Fuller House: Do the Dolphins need to cement Trai’s spot in the side?

With Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow missing for the Dolphins on Origin duty, Wayne Bennett once again entrusted his backup fullback Trai Fuller to fill the shoes of the Maroons star in the side’s clash against the Melbourne Storm on Friday night.

Despite the nailbiting game not going in favour of the Dolphins, Fuller starred again in the No.1 jersey and now has a serious case to establish himself as a permanent fixture in Bennett’s top 17 on a weekly basis.

The 27-year-old was one of the Dolphins’ best on Friday night, running for 188 metres, and scoring a try whilst getting through a mountain of work in defence as the Storm continued to target his smaller frame.

With ‘The Hammer’ set to return from Origin duty in a week’s time, former NRL forward Justin Horo debated whether or not Fuller could make a case for a full-time spot in the first-grade side.

“He is so tough first of all, but for me he’s going to be a backup,” Horo said on SEN 1170 Mower’s Club.

“He’s going to be one of those guys, that I don’t think you can rely upon Trai Fuller week in and week out, we haven’t seen it so it sounds like a harsh thing to say but there was times, and he doesn’t shy away from contact one bit but Melbourne were really focusing in on trying to get him around the ruck.

“Especially when he was caught on the defensive line… he puts his body on the line, whether he can do that for 27 rounds, I’m not too sure.

“The way he carries the ball through the middle on the fourth tackle, which sets them up well for the kicking game, it’s unbelievable.”

Fuller served his apprenticeship for the Dolphins in the Queensland Cup since 2018, making 88 appearances for the team and scoring 52 times.

“I think there is a genuine spot for him to continually backup Hammer,” Horo added.

“He will be in that position where whenever Hammer is away on Origin duties or potentially injured, or maybe something happens in the backline where Hammer is so versatile he can cover so many other positions, (Fuller) can go back to fullback and Hammer can go to centre or wing.”

Fuller has made five appearances for the Dolphins’ NRL side in 2024, with all of them coming at the fullback spot.