How 'burning' James Tamou found peace with 'emotional' missed premiership shot
By George Vlotis
an hour ago
Tigers skipper James Tamou says he's still "burning" from having narrowly missed out on a premiership with the Panthers as he looks to the next phase of his career at Concord.
After four years at the foot of the mountains, Tamou's Panthers fell at the last hurdle in 2020, as a historic 19-match win-streak unraveled in a 26-20 grand final loss to the Melbourne Storm.
With his future at the Tigers having been already been secured for 2021, Tamou was well aware of the significance of last year's run – perhaps his last legitimate shot at a title.
While the 32-year-old's premiership window isn't closed, opportunities like that don't come around every year – and it's something the skipper says he struggled with over the summer in his final days before he was moved on.
"That still burns me," Tamou told Wide World of Sports.
James Tamou looks on after the Panthers' grand final loss to the Storm. (Getty). (Getty)
"I caught up with Cameron Ciraldo before pre-season and I told him, 'I have to ask about the grand final, I still haven't watched it'. He told me 'Mate, go and watch it, get some closure'. When you watch it there is some really good stuff in there.
"It was pretty emotional. When you get to my age, chances like these don't come too often. When you're a bit younger you sort of think 'I can make another run or win one later'. So, in that sense it was really emotional for me." "In NRL years I'm getting up there now, I'm 32."
Tamou's experience will be invaluable to the Tigers who, under a regimented Michael Maguire, perhaps look the best chance in years at breaking their historic finals drought.
James Tamou is excited to break the Tigers' final drought. (Getty) (Getty)
The club have recognised the experience the likes of Tamou brings to a club in the midst of a culture shift, deciding to hand the NRL veteran the captaincy in his first year at Concord.
An "emotional" Tamou said he was touched by the gesture and honoured to lead such a "passionate" group. And it's that team-first approach that has helped him move past his own grand final hang-ups.
"Being more mature now, having grown up and being a leader, I want the team to succeed more than I want myself to succeed," he said. "Since I've been thinking that way, I've been playing a lot happier."
"When you start thinking about your own game and being selfish that's when you get more worked up. Since, I've come into that sort of thinking in regards to what we did with the Panthers team, I've been feeling a lot better (about the move)."
By George Vlotis
an hour ago
Tigers skipper James Tamou says he's still "burning" from having narrowly missed out on a premiership with the Panthers as he looks to the next phase of his career at Concord.
After four years at the foot of the mountains, Tamou's Panthers fell at the last hurdle in 2020, as a historic 19-match win-streak unraveled in a 26-20 grand final loss to the Melbourne Storm.
With his future at the Tigers having been already been secured for 2021, Tamou was well aware of the significance of last year's run – perhaps his last legitimate shot at a title.
While the 32-year-old's premiership window isn't closed, opportunities like that don't come around every year – and it's something the skipper says he struggled with over the summer in his final days before he was moved on.
"That still burns me," Tamou told Wide World of Sports.
James Tamou looks on after the Panthers' grand final loss to the Storm. (Getty). (Getty)
"I caught up with Cameron Ciraldo before pre-season and I told him, 'I have to ask about the grand final, I still haven't watched it'. He told me 'Mate, go and watch it, get some closure'. When you watch it there is some really good stuff in there.
"It was pretty emotional. When you get to my age, chances like these don't come too often. When you're a bit younger you sort of think 'I can make another run or win one later'. So, in that sense it was really emotional for me." "In NRL years I'm getting up there now, I'm 32."
Tamou's experience will be invaluable to the Tigers who, under a regimented Michael Maguire, perhaps look the best chance in years at breaking their historic finals drought.
James Tamou is excited to break the Tigers' final drought. (Getty) (Getty)
The club have recognised the experience the likes of Tamou brings to a club in the midst of a culture shift, deciding to hand the NRL veteran the captaincy in his first year at Concord.
An "emotional" Tamou said he was touched by the gesture and honoured to lead such a "passionate" group. And it's that team-first approach that has helped him move past his own grand final hang-ups.
"Being more mature now, having grown up and being a leader, I want the team to succeed more than I want myself to succeed," he said. "Since I've been thinking that way, I've been playing a lot happier."
"When you start thinking about your own game and being selfish that's when you get more worked up. Since, I've come into that sort of thinking in regards to what we did with the Panthers team, I've been feeling a lot better (about the move)."
