The Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will be out to hit North Queensland front-rower James Tamou hard in today's national rugby league clash, but denies it's because of his decision to play for Australia and NSW over New Zealand.
Tamou's fine start to the NRL season has him a bolter for a bench spot in the Kangaroos Test squad, which will be named tomorrow to face the Kiwis in Auckland next Friday.
The 23-year-old Waerea-Hargreaves, who's certain to be picked for New Zealand, says he holds nothing against Palmerston North-born Tamou but will be aiming to come out on top when the giants face off in Darwin.
Waerea-Hargreaves says as a proud Kiwi he would have loved to see Tamou play for New Zealand but respects his decision and wishes him well.
Tamou, who was raised in Sydney, formally submitted his papers to the ARL Commission on Thursday, pledging his allegiance to the Kangaroos and the Blues.
