Call me a Kangaroo, says rising star Mateo
Adrian Proszenko | March 30, 2008
Rising Parramatta star Feleti Mateo has finally ended
speculation over his Test ambitions, pledging his allegiance to
Australia.
And after a red line was seemingly ruled through Eric Grothe's
representative career following his infamous "no-show" at a
Kangaroos training session, the door has been left ajar for a
return to the national side.
Mateo is in a three-way tug of war for his services at
international level, having already represented Tonga while also
being eligible for Australia and Great Britain.
The ball-playing lock has been torn about which country he wants
to represent - until now.
"I'd like to play for NSW and Australia, that would come first,"
Mateo told The Sun-Herald.
"People keep talking about Origin and it's something I'd like to
play.
"I was born here and raised here and I'm a proud Tongan as well,
and also English.
"But [Australia] is the best side and you want to play for the
best."
Mateo was man of the match in Friday night's sensational
golden-point win against Newcastle, prompting
halfback-turned-commentator Andrew Johns to talk him up as a Blues
contender.
Shifting from five-eighth to lock to make room for Tim Smith,
Mateo came up with some big plays, including a brilliant break to
set up winger Grothe for a crucial first-half try.
The Lalor Park junior qualifies for Great Britain through his
mother and has played for Tonga under one of his idols, coach Jim
Dymock.
"He was my favourite player growing up and he's had a big
influence on me," Mateo said.
However, the Tongan experience could count against him, with
Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart saying his preference was not to
select players who had played for other countries.
"Jimmy Dymock, the king of Tonga, will kill me," Stuart joked
when asked if he would try to poach Mateo from under the nose of
his good friend and Sharks assistant coach.
"We can't go picking players who have already played for other
countries. That's just my opinion, anyway."
However, he may have softened his hard-line stance on Grothe.
Stuart was livid after the Eels winger skipped a Kangaroos training
session last year and intimated he would never be considered for
his country again.
But Grothe has subsequently sent a letter of apology to
Australian selectors and also contacted Stuart about meeting to
discuss his Test prospects. "It's a matter of Eric making the next
move," Stuart said.
"It's up to Eric to ring me and organise a meeting.
"I'm happy to sit down and have a coffee or a beer with him but
it's up to him to show me he has the enthusiasm and wants to do
it.
"I like Eric Grothe, he's a good fellow, but he has to have a
different attitude towards rep football if I was even going to
think about it."
Source: The Sun-Herald
the heart of the tongan team has been ripped out first moimoi & tuiaki now the best of the lot feleti mateo