Nines lives: Feldt pumped for tournament return

In 2014, a young Cowboys winger named Kyle Feldt headed over to the inaugural NRL Nines in Auckland under new coach Paul Green, with just three first-grade games to his name.

He was desperate to impress the new boss and earn a spot in the Cowboys' side for round one.

At the end of a memorable weekend, the Cowboys emerged premiers and Feldt had topped the tournament try-scorers' list with five – one of them a stunning effort in the corner with his entire body suspended outside the field of play – in what was arguably the highlight of the weekend.

"That was a bit of a weird one – the corner post was already laying down, I just tried to really adjust my body enough to get outside field of play," Feldt – now an Australian Nines representative – told NRL.com.

"Lucky enough I didn't drop it at the time and it's not a bad photo as well! It was a good experience that first Nines."

Feldt and the Cowboys made it to the quarter finals the following year while Feldt also won the recent World Cup Nines as a member of the Australian squad.

"I've been pretty lucky in the Nines, I've played three comps and won two so it's not a bad little resume," Feldt laughed.

"Playing with the Australian team was something that was bit of a surprise and a shock because I didn't play the full [2019 NRL] season.

"I was riddled with injuries at the start but finished strong and I was lucky enough to get a call from [Australia coach] Mal [Meninga] for the PM's XIII and the Nines as well.

"Just learning from the likes of Wade Graham and Ben Hunt who have so much experience through the NRL was great. They play different positions but have been around the game for a long time."

Feldt said it was good to see the club Nines back on the rugby league calendar after what felt like a very long two year hiatus and was hopeful of making the trip when the squad is eventually picked.

"I'm not looking too far ahead but I'd really enjoy a good weekend away and it'd be good to show the young fellas in the club what it's about and see what other clubs are looking like."

Asked who on the Cowboys roster would be the player to watch, Feldt opted for an up-and-coming local who has been turning heads at training.

"If he gets picked, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow," Feldt said without hesitation.

"He came through the ranks at the club, had a good year at the Blackhawks in the under-20s and had a really good year.

"He's electric the way he glides across the field, it's scary the way he runs at training. He looks like he's jogging but he's putting gaps in defenders so it would be good to see him at the Nines get a chance to play against men."