NRL Round 7 early mail: Nelson Asofa-Solomona in line for recall, Ben Trbojevic injured
The Dolphins have suffered a massive blow, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow facing an extended stint on the sidelines, while out of favour Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is inching towards an NRL return.
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Dolphins and Queensland superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is in danger of missing the State of Origin opener after injuring his hamstring in Friday night’s loss to the Broncos.
Scans on Saturday confirmed the flying fullback suffered a grade-two hamstring tear in the Dolphins’ 28-14 loss to the Broncos and is expected to miss four to six weeks, starting with Friday night’s clash against the Eels in Darwin.
The worst-case scenario would leave the ‘Hammer’ racing the clock to be fit for Queensland’s series opener against NSW in Sydney on Wednesday, June 5.
The Origin teams for Game One will be named on Monday, May 27 and a six-week recovery would put Tabuai-Fidow in doubt for the Dolphins’ round 12 away clash against the Warriors on May 26.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett will be hoping his star centre will be back within a month, which would ensure the Hammer gets the green light to retain his Maroons jumper for Origin I.
One of the code’s fastest players, Tabuai-Fidow was outstanding for Queensland in last year’s series triumph and Maroons coach Billy Slater will be sweating on the speed machine’s fitness for the 2024 opener.
Tabuai-Fidow injured his hamstring sprinting after Broncos veteran Corey Oates on a dead play, with both players unaware play had been halted after the Broncos were penalised for a late tackle.
The Hammer’s setback rubs salt into the wounds for the Dolphins, who were already without Tom Flegler (shoulder), Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) and Herbie Farnworth (AC joint) for Friday night’s Battle of Brisbane.
“Hamiso has a grade two tear of his hamstring and that means he will be out at least four weeks and could be as much as six weeks,” Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said.
“The injury is in not too bad a spot, but a player of his speed will have to be carefully rehabilitated.”
The injury-ravaged Dolphins are also without Connelly Lemuelu and Tom Gilbert, who requires a season-ending knee reconstruction, for a lengthy period.
Flegler was hoping to play against the Broncos, but he was a late scratching and there is no guarantee the Queensland Origin enforcer will be on deck for the Dolphins’ road trip to the Top End.
Farnworth will also be sidelined for the Eels clash, although the Dolphins will welcome back suspended utility Max Plath for the round 7 showdown at TIO Stadium.
Should Tabuai-Fidow miss the State of Origin opener, Broncos rival Selwyn Cobbo could be a centre option after his outstanding two-try display in his new position.
Cobbo has played four Origin matches for the Maroons on the wing and was handed his Queensland debut by Slater in the 2022 series.
—Peter Badel
OUT OF FAVOUR STORM STAR SET FOR RECALL
—Michael Carayannis
Out of favour Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is inching towards his first start of the season after being pulled out of North Sydney’s NSW Cup clash.
Asofa-Solomona was due to play for the Bears on Saturday afternoon but Storm officials ruled him out of the clash in the morning following injury concerns for Melbourne’s pack.
Tui Kamikamica played just three minutes on Friday night with a calf injury. Asofa-Solomona has not played in the NRL all season and has been linked with a potential move away from the club.
The Kiwi international has spent the past few weeks in reserve grade after an injury plagued pre-season.
The Storm play the Roosters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Warriors star Jazz Tevaga and popular SuperCoach cheapie Ben Trbojevic could be set for a stint on the sidelines, with both forced from the field with hamstring injuries in the Sea Eagles-Warriors draw.
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Originally published as NRL Round 7 early mail: Nelson Asofa-Solomona in line for recall, Ben Trbojevic injured
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