James Tamou

James Tamou (born 13 December 1988) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and represented Australia and the New Zealand Maori at an international level.

In 2007, he was the Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year and was selected to play for the Junior Kiwis.

Tamou played for the Roosters' NYC team in 2008 and was one of the club's best performers, before signing for the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2009 season.

In 2008, he represented New Zealand Maori, when they played Indigenous Dreamtime team in the 2008 World Cup curtain raiser, playing off the interchange bench in the 34–26 loss at Sydney Football Stadium.

In round 8, Tamou made his NRL debut against the Parramatta Eels where he played off the interchange bench and scored a try in North Queensland's 18–28 loss at Parramatta Stadium.

He finished his debut year in the NRL with 12 matches and two tries.

In 2010, Tamou was named the North Queensland club's most improved player of the year, after playing in 19 matches and scoring a try.

His good form was rewarded that year, when he re-signed with North Queensland for a further three years.

On 16 October, Tamou once again represented New Zealand Māori when they faced England before the start of the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

On 12 April, Tamou and teammate Blake Leary were suspended by the North Queensland club for one game for "breaking team alcohol rules".

Tamou later played a major part in North Queensland's surge to the finals, finishing the season with him playing in 23 matches and scoring two tries.

He averaged 108 metres per game.

In September, Tamou was selected in New Zealand's train-on squad for the Four Nations, although he was not selected in the final squad.

In April, despite just weeks earlier expressing his desire to represent New Zealand, Tamou pledged his allegiance to Australia and New South Wales.

Tamou had received phone calls from then New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart and captain Paul Gallen about making the switch.

On 20 April, Tamou made his Australian international in the Anzac Test, playing off the interchange bench in the 20–12 win at Eden Park.

On 22 May, Tamou made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales, starting at prop in the Blues 10–18 loss at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.

Tamou played in all three games of the series.

In the club's elimination final match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Tamou played his 100th NRL match in the 20–18 loss at Sydney Football Stadium.

Tamou finished the year with 22 appearances for North Queensland.

In October, he played for Australia in the World Cup, playing in 6 matches and scoring a try in the tournament.

Tamou started at prop in the Kangaroos 34–2 World Cup Final victory over New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester.

In February, Tamou was a member of North Queensland's victorious Auckland Nines side and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

The 2012 NRL season was a breakout year for Tamou, playing in 24 matches and scoring two tries as well as averaging more metres per game than any other prop in the NRL.

On 13 October, Tamou played for Australia in the trans-Tasman test, where he started at prop and scored a try in the 18–10 victory.

In game 1 of the 2013 State of Origin series, Tamou was selected for New South Wales and started at prop in a 14–6 victory over Queensland at ANZ Stadium.

Less than a week later, Tamou was fined $20,000 by the NRL and suspended for two NRL matches for drink driving and driving unlicensed in Townsville on 11 June.

He was suspended for the second Origin match.

Tamou returned in game 3, where New South Wales lost 12–10, resulting in Queensland winning the series 2–1.

On 2 May, Tamou played in the 2014 Anzac Test against New Zealand, playing off the interchange bench in the 30–18 win.

Tamou spent most of his career with the North Queensland Cowboys and was a member of their 2015 NRL Grand Final winning side

On 10 December, Tamou re-signed with the Cowboys, keeping him at the club to the end of the 2016 season.

On 19 April, Tamou was selected for Australia in the Anzac Test, starting at prop in the 32–12 win at Canberra Stadium in what was the first test match ever played in Canberra.

Later in his career, he also played for the Penrith Panthers, who he captained to the 2020 NRL Grand Final, and the Wests Tigers who he captained to the 2022 wooden spoon.

He also played at representative level for the NRL Allstars, NSW City, and New South Wales in the State of Origin series.

Tamou was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

He is of Cook Island-Māori (Muaūpoko) and (Ngā Rauru) and is also of Danish descent.

He began playing junior rugby league in Levin for the Levin Knights in New Zealand.

At the age of 13, Tamou moved with his family to Australia.

He then played his junior rugby league for the Paddington Tigers and attended Matraville Sports High School in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.