The NRL market has been in full swing for 2023 with several stars switching clubs ahead of the new season.
NRL.com takes a deeper look at some of the major transfers and how each club will benefit from their big name arrivals in 2023.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
- Age: 21
- Position they’ll fill: Fullback
- Contracted until: 2024
What Tabuai-Fidow can bring
When he made his NRL debut in 2020 for North Queensland, Tabuai-Fidow was instantly labelled a teen sensation, tearing up the field with his speed.
Skipping a noted step in the pathway to the NRL, ‘the Hammer’ went from winning the QRL’s statewide Under 18 player of the year honours in 2019 to the big leagues, making his debut for the Cowboys in Round 5 against the Warriors in 2020, setting up two tries.
In his Cowboys career, the Cairns-born flyer scored 21 tries in 50 appearances.
His attacking flair also saw him earn a call up to the Queensland Maroons side in 2021, crossing for a try in his State of Origin debut, a 20-18 win in Game III.
However, a PCL tear in the Round 4 clash against the Roosters this past season saw him sidelined for three weeks. Cowboys coach Todd Payton turned to Scott Drinkwater to fill the void, and in the time his was filling in, Drinkwater evolved from a wannabe five-eighth to a gun fullback, making himself indispensable to the team.
While Tabuai-Fidow was then unable to force his way back into the starting side as the Cowboys produced a stunning mid-season turnaround in form, he was still a key member of the team and was instead injected from the bench for varying stints.
With more time on the field in a key position, Tabuai-Fidow will continue to develop his creativity on the field to help the team, but will also provide some of the 'individual brilliance' to turn something out of nothing.
Hynes and Tabuai-Fidow join Muggera performance
Why it’ll work
Fortunately for the Dolphins, Tabuai-Fidow – who suffered an ankle injury representing Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup has undergone surgery after being diagnosed with a grade two syndesmosis injury – is on track to be back from injury and ready for selection for Round 1.
One of the exciting young signings at the club, he also has a surprising amount of experience for his age and will be called upon to provide some much-needed attacking spark for the new side.
There is also the added bonus of having previously played with a number of current teammates including Thomas Gilbert and Connelly Lemuelu at the Cowboys, Anthony Milford for Samoa and Felise Kaufusi for the Maroons.
With some inexperience working with the outside backs around him, Tabuai-Fidow will also need to work on combining well the spine players as many of the team’s points will be expected to come from his play. As it is a new team, combinations will take time to grow, but once they click, they should be able to score some points.