Billy Slater's bold call to back rising stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh at the expense of some of Queensland's greatest servants was vindicated on Wednesday night as the Maroons duo produced starring roles to snatch an epic Game One victory.
Named to debut ahead of last year's Game Three star Kalyn Ponga, Walsh was targeted early by the Blues but passed each test with aplomb – proving to be a safe pair of hands in defence and a threat in attack, with two line break assists and a crucial try assist.
Similarly, Tabuai-Fidow – selected at centre as opposed to his club role of fullback – more than made his selection count with two tries, including a spectacular match-winner in the 73rd minute to seal victory for the Maroons.
“Hamiso, Dave [Fifita] and Tom Flegler had all played for Queensland, but it’s been a while since they have been in a Queensland jersey. They they’ve really earned their opportunity to play for Queensland again, and I thought they were great,” Slater said after the game.
“The habits they have built in their game, especially this year, have transpired into their performance at Origin. I thought they were fantastic tonight.
"It didn’t surprise me how Hammer played.”
“[Selection calls] are really tough decisions to make and I don’t make them lightly... but I make them for the right reasons.
Adelaide gets some Hammer time
Having featured in 31 Origin games himself as a player before transitioning into the head coach role in 2022, Slater was confident in knowing the challenges that faced Walsh as he stepped into the number one jumper on debut.
Yet there was also a confidence in his ability to handle the moments that lied ahead.
“The young lad at fullback, he’s got so much substance to this game outside of the highlights," Slater enthused. “We all love watching Reece Walsh pull the trigger on a pass or blistering speed or his involvement in the game but he’s building the foundation to his game that’s going to hold him in good stead for a long period of time.
“That’s what I’ve seen, that’s what I’ve liked and that’s why he’s here.
He’s a quality player, he’s a good young man and he’s got a big future in front of him.
Maroons coach Billy Slater on Reece Walsh
For both players, their coach’s confidence in their ability to get the job done was paramount, with Tabuai-Fidow saying he would have been happy to have played anywhere once he received the call-up to the Queensland side.
“I think when he gave me that call, the first thing he said to me was ‘are you ready to play for Queensland’ and with no hesitation I said ‘yes’ and he gave me a huge confidence boost,” Tabuai-Fidow said.
“I’ve played in that position before in this arena, so I was pretty comfortable with the position I played.The trust and belief that we showed during the week was unreal.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow: 'I brought the shark back out into the Origin arena'
“I think we built that over the camp that we had. We had a lot of trust in each other and the belief we had and that Queensland spirit.
"We showed that out there and I think everyone just trusted and believed in each other for the full 80, even when blokes did go down or were sent off.”
Tabuai-Fidow said his connection with former Cowboys teammate Murray Taulagi "saved him" in defence on more than one occasion, and paid special tribute to Walsh for his “pretty hectic” try-scoring celebration, highlighting his totem the shark.
“I have got to give big ups to Murray, he saved me there two times with two try-saving tackles. That’s just the trust I have got in him defending outside me because we obviously gel together and we’re close mates, so with having that bond together and playing on the same side makes me feel comfortable in defending," he said.
"I’m pretty sure it helps him as well.
“I also thought [Reece] was unreal, you can see what he can do at clubland and he brought it to this arena and big ups to him. It was a big debut for him at fullback as well and I think he took it with two hands and took the challenge on.”
