Cowboys prop James Tamou is being shopped around to three rival NRL clubs

JAMES Tamou’s career at the Cowboys is at the crossroads with the out-of-sorts NSW Origin enforcer being shopped around to NRL rivals.

A bloodied James Tamou during the Sydney Roosters v North Queensland Cowboys Semi-Final game at Allianz Stadium. pic Mark Evans

JAMES Tamou’s career at the Cowboys is at the crossroads with the out-of-sorts NSW Origin enforcer being shopped around to NRL rivals.

The Courier-Mail can reveal three NRL coaches have been offered the services of Tamou as he battles to recapture the form that has put his Origin and Test jumpers in jeopardy.

The 26-year-old Tamou was hailed the NRL’s No.1 prop two years ago when a destructive 2012 campaign saw him handed a three-year upgrade worth $650,000 a season.

But after battling a neck injury for the past 18 months, Tamou has been relegated to a highly-paid bench player forced to confront his future at the Cowboys.

James Tamou attempts to break free from the Broncos defence.

The towering prop has yet to formally request a release, but furtive inquiries with NRL rivals has Cowboys hierarchy concerned about Tamou’s tenure in Townsville.

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Tamou will start against the Storm this Monday night and is under pressure to spearhead the Cowboys’ fightback after the club’s dismal 0-3 beginning to the season.

Cowboys recruitment chief Peter Parr insists the club is not trying to force Tamou out and dismissed fears the 113kg man mountain may never fully recover from off-season neck surgery.

“I’ve heard the rumours about Jimmy being shopped around,” Parr said.

“James or his manager haven’t said anything to me (about wanting a release). Nothing has come to me informally or formally at this stage, but if it does, I will address it then.

“He’s battling a bit of confidence, but I don’t think he’s got any demons with his neck. The surgery was a success, he had a good recovery and our medical staff can’t be happier with how he’s recovered.

“If anything, Jimmy should take confidence out of the fact the operation was successful.

“He’s like a few of our players at the moment, he’s down on confidence, but we’ll continue to give him as much support as we can.

“Hopefully, he can get back to the form that won him his representative jumpers.”

Data provided by Fox Sports Stats underscores Tamou’s decline. In 2012, he was unstoppable, making 86 tackle busts from 24 games and averaging 159 metres in his surge to maiden NSW and Test guernseys.

James Tamou during a Cowboys training session. Picture: Evan Morgan

Last season, Tamou managed just 25 tackle busts from 21 games and his average metres dropped 23 per cent to 122 as he battled nerve problems in his neck.

Privately, Tamou is trying to support partner Brittney McGlone, who was linked to a move to Sydney in a bid to relaunch her promising career in track-and-field.

On Wednesday night an NRL coach confirmed fielding an approach to sign Tamou, saying: “James is looking around, but we need to look at our salary-cap position and whether we can afford him.”

Tamou’s manager Sam Ayoub said Tamou had no concerns about his comeback from neck surgery.

“Jimmy is contracted until the end of next year. Anything is possible, but at this stage he is playing at the Cowboys,” he said.

“Every NRL player faces severe injury at some point and most fight their way back.

“If anything, he is probably lacking a bit of match fitness, but he’s had the operation on his neck so it’s not bothering him at all.”