Tame ready to be unleashed on Giants

Jun 6 2007 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW Bradford Bulls signing Tame Tupou is closing in on a debut against the Giants in Sunday's Challenge Cup quarter-final clash at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

The Kiwi winger reported for duty for the first time on Monday.

It is more than a month since Tupou actually signed for Bradford from Brisbane Broncos but red tape delayed his arrival.

However, his work permit issues are now resolved and the powerful New Zealand international has made himself available for his debut.

He had not featured for their first-grade side all season.

But it is becoming increasingly likely he will make a high-profile start against the Giants this weekend.

"It's good to have finally got the green light now and get over here," he said.

"I just really want to get a couple of days' training under my belt, hit that really hard and get back into things.

"I'll hopefully have a chat with the coach in the next couple of days and if I do get to play it'd be a great occasion.

"We know all about the Challenge Cup back in Australia and New Zealand, especially when it's the quarters and semis stage.

"There's some big names in there and it's knock-out football.

"I saw the Super League game with Bradford at Huddersfield a couple of weeks ago and it would be great to play against them at the weekend."

The muscular 24-year-old was Brisbane's joint top tryscorer last season but fell out of favour with boss Wayne Bennett and has signed a four-year deal here.

Bulls head coach Steve McNamara, left, has a big call to make for Sunday's tie.

Nathan McAvoy (hamstring) and Michael Platt (knee) could be fit again, while Dave Halley and Marcus St Hilaire both performed admirably in the South of France as Bradford beat Catalans 28-20, so he may have a wealth of wing options already available to him.

McNamara must decide whether to throw the new recruit into such an important match on the back of only a handful of training sessions - and no first-grade action since last year.