During the same half-time, the Tigers confirmed a host of players would leave the club. Captain James Tamou headed the list, which also included Jock Madden, retiring centre James Roberts, Penrith-bound Luke Garner and Manly pick-up Kelma Tuilagi.
Tamou, who was given a reprieve for one final game at Leichhardt Oval when he had a suspension for abusing a referee reduced to one game, stood right on the sideline when he wasn’t on the field, and barked instructions at his younger teammates like he was coaching under-6s. Who could blame him? If it is to be his last NRL game, what a way to go out.
The Wests Tigers were thrashed by Canberra.Credit:Getty
“When I came off to the bench, I sat down with my head in my hands and just thought, ‘what am I doing? Get up and help the boys out’,” Tamou said.
“I didn’t want to shy away at all. To the boys’ credit, they made me very proud.
