the Suns and think what I could have done with that game but I am happy with the decision I have made.
“Coming from north Queensland played a part because we live and breathe league up there ... my family would have wanted me to play league.’’
Former North Queensland scout Clint Zammit was the talent spotter who lured the Hammer to the Cowboys.
Zammit also signed NRL superstars Kalyn Ponga and Jason Taumalolo as teenagers and said he only had to watch a few minutes of action to make his move for Tabuai-Fidow.
“He was at Brisbane Grammar playing union and he was also playing a bit of AFL,” Zammit recalled.
“He was such a good athlete, he could have made it in any code.
“He left Cairns as a 14-year-old and I turned up to watch a GPS game one day as a scout for the Cowboys.
“Hammer had one touch, beat five blokes to score and I thought, ‘Wow, who is this kid’.
“I found out he was from Cairns and said I want this kid at the Cowboys.
“We signed him to the Cowboys for $4000 and he attended Kirwan High. His athletic ability was never going to hold him back.
“I remember talking to Rick Hanlon, who runs the AFL Academy in Cairns, and he said Hammer could have been anything in the AFL.
“I have no doubt he would have made it in AFL with his speed and movement. He would have been a superstar.
“The way he moved was freakish and it doesn’t surprise me he has progressed so quickly. In the open spaces of the AFL, he would have been a star.”
Sean Hunter from the AFL Cape York House in Cairns said Tabuai-Fidow could have dominated with the Sherrin.
“Hamiso was a naturally talented athlete,” he said.
“His body and athleticism was conducive to AFL. He had explosive power, strong vertical leap, endurance and loved physical contact.
“His spatial awareness and his ability to cover the ground made him hard to defend or account for. I am not surprised by how fast he has achieved success in the NRL.
“He is a humble fella that is passionate about his culture – and lots of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders look up to him.
“I have no hesitation that Hamiso could have easily converted to AFL and been successful.
“All of his dominance and attributes in the NRL, he was doing on an oval field from every direction.
“I couldn’t be prouder of his growth and the ability to have known him before his growing status as an elite footballer.”
Tabuai-Fidow scored for the Maroons in his Origin debut in 2021 and has been one of the standout signings for the Dolphins in their foundation campaign this season.
The 21-year-old has been as sharp as he is safe, with Tabuai-Fidow lauding the support of Dolphins super coach Wayne Bennett after taking a leap of faith by quitting the Cowboys.
“It’s paid off big time the decision to come down to the Dolphins,” he said.
“To get into the starting side and play fullback as well ... Wayne (Bennett) has really helped me. He’s made my game very simple. He tells me to have fun and enjoy my football and that will be my attitude in the Queensland jumper.”
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Originally published as State of Origin 2023: Maroons star Reuben Cotter could be recalled to starting side after 2022 heroics
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