North Queensland Cowboys prop James Tamou faces surgery threatening 2015 season start

THE Cowboys have suffered a major pre-season blow, with Test prop James Tamou facing surgery on a neck injury that threatens to sideline him for at least three months.

Cowbooys V Cronulla Sharks at 1300 Smiles Stadium Townsville James Tamou

THE Cowboys have suffered a major pre-season blow, with Test prop James Tamou facing surgery on a neck injury that threatens to sideline him for at least three months.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Tamou is resigned to going under the knife, possibly as early as next week, to correct a neck problem that has plagued him since July.

The towering prop was forced to withdraw from Australia’s recent Four Nations campaign and Cowboys medicos had hoped an off-season of rest would fully heal the condition.

But Tamou is still feeling the ill-effects of a knock he suffered against Canterbury in Round 20, prompting him to seek the opinion of three neck and spinal specialists.

The worst-case scenario could see Tamou miss a month of the 2015 season but Cowboys coach Paul Green is hoping the NSW Origin prop will be on deck for Round 1.

“It’s likely James will require surgery of some description,” Green said.

“We were hoping for a little more improvement on his neck but at this stage, he’s had several opinions from doctors and we’ll make a decision based on that.

“There’s a few different scenarios with the operation, but the best-case scenario is about three months, which means James would be just about right for Round 1.

“He first stirred the injury up against the Bulldogs. It got better with a bit of rest and we were hoping in the off-season, his neck would be back to full function, but that hasn’t been the case.

“It’s not ideal, hopefully Jimmy won’t miss too much of the season.”

Despite the setback, Tamou is expected to take part in the Cowboys’ three-day pre-season camp in Cairns before heading for the operating theatre.

Should he miss the opening month of the season, it would be a blow for a Cowboys side which thrives on the go-forward provided by Tamou and Kangaroos cohort Matt Scott.

In Tamou’s absence, front-row recruit Ben Hannant has a golden opportunity to press for a starting berth after his recent arrival from Queensland rivals the Broncos.

It is the second consecutive season Tamou has battled neck problems. In 2013, he played through the pain barrier after an accidental elbow from former teammate Ashton Sims, but admitted last month he was in danger of needing surgery.

“I’ve got nerve damage,” Tamou told The Courier-Mail.

“There’s a bulge in my neck which is putting pressure on my nerve and every time I get hit I feel it.

“What they would have to do is shave the bulge back to give the nerve more room.

“I was having to change my style of running last year but this is a little worse.

“When I did it (against the Bulldogs) I couldn’t move my left arm and I had pins and needles, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys prop James Tamou faces surgery threatening 2015 season start