Punishing Cowboys prop James Tamou has formally pledged his allegiance to NSW and Australia after speculation the New Zealand-born, Sydney-raised forward could be a surprise selection for the Kangaroos to play the Kiwis next weekend.
Tamou joined young NRL club teammate Tariq Sims in submitting eligibility forms to the ARL Commission on Thursday stating they want to represent the Blues in State of Origin and Australia on the international stage.
Sims’s mother is Fijian but like his older brother, Ashton, he’s nominated NSW as his Origin choice.
With teammate and incumbent starting Kangaroos prop Matthew Scott still recovering from a foot injury and Dave Shillington having a disrupted start to 2012, Tamou’s impressive early-season form has seen the 113kg Palmerston North product’s name raised by the national selectors for the April 20 Test clash in Auckland.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney had been hoping the 23-year-old would have a change of heart and make himself available to the Kiwis after making the national train-on squad last year.
But Tamou, who attended Matraville Sports High in Sydney and played his junior football for the Paddington Tigers, ended the debate after lodging the papers with the commission.
Under the criteria set down by the international federation, a player only has to be a permanent resident of a country for three years to be eligible to play represent that country.
Tamou would have to be considered a strong chance to play for NSW in this year’s State of Origin series after turning his back on New Zealand.
But he could make his representative debut as early as next week in a green and gold jumper.
The Test squad and the City-Country sides will be named on Sunday.
If he is selected for Australia, it would be a baptism of fire with the Test to be played on New Zealand soil.
Much depends on how Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens wants to line up against the Kiwis with Paul Gallen a front-row option given injuries and other factors.
Tamou’s performance against the Sydney Roosters in Darwin on Saturday night will be closely watched by Australian selectors as will Canberra prop Shillington’s clash with Broncos counterpart Petero Civoniceva in Brisbane.
If Tamou misses Test selection, he’ll get a chance to further impress NSW coach Ricky Stuart as a certain selection for City side to play Country in Mudgee on the same weekend.
The annual City-Country clash will also allow young Sims, who’ll be putting his hand up for Country, to push his representative claims.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, dismissed any injury concerns surrounding five-eighth Johnathan Thurston (calf) for their clash with the Roosters, who arrived in steamy Darwin on Thursday.
