NRL Finals: Panthers skipper James Tamou orders his young stars off their motorised scooters
‘I can only sit them down and tell them. Whether they actually listen … who knows?’. James Tamou hopes his nagging will get through to the young Panthers.
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Forget sex and alcohol bans, Penrith captain James Tamou wants his players abstaining from only one thing during the NRL playoffs – motorised scooters.
“Although I can only sit them down and tell them,” he told New Corp this week.
“Whether they actually listen … who knows?”
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Currently on a run of 15 straight wins, the Panthers now open their NRL finals campaign with a blockbuster Friday night clash against the Roosters at home.
Yet before taking on the reigning premiers, Tamou has urged his players to start taking their feet off the accelerator of two scooters which have become a constant at Panthers Academy this year.
Owned by halfback Nathan Cleary and utility Tyrone May, the high-powered toys are regularly ridden around the club precinct — and have more than once been the cause of a worrying near mishap
“So I’d like to see them banned,” Tamou said, grinning.
Which is easier said than done, of course.
Especially given the crew of regular riders includes not only Cleary and May — who occasionally travel via scooter to training, too — but also young stars like Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, Brian To’o and Brent Naden.
“They’re at it every day,” Tamou admitted. “Always into something.
“But around this time of year, you want to put your serious cap on.
“I know personally, this is my best chance at getting another premiership.
“And I’ve definitely seen a shift in focus from our younger players. While they know we can still be silly and have a laugh, there’s also a real ‘team first’ mentality here now too.”
In a bid to help prepare the younger Panthers for finals footy, Tamou revealed many had been asked to get up and speak about their upbringing, and those family members they would be playing for in coming weeks.
The 31-year-old also suggested his team would have to find another level against a Roosters side that leaked 60 points last start against South Sydney.
Asked if Penrith were getting the reigning premiers at the best or worst time, Tamou replied: “Worst time.
“I think South Sydney have poked the bear.
“The Roosters this week, they’re going to be such a different team. I really think they’re going to come out firing against us.
“But if we want to be the best, then we have to beat them at some stage.
“So while we’ll have our hands full, it will be a good test.”
While several Penrith players are yet to experience NRL finals football, Tamou won the 2015 premiership with North Queensland and hooker Api Koroisau, the 2014 title at South Sydney.
Kurt Capewell was also at Cronulla during their 2016 premiership campaign.
“So it’s our job to prepare the younger guys,” the skipper said.
“Get them ready by letting them know what to expect.
“Because sides like the Roosters, Melbourne, even Canberra – they all know what’s coming and how to play these games when it’s all or nothing.
“So now it’s our job to help prepare the team.”