'The Hammer' seeks more after nailing Raiders' coffin

Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow isn't getting carried away by his breathtaking start to the NRL season with new club, the Dolphins.

HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW of the Cowboys runs the ball during the NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at Browne Park in Rockhampton, Australia.
HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW of the Cowboys runs the ball during the NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at Browne Park in Rockhampton, Australia. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow wants to be regarded among the NRL's great fullbacks and says he's "only going up from here" after a scintillating first fortnight at the Dolphins.

The North Queensland recruit scored twice, including the match-winner, as Wayne Bennett's men came from 12-0 down to beat Canberra 20-14 in their first game at their Redcliffe home on Saturday.

He was faultless in defence, collecting ground and high balls with confidence despite the heavy rain and water-logged field.

Tabuai-Fidow also darted from dummy half and smartly ran at Raiders backrower Hudson Young, who wasn't square and was promptly sin-binned in another crucial late moment.

Those efforts came after 'the Hammer' also scored the new club's first try in a shock round-one defeat of the Roosters on Sunday.

It's meant the Dolphins join Brisbane and Melbourne as the only teams to win their first two NRL games.

"It's crazy," the fullback said.

"There was some chat that we would win one game (all season), but we're two from two and the buzz around the club is so good.

"It's been unreal coming down here and everyone's enjoying themselves."

The 21-year-old has already played centre for Queensland in State of Origin.

But he's now a bona fide fullback in a stacked field of Maroons that includes incumbent Kalyn Ponga, Brisbane ace Reece Walsh and Gold Coast's AJ Brimson.

"There's some really talented fullbacks out there and I'm just looking to improve now," he said.

"I thought I handled it pretty well considering the weather.

"In the back of my mind I just thought to back myself even though the weather wasn't the way I wanted it to be

"It was built in the pre-season, Wayne having confidence in me and me having confidence in myself.

"I'm only going up from here."

The Dolphins play Newcastle on the road next Friday.

"It's a long season and hopefully we have more of that coming up," he said.