Panthers signing James Tamou reveals he never wanted to leave the Cowboys but his family is happier in Sydney

JAMES Tamou never wanted to leave North Queensland for the Panthers. Sometimes, though, there’s more to life than football.

JAMES Tamou never wanted to leave North Queensland.

After seven seasons and a maiden premiership in 2015, the Cowboys’ culture is ingrained in Tamou’s veins.

Sometimes, though, there’s more to life than football.

Like family, and your three children growing up with their grandparents.

It’s why Tamou left his comfort zone at the Cowboys to move closer to his wife’s family in the Southern Tablelands town of Braidwood.

And while Penrith is still a two-hour drive away, it’s better than the long haul from the tropics in Townsville.

“We’re definitely a lot happier in Sydney,” Tamou told The Saturday Telegraph.

“I’ve got three kids now and up there we were a bit far away from family so that was a main reason to come down.

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James Tamou with partner Brittany and their children Brooklyn Barclay and Bronx. Picture: Wesley Monts

“It takes a whole day of travelling coming from Townsville on the plane. But now we can pack everything up in the car and it’s a few hours’ drive, that makes it a lot easier.

“Also away games up in Townsville, we were away a couple of nights at a time whereas an away game around here I can be back in the night.

“Now I have a lot more hands to help out just down the road.

“But it was tough, because I never wanted to leave Townsville and that’s why I said I wouldn’t just join “any team’.”

Luckily for Penrith, Tamou decided to link with the mountain men on a four-year deal worth $3 million dollars.

It’s a signing the Panthers faithful should appreciate, especially when you consider the representative prop’s ties with Canberra coach Ricky Stuart.

Tamou was close to signing with the Raiders in 2015 because his wife was feeling homesick, but in the end he opted to remain at the Cowboys.

“We even had our bags packed,” he recalled.

New signing James Tamou during a Penrith Panthers training session. pic Mark Evans

“I’d come home every day trying to convince her (my wife) to stay.

“She’d have good days and everything would be right, she’d have her bad days when she’d just want to go home with the kids a bit upset.

“And it got to the point where we were getting unhappy.

“But having a talk with the coaching staff, they helped out the Cows immensely.

“Luckily I stayed, because 2015 was a year to remember with the premiership.”

Tamou is now in Penrith colours, but he freely admits he’d like to one day be coached by Canberra mentor Stuart.

That’s not to say the NSW Origin bookend isn’t fully focused on his role at the Panthers — a young side he rates as genuine premiership contenders.

“Ever since I signed with Penrith I’ve watched them and they have been nothing short of impressive,” he said.

“They were unlucky to bow out of the finals, so I’m excited to be here.

“I’ve just been impressed with everything, especially with the family and you can tell the way they play how close they are.

“You talk about family and that’s what I wanted to be a part of.

“When you’re watching Penrith they just play what they see in front of them, off the cuff of footy, and that’s why they did so well.”

New Panthers signing James Tamou. pic Mark Evans

Fresh off his first full off-season in years, Tamou is ready to make his mark at the Panthers.

He will also be fuelled by the pain of missing out on the Australian team for the Four Nations tour to England.

Tamou desperately wanted to add to his 12 Tests for the Kangaroos, but in the end he put family first.

“At the time we were still up in Townsville, me the wife and the three kids,” he said.

“Nothing had been moved and if I had been picked I would’ve went away feeling a bit sick worrying about them.

“I was disheartened not to get picked, but it just puts some fire in the belly for next time.

“Trent Merrin’s done the same thing and he’s got back into the representative sides.

“That’s obviously a goal for myself, to go to that extra level for Penrith and for myself to get back into those sides.”

Tamou can’t wait to don Penrith’s jumper next season, even if it means confronting his former teammates at the Cowboys.

“It will be weird,” he said.

“Some family were texting me last night saying it was weird to see me in the Penrith uniform but I’m hoping I left on pretty good terms with the fans and everyone there.

“It was tough leaving them and it’ll be tough playing them.

“But that’s the way it is, I’ll have to come up against them sometime.”