Tamou puts pen to paper on homecoming deal with Cowboys

James Tamou is trading Sydney’s western suburbs for sunny Northern Queensland, with the NRL veteran agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cowboys after a tumultuous two seasons with the Wests Tigers.

Many tipped the 33-year-old to hang up the boots ahead of the 2023 season.

Instead, Tamou is set to rejoin the North Queensland Cowboys on a short-changed one season contract for his NRL swan song. The prop originally left Townsville after seven years and 171 games, and a premiership victory, to join the Penrith Panthers.

Seven reporter Michelle Bishop was the first reporter to break the news, confirming over the weekend that Tamou had spoke to Todd Payten and locked in the contract.

The Sporting Base understands he will be a bench rotation option.

Payten likes the idea of having Tamou—complete with his 12 Australian caps and 14 State of Origin games worth of experience—training alongside the Cowboys youngsters.

Tamou captained the Tigers during his 38-game stint, though struggle to provide any major impact with the struggling Sydney side.

The Wests outfit finished 13th in 2021 before sliding to dead last to earn the club’s first wooden spoon.

The 33-year-old joins a mouthwatering forward rotation at the Cowboys that includes Jordan McLean, Coen Hess, Griffin Neame, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, and out-and-out superstars Reuben Cotter and Jason Taumalolo.

There’s every chance Tamou has to wait for injuries to play.

The veteran cracked 300 games in the NRL in the 2022 season, and could turn out in as many as 334 top-flight matches before he hangs up the cap for good.

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