Feleti Mateo admits turning his back on playing for Tonga in next year’s Rugby League World Cup to keep alive his dreams of playing State of Origin is a huge gamble.
The Warriors back-rower will play for the City Origin side against Country on Sunday in Mudgee after lodging papers with the Rugby League International Federation to declare his allegiance to Australia.
The Sydney-born 27-year-old played for Tonga in the 2008 World Cup and went on to become captain of the Mate Ma’a, which subsequently made him ineligible for NSW representative sides until now.
In addition to Tonga, Mateo also qualifies for England through his Oxford-born mother, and also New Zealand having been a resident in Auckland for two years following his move from Parramatta.
However, he said he would only have walked away from Tonga for Australia.
“Back then, I was never in the picture for Origin which is why I played for Tonga,” Mateo told AAP.
“Throughout the whole time, I was happy to play for Tonga, but the rules have now changed and I had to change my eligibility if I wanted to play Origin and did so proudly.”
Mateo said he was not put under any pressure to make the decision and had not heard from Blues coach Ricky Stuart so had no idea if he figured in his plans.
“I haven’t spoke to Ricky or met him – the decision’s off my own back,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a risk but I am willing to take and hopefully it pays off.
“I was loving playing for Tonga. I was captaining the team but this was the best thing for me.”
England coach Steve McNamara told AAP earlier this month that he would like to see Mateo playing for his side in the next World Cup but only if he approached him.
The pair inadvertently crossed paths in a Sydney hotel the Warriors were staying in recently, but Mateo admitted he didn’t recognise the man who was hoping to court him.
“To tell you the truth, I knew his face, but I didn’t know where he was from,” he said.
“When someone told me and I knew straight away and I’d read that he wanted me to approach him, but that wasn’t really in my plan.
“Mum is English but moved here when she was five with her family.
“I was born and raised here and very much see myself as an Aussie and hopefully I can do a bit for City and put my name in the mix for Origin.”