When Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made his way into Maroons camp, fresh off producing a miraculous try-saving tackle on Kurt Capewell, he made a beeline for his Queensland teammate.
“I had a chat to him when we first got in, but there wasn’t too much – I just told him ‘don’t step into me again’,” Tabuai-Fidow laughed.
There is every chance Tabuai-Fidow will end next season as a State of Origin legend, and yet somehow, he’s still viewed as underrated.
Few can match the Maroons strike weapon for speed, with his mentor Matt Bowen famously once saying no one will ever know how fast ‘the Hammer’ is – he is simply as quick as he needs to be in whatever situation.
But when the Dolphins conquered the New Zealand Warriors on the eve of game three State of Origin selections, Tabuai-Fidow showcased just how much he had evolved.
Capewell appeared certain to score the first try of the afternoon, only for Tabuai-Fidow to flip the veteran forward on his back, hold him up, and force an error.
It is a play he has emulated at least seven times this year, while his covering defence has proven equally critical in keeping the Dolphins in the hunt.
It led his coach Kristian Woolf to declare “his consistency throughout the year in terms of saving tries and putting himself in that position … his defensive game’s improved exceptionally”.
Tabuai-Fidow said it was an aspect of his game he’s worked hard to improve.
“It’s pretty cool scoring tries, but in the preseason we worked on defence – it’s something we needed to work on as a team. I’m the last line of defence, and I had to work on that part and get my tackle technique [right],” he said.
“I’ve obviously grown in that department, but there are still bits to go.”
While Tabuai-Fidow made his name for his speed and support play – and has strengthened his body to be a more imposing runner through defensive traffic – he has added several layers to his game.
He has become a genuinely lethal aerial threat, suggesting that while his Dolphins teammate and soon-to-be NSW rival Jack Bostock was taller, he had the leap to get over the 194-centimetre debutant.
Tabuai-Fidow’s seven-try assists so far this year are also a career-best.
“He had a really good preseason – he came in fit, got fitter, there were some things he wanted to work on and that was how he could assist other people to find points,” Woolf said.
“We know that when he gets an opportunity, he doesn’t miss, but him just adding that to his game makes a big difference to our team.”
Tabuai-Fidow’s close friend and Maroons teammate, Murray Taulagi, added: “His maturity throughout the game has been developing the more games he plays.
“Whenever he performs well, we seem to go well.”
Tabuai-Fidow’s versatility has ensured he rarely played in the No.1 jumper for Queensland. Last year, he played centre, wing and fullback across the three games, leading Origin great Greg Inglis to declare his rugby league IQ needed to be studied.
Tabuai-Fidow’s try-scoring exploits have thrust him to the cusp of history – just four shy of equalling Inglis’ all-time Origin record of 18. He is still just 24 years of age.
His willingness to inject into the contest has also improved drastically, having drawn criticism early last year for floating in and out of games. In 2026, his 178 average running metres a game has come with just six linebreaks, and is a career-best figure, as are his touches of the football (37.42).
And yet, when the topic of the game’s best fullback rolls around, Tabuai-Fidow’s name doesn’t seem to be in the mix. Kalyn Ponga, Dylan Edwards, Tom Trbojvic, Reece Walsh and Tedesco are often the five thrown up.
It raises the question: is ‘The Hammer’ among the NRL’s most underrated players?
“I’ll back that, I think he’s underrated. He’s one of the best, and his game compliments that – it’s pretty self-explanatory,” Dolphins winger Tevita Naufahu said, who has fed off Tabuai-Fidow since before making his NRL debut last year.
“He’s told me to just be confident under the high ball – I struggled with that in my first year, but coming here in my first year Hammer really helped me and taught me how to be a winger.
“Since the start of preseason, he wanted to prove to us he’s become a different level this year, and wants to pick his game up that extra step. The proof is in the pudding.”
Woolf added: “Possibly [he’s underrated], I think the only reason that would be the case is because he is so versatile, and he’s found himself playing more centres in Origin.
“The great thing about Hammer is he’s happy and can play other positions, and does it really well. If that means he’s a little bit undervalued, that’s fine because he’s certainly not undervalued to us.”
Tabuai-Fidow will link up with Dolphins teammate Selwyn Cobbo once again on Queensland’s left edge, tasked with shutting down Blues counterpart Stephen Crichton – who is expected to swap sides of the field after Kotoni Staggs was axed in favour of Bradman Best.
“He’s a big body and a big threat, his attacking ability is up there,” Tabuai-Fidow said of Crichton.
“I’ve obviously played and gone against him a couple of times, and I sort of know his game, the stuff I need to work on and the stuff I can bring out to try and expose him.
“He’s a talented player, but I’m just focusing on myself, what I can do, and what I can bring.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
