Latest news with #HamisoTabuaiFidow
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maroons guns of past help Dolphins spine shine: Katoa
Dolphins star half Isaiya Katoa is a true NSW Blue in waiting, but he has credited video sessions watching one of Queensland's greatest spine combinations for the dazzling attack of his side. The Dolphins have scored a combined 100 points in their past two matches, with a record-breaking 56-6 win over St George Illawarra on Friday night following a 44-8 demolition of competition leaders Canterbury before their bye. "We have a spine meeting where our nine, six, seven and one come together," Katoa said after his man-of-the-match display against the Dragons. "Some of the clips we look at are Cameron Smith, JT (Johnathan Thurston), Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all connecting (for the Maroons). "The more they connected the more success their team had. We are trying to build that into our own games and still try to play to our individual strengths. It is a work in progress for us." Built on steely defence, the past two Dolphins wins have also featured the creative wares of halves Kodi Nikorima and Katoa at their best. Dazzling fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was on Origin duties for the Canterbury clash, but scored a try double against the Dragons. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returned from an extended break with a leg laceration against the Red V. With bench hooker Kurt Donoghoe chiming in to perfection, the Dolphins attack, when on song, is as good as any side in the NRL Centres Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo have been in great touch, which is due to Nikorima and Katoa connecting so well together as a duo and not just sitting on their own sides of the field. "We speak about (combining) all week. Over the pre-season we were working really hard at trying to find each other on the field, whether I come over to the left side or Kodi comes over to the right side," Katoa said "The more we can find each other the more we can find guys like Hammer (Tabuai-Fidow), Herbie and Jake on the outside. With the speed and strike they have, you need to keep giving them the footy." Once again it is the old Maroons halves pairing that Katoa has learned so much from. "The two that come to mind are Cooper Cronk and JT, just the way they were always talking to each other, playing both sides of the field and mixing it up at times," Katoa said. "It is something me and Kodi base our game off." The Dolphins are now in seventh position on the ladder and play North Queensland away next Saturday night.
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Queensland survive double injury scare
State of Origin: Kalyn Ponga and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have been given the all clear by Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
NRL live updates: Canterbury Bulldogs face Dolphins to kick off Round 12
The Bulldogs will be without a host of starters due to injury, suspension and State of Origin representation when they face the Dolphins on Thursday night. The Phins are also without two of their best players with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on Origin duty and Tom Gilbert out with a pectoral injury. Canterbury will be looking to keep their grip on first spot while the Dolphins will look to stay touch with the top eight. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I was a bit nervous': Kalyn Ponga hopes to make Maroons fullback jersey his own after lengthy hiatus
Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga says he was 'a bit nervous' when the squad was announced for the series opener, with the Knights superstar keen to keep his spot after being named in the No.1 jersey for the first time since the 2022 decider. Ponga was the best player on the field that night as he scored a try in the 22-12 victory at Suncorp Stadium, but he's only played one game off the bench since then due to injuries. Newcastle's poor start to the season led to some speculation that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow could win the fullback spot for next Wednesday's game in Brisbane, but Ponga got the nod and hopes to stay there for the rest of the series. Reece Walsh's impending return from a knee injury could complicate things, but Ponga has the chance to end any potential debate with a dominant performance next week. 'I was a bit nervous, to be honest,' Ponga said. 'I didn't assume I would be in there. You never really know. You have to earn the jersey, and I was definitely happy with the call I got and happy to be in camp. 'I'm definitely keen to keep it. I want to do my job and put together some performances I'm proud of. 'You have to earn this jersey, and that's what I'll be doing for sure.' Scoring points has been a major issue for the Knights this season, but Origin provides Ponga with the perfect opportunity to unleash his attacking weaponry that he can then bring back to club land. And he'll have no better person to assist him than Maroons coach Billy Slater, who is widely regarded as the greatest fullback of all time. Walsh relished the opportunity to work closely with Slater last year, and Ponga is equally excited about learning from the best to ever do it. 'It's his attention to detail on both sides of the footy but also the confidence he instils in his players,' he said. 'He has given me some things when I first came into camp that I didn't think about from a technical point of view, but then also the confidence he instils in you as a player, and that's what you want from a coach. 'Every time I come into this camp and come out of it, I come out of these camps a better player, not only through Bill and his coaching but the environment in general. 'For that reason, I'm excited to come in here and try and take some pieces of gold back with me and learn as much as I can in this camp.'
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘That challenge gets me excited': Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on being considered for Maroons fullback role
Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow says he's excited by the challenge of playing a new role for the Maroons after his named was mentioned as a potential bolter to fill in at fullback for the State of Origin opener later this month. Reece Walsh's knee injury is likely to keep him out of the game on May 28, with Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga the logical option to replace him. But there's a school of thought that the 'Hammer' deserves first crack at the fullback role after finding form at the right time for his club, while he's also excelled every time he's put on the Queensland jersey. Tabuai-Fidow has scored nine tries from seven Origin appearances at left centre, and he grabbed a hat-trick in last year's series opener when he shifted to fullback to replace Walsh, who had been knocked out a by a Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii high shot. 'The Origin arena is different to club footy, but I'm playing fullback week in, week out here at the Dolphins,' he told the NewsWire. 'The pressure that comes with it, I can live with that. 'Whatever Billy (Maroons coach Billy Slater) wants me to do, I'll do. I don't mind if it's fullback or centre. I'm just concentrating on playing good footy and getting some wins here. 'That challenge gets me excited. 'Last year when Reece went off for the HIA, I ended up back there and I didn't feel out of place at all. I just went out there and did my job. 'With me playing fullback here every week, I know the role and I'm pretty comfortable out there.' Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has backed his flyer to handle the job if selected, with Tabuai-Fidow's defence an underrated part of his game after he produced a stunning last-gasp tackle to deny the Eels a try on Thursday that would have tied things up. 'He'd do a very good job, I've got no doubt about that at all,' Woolf said. 'He's a big-game player and he showed that again tonight when we needed him. 'If he was picked to play No.1, I have no doubt he'd do a terrific job for Queensland. If he's picked at centre, then he'd do the same job.' Tabuai-Fidow's speed makes him a constant threat on the edge, but his ability to turn half breaks into guaranteed tries is why Slater must consider the gifted athlete for fullback. It's a role he played for the Maroons under-18s back in 2019 when he had the No.1 on his back with Walsh kept on the bench. 'I'm sure he'd be able to handle it,' Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima said. 'He's an incredible talent and a wonderful player. I'm sure wherever he does play, he'll do a wonderful job for the Maroons.'
