NRL 2022: Cowboys young gun Jeremiah Nanai poised to pledge Origin allegiance to Maroons

The Maroons are set to win another representative tug-of-war over New Zealand with a boom Cowboys teenager keen to declare his allegiance to Queensland.

Valentine Holmes of the Cowboys is tackled during the round two NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Canberra Raiders at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on March 19, 2022, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Maroons are set to win another representative tug-of-war over New Zealand with boom Cowboys teenager Jeremiah Nanai keen to declare his allegiance to Queensland.

News Corp understands Nanai — rated the Cowboys’ best forward prospect since Jason Taumalolo — is leaning towards the Maroons despite being eligible to represent the Kiwis or Samoa at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

In recent years, fullback superstar Kalyn Ponga and back-rower Jaydn Su’A have knocked back New Zealand to play Origin for Queensland.

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Nanai has played just six NRL games and faces the biggest test of his embryonic career on Sunday when he marks Broncos rival Kurt Capewell in an enthralling back-row duel in a derby blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.

But the pair could eventually be Origin teammates, with Nanai available for the Maroons despite not being listed on the Queensland Rugby League’s official register of eligible players on their website.

Jeremiah Nanai is keen to declare his allegiance to the Maroons. Picture: Evan Morgan

While the 19-year-old was born in New Zealand, in the Auckland suburb of Henderson, he moved to Australia with his parents and settled in Cairns at the age of 12.

Under State of Origin eligibility laws, NSW or Queensland players must have resided in either state before their 13th birthday, meaning Nanai will avoid a repeat of Ronaldo Mulitalo’s Maroons selection debacle last year.

It is understood Nanai has opted to play for Australia in his NRL registration contract, thus making him a Queenslander, but his manager Sam Ayoub said the Cowboys young gun has yet to make a formal decision.

“I’ve spoken to Jeremiah and he has mentioned he would like to play for Queensland, but nothing is official at this stage,” Ayoub said. “Jeremiah’s parents are from New Zealand and Samoa and he wants to talk to them first before making a final decision.

“At the moment, there’s no rush for Jeremiah, his primary focus is playing well for the Cowboys and cementing himself in the NRL before he worries about representative football.”

Jeremiah Nanai has started the season strongly for the Cowboys. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Nanai will run onto Suncorp Stadium on Sunday as a free agent for 2023 and Cowboys bosses are desperate to retain the classy back-rower, who made his NRL debut last season.

It is understood five NRL rivals have expressed interest in Nanai, armed with offers in excess of $500,000 a season, but Cowboys coach Todd Payten is confident the silky-skilled forward will not quit North Queensland.

“I’m optimistic we will keep Jeremiah,” Payten said.

“I understand he will attract attention, which all good players do, but we are keen to have him around. That’s exactly why this club was founded, to make sure North Queensland kids have a club to aspire to play for.

“Some of the stuff I see Jeremiah do at training just blows my mind. He is high on the priority list to sign. We believe this is the right club for him. I know he is happy and this is home and we will be doing our very best to make sure he is here for a long time.”

Centre stage: Holmes in position to help Maroons

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has slammed suggestions the club is trying to offload Valentine Holmes as the Queensland ace vowed to light up the NRL this season after coming to terms with his failed NFL pursuit.

As he prepares for Sunday’s derby clash with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Holmes says he has finally got his “NRL body” back, more than two years after pulling the pin on his ambitious bid to become an American Football star.

Since his return from the US in December 2019, Holmes has endured a rollercoaster NRL comeback with the Cowboys, battling injuries and failing to nail down the fullback position he once coveted.

Now Holmes has embarked on a career switch to centre as Payten explores ways to ignite his big-money star.

Holmes’ erratic form sparked speculation the Cowboys were prepared to jettison him from his $800,000-plus salary, but Payten scuppered claims the Maroons flyer is on borrowed time in Townsville.

Valentine Holmes has switched to the centres this season at the Cowboys. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I can’t be happier with Val’s pre-season,” Payten said. “Val has spent every day training at left centre and he can become a real strike weapon for us in that position.

“Some of his backfield stuff last year reminded me of where he was at before he left (to trial for an NFL contract) and this is his third season back in the NRL.

“Val has the tools to become a real strike centre. What I have liked about Val is his application. He is always looking for information and feedback from the coaches on how to improve and at centre, he doesn’t have to be dialled into every play, like he was at fullback.

“I think he’s in for a big season.”

Holmes’ move to the centres paid instant dividends. He comprehensively outpointed Brisbane rival Kotoni Staggs in the Cowboys’ 26-6 trial defeat of the Broncos last month in Mackay and the big-name duo will wage another cracking centre battle at Suncorp on Sunday.

With new Queensland coach Billy Slater on the lookout for centre options this season, Holmes is keen to clinch the Maroons’ No.3 jumper made famous by Greg Inglis.

The 26-year-old is a proven Origin performer. Holmes has scored nine tries from 10 Origin games, primarily as a winger or fullback, but the Cowboys utility back believes he is ready to take on NSW centres Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic.

“I definitely want to put my hand up for that Queensland centre spot,” Holmes said.

“I was actually pretty close a few years ago to playing Origin in the centres.

Holmes has played wing and fullback for the Maroons but is keen to take on Blues stars Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic in the centres this season.

“I was talking to Wayne (Bennett, former Queensland coach) when we were running low with injuries (during the 2020 series) and he suggested it to me. I said, ‘Geez, I haven’t played centre for a while’, but I think this year I would be a lot more confident.”

Holmes accepts criticism of his inconsistent form but is adamant he is happy at the Cowboys and wants to spearhead a finals fightback this season.

“I’ve found my feet again in the NRL,” he said.

“The first year was always going to be tough coming back from America, especially with the rule changes, and the second year I had a few injuries and I don’t think my body had adjusted to the speed of the game and the physicality of it.

“But this year I’m ready to go. I feel confident. I feel physically and mentally good so there’s no excuses for me not to do well this year.

“Toddy has given me a licence to roam around the field. Defensively it’s a bit different, but in attack, I have the ability to get my hands on the ball and I feel like I’m a bit closer to the action.

“I think the centre position is set in stone for me now. If something were to happen to a player with injuries and I needed to move somewhere, I wouldn’t rule out going to wing or fullback, but I’m focused on centre moving forward.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Cowboys young gun Jeremiah Nanai poised to pledge Origin allegiance to Maroons