A Maroons star gave Slater a scare. Now he's ready to be ‘the difference'
Queensland Maroons strike weapon Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been cleared to take his place in Wednesday's State of Origin series launch, after giving coach Billy Slater a huge injury scare.
The Dolphins star suffered a knock to his knee on Sunday as the side completed an opposed training session on the Sunshine Coast, with Slater admitting he was briefly concerned he may lose his famed speedster.
'The Hammer' has proved to be one of the Maroons' attacking linchpins, scoring nine tries in his seven Origin appearances, the most famous being his match-winning heroics in Adelaide when his team was down a man in 2023.
His absence could have robbed pundits of an enthralling centre battle with New South Wales counterpart Stephen Crichton, who missed the Blues' captain's run with a quad complaint and will reportedly be given until Wednesday morning to prove his fitness.
But at the end of a camp that came with its fair share of concerns – Pat Carrigan's facial surgery on the eve of selections, and Kalyn Ponga's delayed arrival due to severe weather in Newcastle – Slater confirmed his superstar was in no doubt.
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'I must admit, I held my breath for a couple of seconds, but he just got a bit of a bump. He pulled through it fine,' Slater said on Tuesday. 'It was just a bit of contact, he's all right.
'Thankfully, for not just Queensland but the Dolphins and Hamiso in general, he's OK.'
Much of the fanfare surrounding the Maroons' selections has been dominated by the comebacks of five-eighth Cameron Munster and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who both missed the 2024 series defeat through injury.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Blues accuse Maroons of 'mind games' over State of Origin II team selection
NSW back-rower Angus Crichton has questioned the make-up of Queensland's squad for State of Origin II, while vowing to "terrorise" Maroons halfback Tom Dearden. Crichton dissected the Maroons' line-up, which was published on Wednesday a week out from Origin II in Perth. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the State of Origin series. Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan have been dropped back to the interchange bench, while Kurt Capewell is listed to start at second row and Trent Loiero at lock. Daly Cherry-Evans's axing as captain and halfback was confirmed on Monday, with Dearden to wear the number seven jersey. "Surely Nanai's not on the bench and surely Patty's not on the bench as well," Crichton said. "I think they're trying to play mind games with us by naming those guys there. I can't see Patty or Jeremiah not starting. He (Nanai) was one of their best last game. "They played all right in that last game. Jeremiah was a point of difference for them on the kick chase, and some of his defence was good. "Then Patty, he's won the Wally Lewis Medal before, so it goes without saying … they might be trying to play mind games, but we're more focused on ourselves." Crichton, who earned man-of-the-series honours last year, said he planned to target Dearden. "It's my job as a back-rower to try and terrorise the opposition halfback," Crichton said. "The more I can get into a physical battle with them, the less we see them. "Some of my best games have been when I've done that, so I'm looking to recreate that with Tommy. I really like him, but it's different when you're playing. "He is a strong little bastard, so he will be running hard. It's a big call for Queensland, he is stepping into the number seven jersey for the first time. "I know he will be able to bring his best. I just have to make sure I am bringing better." The other major talking point from Origin I was the Maroons' decision to avoid sending a kick-off in the direction of Spencer Leniu. Queensland kicked off to the left and away from Payne Haas for the first two restarts of the match, setting up Mitch Barnett and Max King for the return runs. They then sent the next two kick-offs to the right and away from an infuriated Leniu after he had entered the field, again setting up King for the returns. Maroons coach Billy Slater claimed this week it was a decision made "on the run" due to his side being stripped for numbers. But Crichton suggested it was a premeditated call from the Maroons. "I know it was a deliberate decision," Crichton said. "I've heard that from people that were in there. They were told don't kick it to Payne or Spencer. "Every rugby league fan wants to see [Leniu take the return], so hopefully they'll do it this time." AAP
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Angus Crichton calls out Maroons' team-list mind games
Angus Crichton has accused Queensland of subterfuge by naming a hard-to-believe team list for State of Origin II, vowing to terrorise new half Tom Dearden regardless of which forward is beside him. In a wide-ranging interview from NSW camp, Crichton also took a subtle jab at the Maroons for refusing to kick off to Spencer Leniu or Payne Haas in the Origin series opener. But it is the Maroons' published line-up for Origin II in Perth next Wednesday that Crichton finds hardest to believe after the Blues' series-opening 18-6 win in Brisbane. Aside from axing captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, Queensland coach Billy Slater has also dropped Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan back to the bench. The changes leave Kurt Capewell listed to start at second row and Trent Loiero at lock, but Crichton is having none of the Maroons' claims. "Surely Nanai's not on the bench and surely Patty's not on the bench as well," Crichton said. "I think they're trying to play mind games with us by naming those guys there. I can't see Patty or Jeremiah not starting. He (Nanai) was one of their best last game. "They played all right in that last game. Jeremiah was a point of difference for them on the kick chase, and some of his defence was good. "Then Patty, he's won the Wally Lewis Medal before, so it goes without saying ... they might be trying to play mind games, but we're more focused on ourselves." Regardless of what the Maroons do, Crichton is looking forward to getting at Dearden. The NSW second-rower earned man-of-the-series honours last year after the way he physically went after Cherry-Evans, and he plans to target Dearden in the same way. "It's my job as a back-rower to try and terrorise the opposition halfback," Crichton said. "The more I can get into a physical battle with them, the less we see them. "Some of my best games have been when I've done that, so I'm looking to recreate that with Tommy. I really like him, but it's different when you're playing. "He is a strong little bastard, so he will be running hard. It's a big call for Queensland, he is stepping into the No.7 jersey for the first time. "I know he will be able to bring his best. I just have to make sure I am bringing better." The other major talking point from Origin I was the Maroons' decision to not send a kick-off in the direction of Leniu, who has become arch-enemy No.1 in Queensland. Queensland kicked off to the left and away from Payne Haas for the game's first two restarts, setting up Mitch Barnett and Max King for the return runs. They then sent the next two kick-offs to the right and away from an infuriated Leniu after he had entered the field, again setting up King for the returns. Slater claimed this week it was a decision made "on the run" due to the Maroons being stripped for numbers, but Crichton suggested he knew it was a premeditated call. "I know it was a deliberate decision," Crichton said. "I've heard that from people that were in there. They were told don't kick it to Payne (Haas) or Spencer. "Every rugby league fan wants to see (Leniu take the return), so hopefully they'll do it this time."
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Angus Crichton calls out Maroons' team-list mind games
Angus Crichton has accused Queensland of subterfuge by naming a hard-to-believe team list for State of Origin II, vowing to terrorise new half Tom Dearden regardless of which forward is beside him. In a wide-ranging interview from NSW camp, Crichton also took a subtle jab at the Maroons for refusing to kick off to Spencer Leniu or Payne Haas in the Origin series opener. But it is the Maroons' published line-up for Origin II in Perth next Wednesday that Crichton finds hardest to believe after the Blues' series-opening 18-6 win in Brisbane. Aside from axing captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, Queensland coach Billy Slater has also dropped Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan back to the bench. The changes leave Kurt Capewell listed to start at second row and Trent Loiero at lock, but Crichton is having none of the Maroons' claims. "Surely Nanai's not on the bench and surely Patty's not on the bench as well," Crichton said. "I think they're trying to play mind games with us by naming those guys there. I can't see Patty or Jeremiah not starting. He (Nanai) was one of their best last game. "They played all right in that last game. Jeremiah was a point of difference for them on the kick chase, and some of his defence was good. "Then Patty, he's won the Wally Lewis Medal before, so it goes without saying ... they might be trying to play mind games, but we're more focused on ourselves." Regardless of what the Maroons do, Crichton is looking forward to getting at Dearden. The NSW second-rower earned man-of-the-series honours last year after the way he physically went after Cherry-Evans, and he plans to target Dearden in the same way. "It's my job as a back-rower to try and terrorise the opposition halfback," Crichton said. "The more I can get into a physical battle with them, the less we see them. "Some of my best games have been when I've done that, so I'm looking to recreate that with Tommy. I really like him, but it's different when you're playing. "He is a strong little bastard, so he will be running hard. It's a big call for Queensland, he is stepping into the No.7 jersey for the first time. "I know he will be able to bring his best. I just have to make sure I am bringing better." The other major talking point from Origin I was the Maroons' decision to not send a kick-off in the direction of Leniu, who has become arch-enemy No.1 in Queensland. Queensland kicked off to the left and away from Payne Haas for the game's first two restarts, setting up Mitch Barnett and Max King for the return runs. They then sent the next two kick-offs to the right and away from an infuriated Leniu after he had entered the field, again setting up King for the returns. Slater claimed this week it was a decision made "on the run" due to the Maroons being stripped for numbers, but Crichton suggested he knew it was a premeditated call. "I know it was a deliberate decision," Crichton said. "I've heard that from people that were in there. They were told don't kick it to Payne (Haas) or Spencer. "Every rugby league fan wants to see (Leniu take the return), so hopefully they'll do it this time."
