James Tamou's bid to play NRL again in face of career-ending ban
Tigers captain and veteran James Tamou is still fighting to play in the last match for the club next week after being charged for his verbal attack on referee Ben Cummins.
Tamou was sin-binned for dissent late in the Sydney Roosters' 72-6 thrashing of the Tigers.
INSANE: Wests Tigers' brutal act towards Kimmorley in season from hell
HUGE: NRL legends blast Broncos after 'catastrophic' Storm rout
However, in a moment of madness, his penalty upgraded to a send-off for calling Cummins "f***ing incompetent" as he left the field.
Tamou showed his class and offered to face the media after the game.
The match review committee handed Tamou a grade-three contrary conduct charge and, while he has pleaded guilty to contrary conduct, he will seek to have his ban downgraded from two matches to one on Tuesday night.
Accepting the two-match ban could have spelt the end of Tamou's NRL career, given he is not contracted for 2023 and will be 34 by the time the new season begins.
If he is to escape the ban, he will be free to face Canberra in the last game of his contract.
Tamou's counsel will likely use the forward's actions after the game and his apology to Cummins in an attempt to get the charge downgraded.
Kimmorley praises James Tamou
Coach Kimmorley did praise Tamou for owning up to the mistake after the match.
Post-match press conferences are not mandatory for NRL captains but the Tigers interim coach applauded Tamou for choosing to front the media
"Jimmy was the first one to put his hand up and say, 'I want to come and do the press conference' and make himself accountable," he said.
Tamou also admitted that he was 'embarrassed' after letting his emotions spill over on the field.
"I'll wear the criticism all week. I've got to be accountable for my actions," he said.
"I've let everyone down. I've let myself down. I'm embarrassed.
"I've got four kids at home and that's how they're going to see that their dad acts."
Tamou is in talks to extend his contract at the Tigers for one year, but no official announcement has been made over the forward's deal.
with AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
