91Èȱ¬

Catalans Dragons utility player Zeb Taia has said he is proud of his call-up to the initial 27-man Exiles squad for June's Origin fixture with England.

Taia, who joined Catalans for the 2013 season from NRL side Newcastle Knights, has impressed with seven tries in 11 Super League games.

"When I signed I made it one of my goals this year," Taia told 91Èȱ¬ Sport.

"I've got another step to go, hopefully I'll make the team, but if not I'm just happy to be considered."

He added: "Before I signed for Catalans I thought it was a good concept, so I'm happy to make the 27-man squad."

Signed as a replacement for the departed Setaimata Sa, who agreed a move to Premiership rugby union side London Irish, Taia has slotted in neatly to the Dragons style.

Able to fill centre and second-row roles, the 29-year-old Kiwi's power has helped Laurent Frayssinous' side into fifth place, with seven wins from 13 games.

"I'm happy but there's still a couple of things I need to work on," he said.

"I wasn't happy with my game about three or four weeks ago, just the little things I was doing in the NRL really good that had crept out of my game, so I went back to basics in training.

"The last couple of weeks have been good, working on little things with my team-mates and I just need to stay consistent now."

His seven tries have been the biggest surprise, even to the player himself.

While in the NRL, Taia scored 14 in 107 games, with a season's best of four which he has already bettered in Super League this term.

"In the NRL I played the same position but I wasn't much of a try-scorer, but it's been more open so you can score lots of tries," he added.

"I'm just doing what I'm doing, it's more my team-mates that are helping me, Leon Pryce and Thomas Bosc, if you run good lines off them then you're bound to get through and score a couple.

"It's about being in the right spot at the right time, I've got a few tips off the 'Beaver' [Steve Menzies] because he often does that.

"I don't know much about the players over here, so I'm learning more everytime."