Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been backed to become the leading tryscorer in State of Origin history.
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The 22-year-old speed demon, known as "Hammer", is striking at 1.6 tries per match. He has eight tries in five games for the Maroons to be placed equal 16th on the all-time Origin tryscoring list and is rocketing up the ladder.
No other player, from NSW or Queensland, who has played more than one Origin match has a better strike-rate.
To put his performance in perspective, Tabuai-Fidow is just one try behind former Maroons captain Darren Lockyer who notched his nine tries in a 36-game Origin career.
The leading tryscorer in Origin history is former Queensland centre Greg Inglis who scored 18 tries in 32 games. For NSW, the leaders are Michael O'Connor, Jarryd Hayne and Josh Addo-Carr with 11 tries.
Of players to have notched eight or more tries in Origin, only current Maroons centre Valentine Holmes (13 tries in 17 matches) has a better strike-rate than Tabuai-Fidow.
Holmes said his centre partner could well pass Inglis by the time he was just 25.
"Definitely, at this rate and the way he is going," Holmes said.
"His support play is really good when he is at fullback and playing at centre outside (five-eighth) Cameron Munster he gets into space.
"Now Tommy Dearden is doing a great job on that left side. I feel like whoever plays on that left side will go well. GI and Darbs (Darius Boyd) used to play on the left side and they scored a lot of tries. Statistically, the left side is one of our strengths."
Boyd notched his 17 tries in 28 Origin appearances.
Tabuai-Fidow switched to fullback in game one of this year's Origin series when starting No.1 Reece Walsh was concussed and unfurled a hat-trick in a 38-10 win.
"I still think there is plenty to come in his game. I'm excited about helping him get there," Maroons coach Billy Slater said of Tabuai-Fidow.
"He is a wonderful player who can play multiple positions. The great thing is just getting him out on the field and getting him involved in the game.
"His teammates have got a responsibility to bring him into the game and that's what we are going to try and outlay in (camp)."
Tabuai-Fidow, while playing fullback for the Dolphins, raced 98m and beat half the Cronulla team to score a try last week in a 30-28 win that Andrew Johns labelled the best he had seen. Holmes said his former North Queensland teammate was one of the greatest athletes in world sport.
"Hammer's speed is very hard to match. Speed wins everything I believe and he is very skilful with his awareness of the ball and being around the ball," Holmes said.
"Then there is his class of knowing when to pass and when to run.
"We were at the Cowboys together and when he was 19 he used to come up to me and ask me tips when he was coming through playing fullback, wing and centre.
"I didn't have to give him too many. He was an Australian Schoolboy and had a lot of teams chasing him.
"He was a good player but it was more about his mind and getting him to focus on the game and the occasion at hand. I feel like he is good at that."
Australian Associated Press
