Taunoa-Brown prepared for All Stars call-up
COWBOYS prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has declared he is ready to represent both his cultural heritages in February’s Indigenous All Stars clash in New Zealand.
Indigenous (Kaurna and Narungga) through his mother’s side and Maori (Ngati Kahungunu) through his father’s, the 26-year-old has represented the All Stars against the Maori for the past three seasons.
With the exhibition match moving to New Zealand for the first time, Taunoa-Brown is putting his hand up to don the proud strip once again.
“I haven’t heard too much about it (from coaches) but yeah, definitely,” he said.
“That’s something I always look forward to each year, representing my heritage. It’s a pretty proud moment, so if the opportunity comes again I’ll definitely be ready.”
Taunoa-Brown knows the February 11 showcase will be even more special when it arrives in Rotorua, New Zealand.
“Definitely. That would be good for the game to go there and for all the boys to experience the culture over there, that would be pretty special, and for myself having both cultures.
“I’ve got a lot of family over there too so it would be good to reconnect with that side.”
If selected, Taunoa-Brown will miss the Cowboys’ historic trial against the Dolphins in Cairns on February 12.
With a tense battle to secure a position in North Queensland’s forward rotation looming, the prop believes a week of All Stars camp could instead be the secret weapon in his bid to reinforce Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean and Reuben Cotter in the Cowboys middle.
“Yeah definitely, just being around the high-quality players (gives me a lift),” TaunoaBrown added.
“You know it’s a tough, tough game but it’s a good and you really enjoy it. It just gets you ready for round 1...”