The Cowboys have produced potentially one of the best cross-code poaching raids in recent times after securing the services of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from the Queensland Reds for just $2000.

The Courier Mail revealed the cut price deal that landed North Queensland arguably the most exciting prospect from the NRL Nines.

The man they call the “Hammer” is still just 18 years old, but he looks set for a long and lucrative career in rugby league after lighting up the Perth Nines.

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Round 19

The 18-year-old starred for the Cowboys across the two-day tournament in Perth, scoring four tries in four games with a mixture of blinding speed and fancy footwork.

However the potential superstar could have been training with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby this week, if it wasn’t for Cowboys recruitment manager Clint Zammit.

Two years ago, the young fullback was a student at Brisbane Grammar school and on a scholarship with the Reds.

Zammit first saw Tabuai-Fidow dominate a schoolboy game against Ipswich Grammar.

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The Cowboys moved quickly to secure Tabuai-Fidow’s signature and bring him home to Cairns and the rest is history.

“I didn’t really get picked up by league when I was younger, so I tried union out,” Tabuai-Fidow said after the Cowboys’ 23-14 Nines Final win over the Dragons.

“I got pretty far in union. I would have been pretty happy even if I got a professional contract in rugby.”

Zammit didn’t need long to convince the Cowboys to sign Tabuai-Fidow after watching him play.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scores in the semi-final of the NRL Perth Nines. Source: AAP

“I went down to watch another kid Tom Gilbert, but he was injured and then I saw Hamiso,” Zammit said.

“I don’t know how keen the Reds were but I spoke to Hamiso’s parents and the deal was done in five days.”

Tabuai-Fidow is not expected to play for the Cowboys until at least April as he is not currently in the club’s top 30 players.

However on his performance at the Nines it won’t be long before he is a regular in the top grade.