He may be one of Australia’s Rugby League World Cup-winning front-rowers but James Tamou believes he’s yet prove himself in the State of Origin arena.

The North Queensland star endured a difficult 2013 series when he was dropped for game two following his arrest for high-range drink-driving.

Tamou clocked up just 53 metres in game one last year and his return to the side for the decider saw him make 90 metres from 10 carries and the 25-year-old knows he needs to do a lot better this year if he’s to stay in the side.

“I don’t see myself as an Origin player yet,” Tamou said.

“Last year with missing game two, I let Loz, the players and staff down. That really set me back and hurt me.

“Being part of Origin this time around, being my third year in you’d think playing a few games I’d feel more at home at Origin time but not yet for me.

“I have a lot more to offer. I don’t think I’ve done it yet.”

The Kiwi-born Tamou endured a slow start to the NRL season as the Cowboys struggled to adapt to life under new coach Paul Green and was worried he may be dropped by Blues coach Laurie Daley.

However, he and the team have managed to turn around their fortunes with three successive victories with Tamou getting back to form that first earned him selection for the Blues in 2012.

“My last few games at club level I’m running harder and straighter,” he said.

“At the start of the year I wasn’t happy with my form. It’s only been the last few games for the Cowboys that I’ve gone up a gear and I am only hear because of that.

“It’s tough because you never know what Laurie or the staff are thinking. I thought they might have gone with a different side.”