IF FELITI MATEO is unsure about whether to risk his place with Tonga in the World Cup for the chance to play in Origin, the Eels playmaker need only consult teammate Fuifui Moimoi.

After applying to switch allegiances so he could represent New Zealand at the end of last season, Moimoi and his flatmate, Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuaki, are now having second thoughts and will seek to again be eligible for Tongan selection after both failed to make the Kiwis side for last month's Centenary Test at the SCG.

It is unlikely that the Rugby League International Federation board will be as sympathetic a second time after accepting that playing for New Zealand would lift their profiles and increase their earning capacity, and the same would happen for Mateo if he was to nominate Australia as his country of preference in order to be considered for NSW.

The Herald was told last night Mateo would be a long shot for selection in the Origin decider, and his name has not been mentioned during discussions between Blues coach Craig Bellamy and the selectors over the course of the series so far.

One reason is because Mateo failed to declare his allegiances to Australia over Tonga after playing in the City-Country clash on May 2, and is therefore ineligible to play Origin.

He is now considering making such an application before the NSW team is named next Tuesday, but first wants assurances he will be in it, which will not happen.

There is also no guarantee that even if the RLIF was to hold a special meeting to consider his request, Mateo would be given permission to switch countries.

His circumstances will change next season as players are free to swap countries in between World Cups, which are intended to revert to every four years.

Had Mateo not already played for Tonga, he would be able to play for NSW and could then still represent the Pacific island nation of his heritage that he helped qualify for the Word Cup.

Despite playing for Queensland last year, Canberra second-rower Neville Costigan is still eligible for his native Papua New Guinea. Bulldogs stars Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua, however, must apply to switch their respective allegiances to Tonga and Samoa after previously representing Australia.

Boom Parramatta winger Tony Williams has no such problems and will be part of the World Cup squad submitted to organisers by Tonga coach Jim Dymock on August 1, along with Penrith centre Michael Jennings, South Sydney halfback Eddie Paea, Sharks back-rower Fraser Anderson and Warriors forward Epalahame Lauaki.

Meanwhile, South Sydney's star recruit Craig Wing is likely to wait another week before making a return from the shoulder he injured in the seventh minute of the club's first game of the season.

Wing has been back in training for three weeks and is close to a comeback. However, he is not expected to take the field until the round-16 clash with the Cowboys in Townsville on June 28.

In other injury news, Brisbane and NSW halfback Peter Wallace is almost certain to miss Friday night's clash with Wests Tigers as he recovers from the surgery last week for a ruptured testicle suffered in Origin II.

Some of Queensland's toughest men were yesterday mourning the death of legendary Origin team manager Dick "Tosser" Turner. An emotional Gene Miles, who wheeled Turner into the Queensland dressing room to a standing ovation by the players after last week's Origin win, said the Maroons had sent him off a happy man.