The Cowboys big man is still haunted by the shellacking he copped as part of the NSW team which lost this year's Origin decider 52-6 to Queensland. Thaiday, Parker and Gillett all played roles in Tamou's Origin heartache.

While he will pack down with Queensland prop Matt Scott for the Cowboys on Sunday, Tamou said he had Origin revenge on his mind.

"Yeah for sure," Tamou said when asked if this was a shot at redemption.  "After that game three Origin I went into a bit of a hole. It was that hard to comprehend what happened.

"When we played at Suncorp against the Broncos, all those memories came back."

Tamou will be the only NSW Origin player to play in the all-Queensland grand final on Sunday night. The Maroons will have eight incumbent players taking to ANZ Stadium across both sides.

Scott and Tamou may have been adversaries in the Origin arena but their club form has helped the Cowboys rise to their first premiership decider since 2005.

The duo – along with fellow middle-of-the-field player Jason Taumalolo – have laid the platform which put semi-final opponents Cronulla and Melbourne on the back-foot in the start of games.

Tamou said his forwards needed to again dominate the smaller Brisbane pack.

"Hopefully we carry on the same momentum we had against the Sharks and Melbourne," Tamou said. "[The Broncos] forward pack, I wouldn't say they are big but they are a good side.

"Against the Roosters they took it to them and bashed them around. We don't have to go too much away from what we've been doing."

After a light training session on Tuesday, the Cowboys had their final hit-out in Townsville on Wednesday.

Johnathan Thurston watched as he rested his banged-up body, chiming in to pass the ball to teammates during drills. Back-rower Gavin Cooper did not train while Tamou and Ben Hannant were on limited duties.  The Cowboys will have a bus parade around Townsville on Thursday before flying to Sydney.

Tamou said the players were still relatively calm.

"The feeling around the camp picks up a bit [this week]," Tamou said. "I don't think it's kicked in yet. Once we leave and we see all the support from Townsville it'll start kicking in."

While Tamou has 11 games for NSW and Australia to his name and a World Cup success but will play in his first grand final on Sunday. Tamou said it was the pinnacle of his seven-year career.

"It's hard because it's my first grand final so I'm yet to experience it but what I'm told from the other players is this might be at the top," Tamou said.

"Making your State of Origin debut and debut for Australia is great and I treasure those moments and the World Cup but making the grand final with the team you started the year with. You've been through the ups and downs. This will be at the top [of my achievements]."