West Tigers co-captain James Tamou handed one-match ban after ‘extremely dangerous’ tackle

James Tamou is expected to miss round one of the season after he was charged by the NRL Judiciary for dangerous contact.

The Wests Tigers veteran has copped a one-match suspension for this tackle.

Wests Tigers co-captain James Tamou is expected to miss round one of the season after he was charged by the NRL Judiciary for dangerous contact during Friday evening’s pre-season trial against the Sydney Roosters.

The incident occurred in the 2nd minute of the Tigers’ 16-8 victory over Sydney at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium, with Tamou taking out Sam Walker‘s legs while in the motion of kicking.

The 19-year-old landed awkwardly on his shoulder after Tamou flipped him over.

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“That’s dangerous, that is really dangerous … this is bad, James Tamou spearing in at the legs,” former Cronulla Sharks star Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“That was really ugly. Walker in the air, spearing in at the legs, that is awful from James Tamou.

“It is dangerous contact, could have broken his leg, he lands on his neck.

“I don’t know how he stayed on the field.”

Walker thankfully walked away from the incident unscathed, and match referee Gerard Sutton promptly put Tamou on report.

However, Walker was later ruled out of the match after copping a knee in the head from Tigers second-rower Kelma Tuilagi while making a tackle and failing an HIA.

Sam Walker of the Roosters receives attention from a trainer. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images

On Saturday morning, the NRL Judiciary handed Tamou a grade two dangerous contact charge; if the veteran prop accepts the one-game ban with an early plea, he will miss the Tigers’ Round 1 fixture against the Melbourne Storm at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.

But if Tamou fights the charges and loses, he would miss two matches.

Don’t want to get too *controversial*, but these ending up as a 1 week suspension & a fine!? Obviously relieving both players were OK but for those who say injury severity shouldn’t be taken into account when grading suspension - these 2 tackles in isolation extremely dangerous pic.twitter.com/oHkkVYmSmB

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) February 25, 2022

Agreed Dave. Bit soft by match review

— Brent Read (@brentread_7) February 25, 2022

Tamou has played 286 first-grade games since making his NRL debut in 2009. He represented the New South Wales Blues in 14 State of Origin fixtures and played 12 Tests for Australia between 2012 and 2016.

Meanwhile, Sydney prop Lindsay Collins copped a $750 fine for a dangerous contact charge for a reckless hit on Tigers five-eighth Jackson Hastings in the 49th minute of Friday’s contest.

Zane Musgrove, Luciano Leilua and Alex Seyfarth each scored tries in the Tigers’ eight-point triumph, where they bounced back from an eight-point deficit to clinch the upset victory.