Kangaroos playmaker Johnathan Thurston has no doubts North Queensland teammate James Tamou will handle whatever shots the Kiwis throw at him in Auckland on Friday night.

Tamou, Palmerston North-born and a member of the New Zealand train-on squad for last year’s Four Nations, is set to make his rugby league Test debut for Australia off the bench.

The 21-year-old prop, who moved to Sydney at 13, has cited the prospect of being able to play State of Origin for NSW as a reason for his change of allegiance.

But he also expects his decision will make him a target at Eden Park and he recalled watching the damaging hit that Kiwis enforcer Frank Pritchard put on Auckland-born Karmichael Hunt when the former Queensland fullback made his Test debut in 2006.

Hunt was stretchered from the field, but Thurston was confident Tamou will avoid the same fate.

“You’ve got to remember, he’s not 90kg like Karmichael, he’s 115, 116kg, so if they want to fire a few shots at him, good luck to them,” he said on Tuesday.

“He’s a big kid. He’ll handle it well.”

Thurston said Tamou’s maturity meant he had coped well with being in the spotlight this week.

He described Tamou’s selection for the Kangaroos as justified on form.

“He’s had a really good pre-season and trained the house down,” he said.

“He’s certainly playing great football for us at the Cowboys. He’s leading from the front, he’s got good yards in him, he’s got good contact in defence.

“His selection is warranted and he will do us proud.”

Thurston didn’t believe the international eligibility rules needed tightening.

He also said Tamou had made his choice based on what he believed was best for his future and the rest of the Kangaroos backed him.

“He’s got his sights set on playing for this jersey and doing other things in Australia as well, so we fully support his decision.”

Thurston laughed when asked if he thought New Zealand critics of Tamou were being hypocritical given that there are seven Australian-born players in the 19-man Kiwis squad.

“The individuals make those decisions on what’s best for their career, so I’ll play that with a straight bat.”