Fullback showdown key in Dolphins-Storm clash
Joel Gould |
Dazzling fullbacks Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Ryan Papenhuyzen have lit up Suncorp Stadium with career highlights over the years and the duo’s latest NRL showdown promises to be no different.
Dolphins custodian Tabuai-Fidow, known as “Hammer”, has five tries in his last three games at Suncorp, including his second career hat-trick in last week’s 30-12 win over Penrith.
Melbourne No.1 Papenhuyzen has scored five tries in five games this year and is in red-hot form ahead of Friday night’s clash.
It was at Suncorp where 2020 premiership and Clive Churchill Medal winner Papenhuyzen announced himself as a player of rare quality in a 64-10 Storm win over Parramatta in 2019 when he made three line breaks, set up two tries and scored one himself in 32 minutes of magic off the bench.
“It is going to be a great match-up,” Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
“They are two exciting players and they are both obviously important players for their teams too.
“Hopefully Hammer gets the better there. When Hammer is playing well we certainly play well.
“I said a number of weeks ago when we weren’t playing well, and he was obviously getting a little bit of pressure put on him, you could see that he was working really hard to get himself on the ball and working really hard to get himself opportunities.
“We’re playing a bit more connected as a team and a little bit smarter as a team and we are finding more opportunities for him as well so it’s just a matter of being patient.
“He’s a class player and was going to get himself going sooner rather than later.”
The Dolphins have lost star hooker Jeremy Marshall-King to a gash in his leg. Lock Max Plath and utility Kurt Donoghoe will share hooking duties.
“Jeremy had a fairly bad cut and unfortunately he’s got a little bit of an infection in there as well so he won’t be able to play this weekend,” Woolf said.
“Kurt’s obviously done a great job in the starting rounds.
“He did a fair bit of work (at No.9) through the pre-season too so he’ll play the majority of hooker.
“We like Plathy in that No.13 sort of role where he offers us some ball play, but at some stage they are going to have to share.”
Tough forward Ray Stone returns from suspension on the bench.
“The way Ray carries the ball, the way he turns up defensively, the way he doesn’t stop, he’s great to have in the team and I think he is quite inspiring for the other players,” Woolf said.
Friday night’s clash is Dolphins prop Josh Kerr’s 100th in the NRL. The off-contract forward is in red-hot form and has impressed the coach.
“It is a great occasion for him,” Woolf said.
“He is a great character to have in the team and is … always having a laugh at himself and I really admire that side of him.
“He is playing great footy at the moment. When you are playing great footy you are a bloke we want to keep in the team.”
AAP
