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FWC on Sport Nation guide'He's on track': GI backs Maroons star to break record
Darren Walton and Joel Gould, AAP •  July 6th, 2026 3:00 pm
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow makes a habit of celebrating tries for Queensland | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Lauding "lethal" Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's freakish speed and talents, Queensland great Greg Inglis is all but resigned to losing his all-time State of Origin try-scoring record to the Hammer.
Inglis needed 32 matches to amass his 18 four-pointers during an illustrious 10-times series-winning Origin career spanning from 2006 to 2018.
Tabuai-Fidow, known as "Hammer", has already nailed 13 tries from 12 games, including one in each match of this year's series that will be decided at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow likes to count his tries for Queensland | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"My daughter was texting me about it. 'Your try-scoring record's going to be beaten'," Inglis told AAP.
"You never know, but he's on track. The one thing that's on his side is youth.
"If he stays fit and healthy and still getting picked in the squad, he's lethal. He's unreal.
"I don't know who said it, but many years ago they said records were meant to be broken."
Greg Inglis scores for the Maroons in 2015, one of his 18 State of Origin tries | Photo: Joe Castro/AAP
Used mostly at centre, like he was at Origin level, Inglis marvels at 24-year-old Tabuai-Fidow's pace and ability to strike from anywhere.
"Just his ability to get in the space, just to find the try line and to manoeuvre around and get in the space is quite remarkable," Inglis said.
"He is a weapon, but I'm sure he's just out there not looking for the record. I'm sure he's just there wanting to get the win."
Inglis, known throughout the league world as "GI", was a powerhouse and a dominant physical presence with speed, skill and a vicious fend.
Tabuai-Fidow, a fullback at club level like Inglis often was, is a different kind of player with his silky movements and elusive running style, where he glides past defenders to leave them holding nothing but air.
As a youth in Cairns it was Inglis who he admired from afar.
"Greg was a player I looked up to growing up, especially being Indigenous as well," Tabuai-Fidow told AAP.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 13 tries in 12 Origin matches | Photo: Darren England/AAP
"I just admire the calibre of footy he produced for this state for such a long time. The stuff he did was pretty special.
"He holds the try-scoring record in Origin. I know I am pretty close, but I haven't looked that far ahead just yet.
"I am out there to play my footy, but I do enjoy scoring tries.
"It is a special feeling to get over the line. I just love it, to be honest."
Queensland legend Greg Inglis (centre) put fear into NSW with his powerhouse try-scoring ways | Photo: Dan Peled/AAP
Inglis was also a wonderful defender who could put a hit on with the best of them. It is an area of Tabuai-Fidow's play that he has worked on and improved at the Dolphins.
While he wants to score as many tries as he can and add to his tally on Wednesday night, he will be just as happy to save tries for his beloved Maroons.
"It is something I keep trying to work on," Tabuai-Fidow said.
"It does wonders for the team They keep telling me to score as many as I can and save as many. It is a good feeling and gets the boys up when I am defending well."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of State of Origin III: The Decider on July 8 - available on all NZ frequencies and the app.
