James Tamou’s emotional apology after ‘incompetent’ spray likely ends NRL career

Wests Tigers captain James Tamou was sent off after calling the ref “f***ing incompetent” but was a broken man when he realised what he did.

James Tamou was shattered. Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

Wests Tigers captain James Tamou has likely played the final match of his NRL career after a wild sent off at the end of his side’s 72-6 loss to the Roosters on Saturday night.

The incident occurred in the dying stages of the Tigers’ humiliating 72-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters at the SCG on Saturday night.

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Roosters forward Angus Crichton had just lost the ball out of dummy-half but Cummins ruled it went backwards.

Tamou was then seen barking at Cummins while he was part of a three-man tackle of Crichton.

Cummins blew a penalty straight away and sent Tamou to the sin bin, holding up 10 fingers and saying: “You can go”.

A furious Tamou hit back: “You are f***ing incompetant you are.”

That was enough for Cummins to upgrade the sin bin to a complete send off.

Tamou was not done and had a few more things to say before leaving the field.

But the red haze quickly wore off and Tamou understood the gravity of what he had done, fronting the media in the press conference to apologise for the moment.

James Tamou unleashed at the referee.

The NRL has charged Tamou with a grade 3 contrary conduct charge and if he takes the early plea, he will miss the last two matches of the season, or if he fights it, it will be a three match ban.

At 33 and off contract at the end of the season, Tamou’s 304th match may be his last in the NRL.

“First of all I apologise for my actions towards Ben Cummins, they (the referees) do a terrific job,” he said.

“It wasn’t directed at him but the frustrations got the better of me, the emotions got the better of me. I’ll wear any criticism and be accountable for my actions.

“The actions aren’t acceptable towards the jersey, the club, the players trying their backsides off.

“I took the easy way out instead of shaking their hands and looking them in the eye and I’ve got to wear that all week now, wear the criticism. I’ve got four kids at home and that’s how they’re going to see how their dad acts.

“So I’ll wear the criticism all week, I have to be accountable for my actions because the actions aren’t acceptable and I’ve let everyone down.

“I’ve let myself down, I’m embarrassed. I’ve let a lot of people down.

“Instead of looking myself in the mirror and being accountable, I took it out on the wrong people and again that’s taking the easy way out. I’m obviously shattered.”

Tamou wouldn’t be the first player to abuse the refs on the field this season as Melbourne’s Brandon Smith copped a three-match suspension for calling referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” earlier in the season.

Tamou makes a tackle. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Tamou said he didn’t think it might be his last act on an NRL field but admitted it was a devastating prospect.

“Yeah I didn’t think of that until someone just mentioned it and my heart dropped,” Tamou said “But I’ve got to be accountable for my actions. It would be a tough way to go, for a game that has given me a lot and I’ve dedicated my body to, so yeah it’s just something I’ll have to deal with.

“It’s a great game, I love this game and give everything to this game and however many games you play, it’s one of those games where you can’t walk around and think you’ve done it all because you’ll get left behind,” Tamou said.

“You’ve always got to be a student of the game and I feel like I keep on learning and that’s what I love about the game.

“You give everything to this game. You don’t just turn up to training then go home and switch off. You’re a 24-hour player, you go home, recover, you eat, I love everything about that.

“I love dedicating my body to that, I’ve done it for so long and it’d be great to go around again but I’m also a bit of a pessimist and if that time comes where I’ve got to hang up the boots I’ll be a realist and go out and find a job.”

Not the way his career should end. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Coach Brett Kimmorley said it was “extremely tough” to see him in such a shattered state.

“Jimmy was the first person to put his hand up and say I want to come and do the press conference and be accountable,” Kimmorley said.

“That’s more the stature of the man than 300 games, it’s a great person. He said I’m going to go front them and put my hand up and he’s done really well to be strong enough to do that.”