Rugby
Tahu aims for Kangaroos
2009-08-06 13:58
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Sydney - Former Wallaby back Timana Tahu says he wants to play top-level rugby league again after being released from his union contract.
Tahu, 28, was on Wednesday granted a release from the final two years of his Australian Rugby Union contract, allowing him to take up a three-year deal with NRL club Parramatta starting next season.
Tahu last played in the National Rugby League in 2007, but said on Thursday he was keen to add to his 11 State of Origin rugby league games and five Tests for the Kangaroos.
"I'd love to play at the top level again, playing Origin and for the Kangaroos," Tahu said.
Tahu admitted the frustration of not playing for the Waratahs and Wallabies on a regular basis had led to his decision to walk out on union, but he insisted he harboured no hard feelings.
"I'm not leaving rugby (union) because I hated the game, it was something different to do," Tahu said.
"I do love playing the game, I'll still watch the game."
Tahu, who played four Tests for the Wallabies and 20 Super 14 games for the Waratahs, denied his time in rugby union had been a failure.
"People are going to say I wasn't successful in rugby - they said it to Wendell (Sailor), they said it to Mat Rogers," Tahu said.
"But the three of us played at the top level. That's something they can't take away from us."
Sailor and Rogers kicked it all off when they made the switch from the NRL to rugby union late in 2001, to be followed two years later by Lote Tuqiri, with Tahu crossing the great divide last year.
Tuqiri was dumped by the ARU last month for undisclosed reasons mid-way through a five-year contract, with the winger now taking his former employer to court.