NSW Blues forward Tamou feels brunt of NRL CEO Dave Smith's anger

DAVE Smith personally demanded that Cowboys prop James Tamou be fined $20,000 for serious driving offences - in addition to his Origin II ban.

DAVE Smith personally demanded that Cowboys prop James Tamou be fined $20,000 for serious driving offences - in addition to his Origin II ban.

North Queensland officials and Tamou were left disappointed and confused about the extraordinary penalty, having originally been led to believe the Blues forward would only receive a two-match suspension for serious driving offences.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the NRL's newly-formed Integrity Unit arrived at the two-match suspension after consultation with Cowboys boss Peter Jourdain yesterday morning.

The punishment was initially deemed sufficient, because it effectively entailed a $30,000 fine - the new standard match payment for playing a State of Origin match.

Cowboys officials duly informed Tamou and his management around 11:30am, at which point all parties accepted the penalty as reasonable given police apprehended him nearly four-times over the limit while driving home unlicensed from Townsville CBD early Monday.

But the goal posts shifted around an hour later, when the Cowboys received word that Smith felt the sanction was too light.

Effectively over-ruling his own Integrity Unit, the CEO demanded Tamou be hit with a $20,000 fine - taking the overall financial penalty to a whopping $50,000.

North Queensland's dissatisfaction with the change of heart was evident from their statement, which only expressed clear support for the two-match ban.

"We believe the two-match suspension is appropriate," Jourdain said.

"The NRL has also decided to impose a $20,000 fine on top of missing his Origin match fee."

Tamou's manager Sam Ayoub confirmed his client was content to accept the NRL's original penalty.

"James is very remorseful about his actions and accepts that what he did was very serious," Ayoub said last night.

"He fully accepted and agreed with the two-match suspension when told about that this morning."

Ayoub declined to comment about his client's response about being informed of the $20,000 fine a short time later.

Smith's intervention makes it clear that he carries the final say over whatever verdict or penalty the Integrity Unit delivers.

"It seems like nothing has really changed, except for the fact the clubs no longer control what penalties their employees receive," one club CEO said.

"The NRL boss can still come in over the top and impose his personal view, regardless of what the Integrity Unit thinks."

An NRL spokesman could not understand why the Cowboys thought the two-match ban was the final punishment, but would not confirm nor deny Smith's personal desire to impose the fine.

"We were consulting with a number of parties until the matter was completely finalised," the spokesman said.