Latest news with #HamisoTabuaiFidow
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Munster's monster hits shows why Queensland captain's time has come
Moderation is often cited as the secret to a long and fulfilling life. Semi-regular exercise. The odd glass of red wine. Precious time with family and friends. And no more than a sprinkling of Cameron Munster. But then again, it's hard to turn down an existence offered by State of Origin game two. This was an exhilarating glimpse into excess. Of gladiatorial brutality interspersed with slapstick comedy. Of breakouts and comebacks. Of captain Munster, spearheading a Queensland performance very much in his image. This was a match of extremes. Heavy favourite versus underdog long-shot. The Maroons could not be stopped in the first half. Origin's largest Blues comeback fell narrowly short in the second. There were fireworks amid flooding rains. It was a contest far from predictable. One minute the Maroons had the Blues pinned in their 20m at the end of a set. The next, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was left cursing the slippery ball which handed NSW possession up the other end. There were countless handling errors, moments of stupidity and panic. Few gave the Maroons a chance, then they were certainties – first to win and then to lose – before they ended a frankly bonkers 80 minutes fortunate but gallant victors. If live in-play betting were legal in Australia, this would have been the match to break the bookies' models. Just as it looked like Queensland would wilt, like their good fortune – just ask Zac Lomax – was about to run out, there was one final surprise. What was this? Munster himself, alongside the resurgent Kurt Capewell, forcing the ball loose from Blues' titan Payne Haas with a minute left to play. With Munster, little makes sense. Watch him on Channel Nine and there are few conventional reasons to see why any broadcaster would anoint him as their next on-screen talent. Yes, he wears an endearing grin but he stumbles over words and often says the same sentence twice in succession, a conversational instant replay. On the field, his loose hips and duck feet are a rugby league oddity. But in both arenas, Munster seems so at ease, that errors and missteps matter not. Confidence, a little like Queensland in State of Origin, must never be underestimated. Coach Billy Slater explained he chose Munster as captain, even as his side faced Origin oblivion across a possible four-match losing streak, because 'it's his time'. There was perhaps no better stage for the five-eighth to prove it than the ground named after the telecommunications company penalised $100m on Wednesday for unconscionable conduct. Rather than phones people didn't need, Munster was selling three times as many dummies as any Blue. Roaming, Munster was not billed extra but instead rewarded – his try procured running a tight line off Harry Grant close to the posts. He kicked long and short, and would sometimes pop up as first receiver, but still ran more times than any of his teammates, and topped his side's metre-count. He may not have been perfect – the playmaker was guilty of two over-cooked grubbers as well as ruck indiscipline – but he was always hungry. In Munster's mind, his approach is simple. 'Just playing off the cuff footy, like eyes up footy,' he said after the match. 'We obviously have structures in place, but when that goes out of the window, when you see opportunities – and it just takes one little moment for blokes to push in the right hole – if we execute, we execute. Sometimes we're not going to execute.' It may be brilliance. It may be ignorance. Munster certainly has something, some hard-to-put-your-finger-on quality. Less an X-factor, more a WTF-actor. But beneath the lairy exterior is a deeply loyal team-mate. He showed both qualities at the final whistle, when discussing the man who made him captain. 'We needed to turn up for our coach tonight and we fucking did,' Munster said, to almost four million Australians. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion This, Billy, is all your doing. There is a reason Craig Bellamy overlooked the mercurial No 6 for the Melbourne Storm captaincy when he handed it to Harry Grant last year. Munster has over his career let many down, as in the low-point of his white powder scandal in 2020. He admits he has spent most of his 30 years with the attitude of a child. He says it has taken three kids of his own to finally grow up. Two hip surgeries in the off-season would make anyone feel youth is slipping away. Game three will determine if it is, as Slater believes, truly Munster's time. Queensland's No 6 has already won NRL premierships and Origin shields. But he will find no greater achievement than guiding this underdog Maroons side to a series victory in Sydney. He is halfway there, thanks to Wednesday's epic described as a 'heart stopper' by Slater. The night's emotion also made Munster look within. He admitted he had been hurt hearing his coach and former Storm and Origin teammate cop weeks of media criticism, and that moment – sitting alongside Slater at a triumphant press conference an hour after the whistle – was the best time to share those feelings. 'I'd never tell him that, but I'm probably telling him now,' he said. 'And I love him.'
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
State of Origin game II: Queensland beat New South Wales 26-24
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Maroons celebrates after scoring a try during the State of Origin game two match between the Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues. Photo: AAP / Photosport Queensland have held on to beat New South Wales in the second State of Origin clash at Optus Stadium in Perth. The Maroons led 26-6 at halftime, and while they were unable to score in the second half and NSW surged back into the match, Queensland won the game 26-24. The 2025 State of Origin series is now tied 1-1. See how the game unfolded with the live blog:
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- 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.
