Timana Tahu has his sights set high ahead of his return to the NRL, with the former Wallaby saying he wants to play Test and Origin football in 2010.

Tahu, who was on Wednesday granted a release from the final two years of his Australian Rugby Union contract which allows him to take up a three-year deal with Parramatta starting next season, said he was excited about returning to rugby league.

The 29-year-old last played the 13-man game in 2007, but told the Nine Network he was keen to add to his 11 State of Origin games and five Tests for Australia.

"I'd love to play at the top level again, playing Origin and for the Kangaroos," Tahu said.

While Tahu's experience would no doubt hold him in good stead when it came to breaking into a NSW side that has lost the last four Origin series, getting back into a Test side dominated by the all-conquering Maroons could pose bigger problems.

Tahu admitted the frustration of not playing for the Waratahs and Wallabies on a regular basis had led to his decision to walk out on the code, but he insisted he harboured no hard feelings against rugby.

"I'm not leaving rugby because I hated the game, it was something different to do," Tahu said.

"I do love playing the game, I'll still watch the game."

Tahu, who played four Tests for the Wallabies and 20 Super 14 games for the Waratahs, denied his time in rugby union had been a failure.

"People are going to say I wasn't successful in rugby - they said it to Wendell (Sailor), they said it to Mat Rogers," Tahu said.

"But the three of us played at the top level. That's something they can't take away from us."

Tahu will undergo surgery to repair a broken hand before starting pre-season training with Parramatta in late November.

He is expected to be paraded before the Eels crowd at Parramatta Stadium before Sunday's game against Newcastle.

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