WILLIAMS: DO EVERYTHING TO WIN
FORMER Maroons winger Ty Williams has backed Cairns product Hamiso TabuaiFidow to star when he makes his State of Origin debut on Wednesday night.
Tabuai-Fidow has been named at centre, and will be charged with stopping Blues flyer Tom Trbojevic, as NSW eyes its first 3-0 series win since 2000 – before the Kangaroos junior was born.
But Williams, the Northern Pride coach who played 151 NRL games for the Cowboys, has backed the speedster to shine in his Maroons debut.
“Some people are gonna say he’s not ready for it, but my advice for him is to go out there and do everything possible to win,” he said. “That’s what the Queensland spirit’s been made of.
“Have we showcased it over the past two games? There's questions over it.
“The older guys who have worn it before have questioned that. They have to do whatever it takes to win for that jersey and for their state. I’m sure Hammer will do it.”
Tabuai-Fidow replaces Kurt Capewell at centre, while the Panthers gun moves to his preferred position in the second row.
But despite “Hammer’s” short NRL career (he’s played 23 games), Williams believes he’s ready.
"One hundred per cent,” he said. “I thought he should have been picked in game two.
“I just think we need to fight fire with fire with Tommy Turbo, scramble our backsides off defensively.
“Now we have some genuine pace out there.
“That’s no disrespect to Kurt Capewell, but I think
Paul Vautin said it, we looked slow, and that’s dead right.
“This boy’s gonna bring pace, and he’s fearless.”