Jamayne Isaako was on the verge of joining the NRL scrapheap before he joined the Dolphins, and now the extent of his comeback from exile can be revealed.
The Kiwi flyer’s rejuvenation – having been released by the Broncos and Titans in 2022 – is symbolic of the evolution of rugby league’s wingers since the six-again rule was introduced five years ago.
No longer are the men on the flanks limited to classy finishes in the corner. Now, their work is centred on supporting their forward pack – delaying the onset of fatigue as the speed of the ruck reaches new intensities.
Jamayne Isaako’s form spike will need to continue if the Dolphins’ forward pack is to maintain the rage.Credit: Getty
Since the six-again addition, Isaako’s percentage of total run metres coming from kick returns has dropped from 33.43 per cent to 25.58 per cent, while he has also made five extra carries an outing.
His Dolphins exploits are even greater, with his average of 152.50 running metres a career-best figure, yet only 11.37 per cent of those have come from kick returns.
Isaako said this change had opened the door for smaller, more agile backline stars to sniff out opportunities against tiring rucks and manipulate rival defences to their advantage.
And the 28-year-old was determined to ensure his fellow wingers – including recruits Max Feagai and Junior Tupou – were aware of the demands expected of them, while easing the burden on a star-studded forward pack spearheaded by Daniel Saifiti and Tom Gilbert.
“The game has evolved immensely, even from just five years ago. When I was coming through the game, you had to have a lot of size and strength to be able to play on the wing, but these days, what the game demands is being fit and agile,” Isaako said.
“You see a lot of wingers these days aren’t as big, but are shorter and stockier and a bit faster. You’ve got to be a lot fitter to be able to play on the wing.
“Being an older head, I’m bringing the experience I have to some of the young blokes. I’ll do my best to lead the outside backs.”
While Isaako is unclear who will line up inside him, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow appears to be out of the equation.
The Dolphins’ fullback was shifted to centre for last year’s final rounds to accommodate Trai Fuller, but the latter’s ruptured ACL, suffered in the Queensland Cup, has kept “the Hammer” in the No.1 jumper.
And 23-year-old Tabuai-Fidow revealed that while he already stood as one of the NRL’s fastest players, he had been working towards hitting even greater speeds, having previously held himself back.
“I think I can [get faster]. If I find open space, I don’t go too fast – I don’t want to pull anything – so if I can get to the tryline with the speed I’m going, that’s good,” he said.
“Fullback is my main position. Hopefully, I get my primary position for the whole year … [but there’s] no guarantees, you’ve got to earn it.”
Start the day with a summary of the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
