League: Origin a greater lure than Kiwis

Joseph Tomane has swapped Melbourne for the Gold Coast, after signing with the Titans. Photo / Getty Images

There seems little prospect, at this stage, of hot new NRL speedster Joseph Tomane using his Kiwi roots to play for New Zealand.

Tomane, who scored three tries and kicked goals aplenty for a total of 24 points in only his ninth NRL game in the Storm's 48-4 dismemberment of the Broncos on June 5, surprised much of Australian rugby league with his defection to the Gold Coast Titans last week.

The 19-year-old turned himself into a big blip on the NRL radar with a display that exhibited speed, good distribution, strong running and capable goalkicking - an effort which would interest any international coach.

Tomane is Wellington-born, although he went to Australia as a baby and it was his ties to family in Queensland that saw him accept a Titans offer which prised him away from the Storm - who were not best pleased to lose him.

Writing in his News Ltd column in Australia, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said: "I was an assistant at Brisbane in 2001 when coach Wayne Bennett told Justin Hodges that he had no place in first grade [after signing with the Roosters]. Until Wednesday, I could never understand why. Now I know."

Bellamy toyed with the idea of dropping Tomane for the rest of the season but the youngster played in last night's match against the Rabbitohs.

Tomane, who is 1.87m and over 100kg, was reticent about saying anything about his future.

"I don't want to think about that right now - I just want to focus on playing for Melbourne," Tomane said when asked about his international preferences and whether Storm assistant coach (and Kiwis coach) Steve Kearney had mentioned the Kiwis to him.

However, his agent, Jim Banaghan, was doubtful Tomane would use his Kiwi connection.

"The problem for New Zealand rugby league is that the big attraction over here is State of Origin and, to do that, you have be qualified to play for Australia. So I am not sure he'd do anything like that [look to play for New Zealand]."

It's not the first time Tomane has been involved in a tug-of-war - he desperately tried to get Melbourne to release him after he first signed with them, as a 17-year-old schoolboy rugby union player. In the end, he stayed and prospered, although first grade appearances have been few and far between - and many said Melbourne were surprised when told of his defection to the Titans.

Bellamy added that he "felt negotiations hadn't been completely honest, that we weren't given a realistic chance of retaining a player we poured so much hard work in to since luring him from rugby union".

Banaghan scoffed at that, saying that Melbourne had known for two months there were offers coming for Tomane from within the NRL and from union.

It remains to be seen whether Tomane attracts a reputation as a difficult player to deal with - given his tugs-of-war with Melbourne.

Ironically, however, some are seeing Tomane's journey to the Titans next season as revenge for the Steve Turner affair.

Turner, the other first grade winger for the Storm at present, was the subject of a bitter dispute between the Titans and Melbourne three years ago, when Turner reneged on a deal to join the Titans.

The Titans have won this round and Turner is now off contract - and has not yet received an offer from the Storm.