League: Sticking with NZ pays off

Lewis Brown of the Kiwis celebrates a try with team mates during the Four Nations Rugby League match against the Kangaroos. Photo / Getty Images

After a long wait for his Kiwis debut, young lock at centre of eligibility row makes most of opportunity.

Kiwis lock Jason Taumalolo says his determination to stick with New Zealand is the best decision of his career.

Taumalolo - one of the best forwards on the field in Saturday's night win - was involved in a very public eligibility tug of war two years ago.

He moved to Australia as a 13-year-old, after being signed by the Cowboys while still at high school in Auckland.

Having represented Queensland throughout schoolboy and junior grades, he came under immense pressure to align himself with the Maroons and Australia, even taking phone calls from the likes of Mal Meninga and Tim Sheens.

At the time he became a poster boy for league's messy eligibility rules but thankfully for New Zealand decided to stick with the country of his birth.

"I look back at it as probably the best decision I have ever made - staying solid with the black and white," said Taumalolo. "I guess it paid off [on Saturday] with Mooks [Kearney] giving me a run."

Watching Taumalolo during the match - and seeing his immense pride after the game - it's hard to imagine him now in anything but a Kiwis jersey.

"Being in black and white is probably the proudest moment of my career," said a beaming Taumalolo. "It's one I'll cherish for the rest of my footy days."

And so he should. The 21-year-old has plenty to look forward to, but for now let's celebrate a great debut. He came into the game with a huge level of expectation on his shoulders - and the media ban imposed last week probably only added to the hype.

But the former Otahuhu Leopard looked comfortable from the start and made his presence felt immediately, with his charging thrusts into the heart of the Australian defence. He made 122m from 12 hit ups, and one second-half run - where he carried two Australians almost 10m after he had hit the defensive line - will live long in the memory.

Taumalolo has endured a long wait for his Kiwis debut - he was 18th man at the Anzac test in 2012 and didn't make the World Cup squad last year (which now looks a strange decision) - so did everything possible to ensure a successful first bow.

"A lot of boys tend to go on a bit of a holiday after the NRL [season] but when Mooks [Kearney] gave me that phone call I was training every day," said Taumalolo.

"I wanted to make the most of the opportunity. I knew my time would come, I just didn't know when. When [I got the] opportunity I took it with both hands and I hope I did everyone proud."