Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is hoping he can repay the faith shown in him by coach Billy Slater by making the fullback position his own as Queensland gear up for the year’s decider.
With incumbent Kalyn Ponga sidelined with a Lisfranc injury, ‘The Hammer’ won out after what proved to be a high-quality shootout for the position at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday after running in four tries for the Dolphins, with Slater preferring Tabuai-Fidow’s fit within the current team.
His closest rival for the position Reece Walsh was also added to the squad as the 18th player and also impressed as the Broncos downed the Warriors.
“It's obviously exciting for myself and it's a special one as well, having that number one on my back, it's a feel good and I'm excited,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“He (Slater) gave me the call and he said I'll be playing for Queensland again and I sort of chimed in and just said ‘thank you’ and then straight after that, he said I'll be playing fullback.
“I didn't really expect that and I was just over the moon and it was a pretty special phone call.
Tabuai-Fidow scores 4 in his 100th
“It's a big confidence boost for myself getting that call saying I will be in that number one spot.
“Just the faith he has in me, it's always special when someone has faith in you and I have faith in him that I'll go out and do my job.
“We all know what type of player Billy was and he's worn this number one jersey heaps of times and I'm just excited to get to work with him and pick up some stuff from his from him as well.
“(In past camps) with me playing centre and wing, there wasn't too much chat about (playing fullback), so I think this week it's a big one for myself where I can go up to him and learn some stuff.
“I'm just excited to get through this week and train with the boys in the squad.”
Slater – who selected Walsh as fullback for the three games last year – said putting Tabuai-Fidow, who started the 2025 series at centre, before being switched to the wing in Game Two, was “the right fit for the footy team right now”.
"I just think it's the best fit for the footy team and Hammer deserves his opportunity to play in the one jersey,” Slater said.
“He's played centre for us; he's played on the wing for us.
“I think he's in a great stage of his career … Reece is a great player, there's no one more proud than me seeing Reece back on the field and doing what he's doing, so it's a great luxury to have both of them in camp.
“I am looking forward to having a week with Reece again, but we just think that that's the right thing for the footy team.
“It's about what feel do you get that is the right decision for the footy team and that's what my job is.”
For Tabuai-Fidow, having Walsh in the squad was also a further opportunity to learn and develop his skills, with the two stars for their clubs bringing their own style to the fullback role.
“Walshy's a freak,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“With the type of player he is and what he can do on the field, it's pretty special and I think having him in camp, I can sort of pick off him as well.
“We're both different players and we can sort of pick off each other and I think that's the good thing … just helping each other where we can.”
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
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