James Tamou believes his form leading into Wednesday’s State of Origin opener has been below his best, but says he’s a better player than before his NSW debut 12 months ago.
The giant New Zealand-born prop was a controversial selection for game one last year, one month after making his Test debut against the country of his birth in front of a hostile Auckland crowd.
However, his performances in both the international and Test arenas proved he was tailor-made to play at the highest level.
Tamou will go head-to-head with North Queensland front-row partner Matt Scott on Wednesday but was quite candid about his own form for the Cowboys, who are struggling this season despite a star-studded roster.
The 24-year-old said criticism of him and Matt Scott is justified, with the pressure cranking up on coach Neil Henry with his depleted side, minus its Origin stars, slipping to 4-8 for the season after losing to Gold Coast on Sunday.
“I’ve been criticised and rightfully so. I haven’t been happy with how I have played to be brutally honest,” Tamou said.
“Me and Matt are the front-row partners and being talked about as the best in the world, but we are not playing to our standards.
“I think with the standard I put on myself last year, my form has been a little bit down.
“I definitely could do better and, heading into Origin, there is no better time to pick up my act.
“I appreciate being selected again and really know what I need to do.”
The genial prop, who is one of the genuine nice guys of the NRL, said he was taken aback somewhat by the savage criticism he received for pledging his allegiance to Australia and NSW.
But with the focus shifting away from him this year, he feels a lot more at home in camp.
“Hopefully, that ship has sailed and we won’t have to hear about it again,” he said.
“I am definitely a lot more comfortable – not just with Origin, but the whole thing.
“The first one, I just took the back seat and tried to just experience it.
“With the rep experience, I have grown up a bit. Without it, I would be a different player and I am better for it.
“I’ve always said it was the best decision I could make in my career and I don’t regret it.”
Next Wednesday will be the first time in 13 years that Petero Civoniceva will not be in the Queensland side for game one.
Brisbane prop Ben Hannant is also out with a calf injury and many in NSW believe their forwards have the edge.
But Tamou refused to buy into claims this is the weakest Maroons team for many years.
“With Queensland, the reason they have been so good, it is their depth,” he said.
“You take a gun player out, they bring another in. They still have a very good forward pack.”