Henry: Tamou deserves World Cup spot

NEIL Henry has backed James Tamou to be picked for Australia's World Cup campaign even if Penrith officially end the Cowboys' season on Sunday.

Tamou

COWBOYS coach Neil Henry has backed James Tamou to be picked for Australia's World Cup campaign even if Penrith officially end North Queensland's season on Sunday night.

A noted hard marker, Tamou has struggled for consistency and fears the Cowboys' season of discontent could cost him a green-and-gold jumper for the showpiece event, which starts late October.

Tamou's selection hopes will be further dented if the Cowboys miss the playoffs, given end-of-year representative squads traditionally comprise match-fit players in finals form.

Tamou considered himself lucky to be picked for the Origin decider after a drink-driving charge wiped him out of Game Two, but Henry is adamant the 24-year-old must tour England and Wales.

The NSW enforcer produced one of his best games of the season last week, charging for 167 metres from 16 hit-ups in the Cowboys' 30-12 demolition of big guns South Sydney.

"I think they (the Australian selectors) are looking at Jimmy for sure," Henry said ahead of the Cowboys' trip to Centrebet Stadium.

"He is a harsh marker of his performances. It has been and up-and-down season for him, but he showed what he can do last week (against Souths) and if he does that he can certainly be in that touring party. 

"With an extended squad, they will take him anyway, he's the incumbent Test prop and hasn't let anyone down at the Australian level."

Tamou battled a bulging disc in his neck in the opening half of the season, but has made a full recovery and lifted his workrate since his return from a two-match ban for drink driving.

By his own admission, Tamou has been guilty of turning his back running at the line, but was more forceful against the Rabbitohs.

"He is harder to handle when he stays square on contact and he's improved his defensive efforts so it was a complete effort (against Souths)," Henry said.

"That was Jimmy's best attacking game for quite a while, he was dominant with his carries and Matty Scott (front-row partner) has been tremendous for the past couple of months."

The Cowboys have won six of 13 games at Penrith and Henry admits the Panthers, sitting 11th three points adrift of the top eight, will be primed to bounce back after three consecutive defeats.

Champion Cowboys pivot Johnathan Thurston has incentive to perform _ he rejected a $5 million offer from the Panthers in March to remain in Townsville.

"It's been a good week, we have an eight-day turnaround, so the boys should be nice and fresh," he said.

"They are fighting for an opportunity to get to the top eight and they will be coming out ready, they will be tough to beat but we need to replicate the enthusiasm we showed against Souths. 

"We are still a slim chance of making the eight and that revolves around how we finish the year.

"Luke Walsh (Penrith halfback) is one of the best kickers in the game, they lead the competition in tries scored from kicks, he's a dangerous kicker so we need to be alert at the back."