Cowboys prop James Tamou vows to make amends for mad moment

JAMES Tamou has spoken of his remorse and anguish over driving drunk and unlicensed, describing the fallout as punishment he deserved.

JAMES Tamou has spoken of his remorse and anguish over driving drunk and unlicensed, describing the fallout as punishment he deserved following the worst week of his life.

Breaking his silence Tamou pledged never to make the same mistake again, saying he had let down a host of stakeholders, including the Cowboys, the Blues, the NRL and, perhaps most of all, his family.

The Cowboys and NSW enforcer is still coming to terms with the shame of being charged with a high-range drink-driving offence that will see Tamou front Townsville Magistrates Court next month.

The NRL's integrity unit and the Cowboys have already thrown the book at Tamou, who was stood down from his side's 22-16 defeat of the Dragons and will miss Origin II on Wednesday week.

The salt to the wound is a $20,000 fine, which in effect is $50,000 given that Tamou's Origin axing has cost him a $30,000 match payment.

But the money is an ancillary concern for Tamou. First and foremost, he is gutted.

His distress is palpable as he reflects on the people he has disappointed, including mum Pippa, currently battling a highly aggressive form of Crohn's disease.

"It definitely won't ever happen again," said Tamou, who recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.197 - almost four times the legal limit.

"The biggest lesson I've taken is the stupid thing I did and I'm relieved that the club has stood by me and the players have supported me. It's been one of my worst weeks.

"The whole thing has been a kick in the guts ... I can't tell you how bad I feel."

The NSW bookend, whose manager Sam Ayoub may yet fight the $20,000 fine, travelled to Wollongong with his Cowboys teammates.

He sat in the coaches box on Friday night as North Queensland conjured a boilover at WIN Stadium.

As Cowboys colleagues later lapped up the win in the sheds, Tamou stood silently in a corner of the room. It is a feeling he is about to experience all over again, perhaps with greater gravity, when the Blues run out Origin II.

"It was a great comeback by the boys. I was proud of them for hanging in, but it hurt not to be out there," Tamou said.

"To miss Origin hurts big time. I've let them down as well, I spoke to Laurie (Daley, NSW coach) and it just churns me up.

"Up in the coaching box I was tapping my feet every minute, it really stung not to be out there.

"But I'll cop the ban. I let a lot of people down, not just in football. If anything, this will only make me stronger as a person and I can't wait to get back and make up for it."

Cowboys back-rower Tariq Sims recalled Tamou's contrition when he faced his teammates to deliver the news.

"Jimmy is very remorseful about it," he said.

"He was down in the dumps. I know how sorry he is."