TEST and State of Origin prop James Tamou will happily remain an interchange player if that is the right formula for North Queensland winning a premiership.

Tamou returned to action last weekend after aggravating an old injury a month ago.

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And the towering State of Origin and Test player believes Ashton Sims should remain a starting forward as the Cowboys play to secure their place in the 2014 finals when they host the struggling Cronulla Sharks on Monday night.

Boasting a representative record that includes winning a Rugby League World Cup and being part of New South Wales’ drought-breaking series win, Tamou is nevertheless humble enough to believe that — on merit — Sims and Matt Scott are currently North Queensland’s first-choice props.

“Yes I’d like to start, but I tell you what — it will be tough with how Ashton is playing,” said Tamou, who has been named on the bench again for Monday’s clash.

“He deserves to be there and if he keeps playing the way he has, I’d be more than happy to come off the bench for the rest of the season.

“He has grabbed that role and played sensationally these last few weeks.”

Tamou was taken to a Sydney hospital after losing feeling in his left arm during the Cowboys’ Round 20 clash against the Bulldogs, with early reports suggesting his immediate playing future was in doubt.

Genuine fear also went through Tamou’s mind at the time.

“It was scary up to that point because it was an old injury and I couldn’t move my left arm, and I hadn’t experienced anything like that before,” Tamou said.

“I’ve played with the bulging disc ever since I can remember, and now and then I’ll put my head in a bad position.

“In the past I would get up and there would be a burner down my left arm for about five or six seconds, but this time it didn’t go away.

“I jammed the nerve a lot harder than I had in the past and that’s why I was down for the count.”

Tamou knew his health was intact despite lying in an ambulance, but the New Zealand junior could undergo future surgery if he endures a repeat injury.

“Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen again,” Tamou said.

“Our physiotherapist Steve Sartori is all over it and I’m been working on the little things better.”

Bursting on the representative stage after his irrepressible form in 2012, Tamou showed restraint the following season because of his bulging disc.

But he has since retained his prized rep spots and also remains a key cog in North Queensland’s premiership push.

“If you asked most guys, they would prefer to be there at the start, but for us it’s about getting the balance right for our team,” Cowboys’ coach Paul Green said.

“Certainly after last week it gives us an opportunity to start the second half with a pretty good starting pack.”