State of Origin: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow gunning for try in record-breaking seventh consecutive Origin game
It’s a prospect that should have NSW on edge, as Maroons star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow enters the State of Origin decider on the verge of etching his name into the record books. See the Hammer’s incredible Origin statistics.
Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has warned the Blues he will find another gear in the Suncorp decider as the ‘Hammer’ looks to set a State of Origin record that may never be beaten.
Tabuai-Fidow has the greatest tryscoring strike-rate in Origin’s 44-year history and he is gunning to cross the white stripe for a historic seventh consecutive game in Wednesday night’s death-or-glory decider.
It is a head-spinning run of tryscoring dominance by Tabuai-Fidow, who has nine four-pointers from just six Origin games.
Remarkably, the speed machine has not gone home empty-handed in an Origin match since his Maroons debut in 2021.
Former Maroons winger Dale Shearer is the only other player in Origin history to score in six consecutive matches, but Hammer can make it seventh heaven in the decider.
The Dolphins fullback routed NSW with a hat-trick in Queensland’s 38-10 romp in Game One and Tabuai-Fidow has put the Blues on notice again as he looks to blast the Maroons to a hat-trick of Origin titles.
“I think I have another gear,” said Tabuai-Fidow ahead of his debut Suncorp decider.
“I can step up another level.
“Centre is obviously a different position to what I play at clubland and I think I can excel in that position in the Origin arena, too.
“I still have a lot to work on and I think I am only going up as well.”
A second tryscoring feat is also within reach.
Former Blues centre Ryan Girdler and ex-Maroons winger Lote Tuqiri share the Origin record for most tries in a series with five apiece in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
The Hammer, who has four tries in this year’s campaign, can join them if he scores in the Suncorp decider – and a double will see him become the most prolific tryscorer in a single series in Origin history.
Underlining his potency, Tabuai-Fidow already has as many Origin four-pointers as legendary Maroons captain Darren Lockyer, who needed 36 matches to reach nine tries.
If he maintains his strike-rate of 1.5 four-pointers per game, the 22-year-old could eclipse Queensland legend Greg Inglis (18) as the greatest tryscorer in Origin history within three years.
Even in Origin II, when the Blues mauled Queensland 38-18 at the MCG, they could not halt Tabuai-Fidow, who managed a try despite requiring a painkilling needle for AC joint damage.
There were fears the Hammer could miss the decider, but the Maroons ace insists he is fully fit as he braces for a torrid defensive assignment against in-form Blues centre Stephen Crichton.
“I am up for the challenge,” he said of marking Crichton.
“I have gone up against him a couple of times now and I think the rivalry, and the challenge for me and him, has been really good.
“I am just excited to go out there and show what I can do.”
Of his injury, he said: “I hurt my shoulder and had to come off a bit there. I went in the sheds, got a needle and got back out there.
“It was a bit sore after the game. I’ve never had an AC (joint) injury to the shoulder before.
“The pain was lingering but having the week off and the bye helped with the recovery and it settled down.
“Coming into this week it felt pretty good and it should be pretty sweet.”
With his speed, evasion and blistering acceleration off the mark, Tabuai-Fidow has an uncanny knack of finding the tryline. He is determined to join dual-international great Tuqiri in the Queensland record books.
“Yes, hopefully,” he said.
“I have seen highlights of Lote growing up and back then he was a really good player.
“Obviously he got five (in a series) and just thinking about it now hopefully I can chase that (record).
“Scoring tries is the good part about Origin. If I do get over for a try next week I am going to be pretty happy about it.
“It’s good to be back at home and in front of our fans. The atmosphere is going to be hectic.
“I am excited to get out there, soak it all in, and score at Suncorp in front of our fans.”
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