Premiership-winning prop James Tamou says he is happy to hand over the Wests Tigers captaincy as Adam Doueihi looms as his likely successor at the embattled club.
It was only a trial on Friday night, but Tigers fans would have been hoping to see more from the players as they were thumped 28-4 by Manly.
Tamou told The Sun-Herald he will always consider himself a leader, but the club might be better off looking to a younger captain who would be at the joint venture beyond this year. The front-rower is off contract at the end of the season and was linked to a Super League move last year.
The players voted for a new leadership group during a training camp on the Central Coast recently, with the captain to be potentially anointed this week.
The likely leadership change comes as mystery surrounded an injury to Jackson Hastings, the playmaker who missed the Sea Eagles clash due to a “lower leg injury”, but will play in Friday’s trial against the Sydney Roosters.
James Tamou takes a hit-up on Friday night.CREDIT:MARK EVANS/GETTY IMAGES
Hastings said on Friday night he had lost feeling in his foot and needed a hospital visit to have a cyst drained, while the club maintained it was an ankle injury that required a cortisone injection.
As for Tamou and the captaincy – a role filled by six different Tigers in the past five seasons – the front-rower said: “I’m not sure if I will be skipper again. We got away to Terrigal the other week, we spoke about values and we decided on a leadership group. I’m not sure where the captain comes into it.
“I’m not too fussed about it. My job as a leader is to teach and, at the moment, that’s more important to this team [than me] as a captain.
“One thing I’ve thought of is the fact I’ve only got one more year here, so who knows what will happen. If they’re looking to the future, they need to look at someone who will be there for a long time.
“I really want success for the Tigers. We went through so much last year and it bloody hurt. But, to me, it’s more about the person you are than the position you’re given. My leadership is more important at the moment [than captaincy].”
Tamou said Doueihi was an obvious choice, but he would not return until midway through the year because of knee surgery. A Tamou-Doueihi co-captaincy model could be an option.
Doueihi, whose leadership shone through in the Tiger Tales documentary, told the Heraldlast year: “One of my ambitions is to one day captain this club. I feel like I’m a natural leader. I like the role and having a say and trying to be that dominant figure. If it ever came my way, I’d take it up and cherish it.”
Luke Brooks is another contender. Tamou said he had been excellent with his leadership on the field, but was also laid-back off it, which could make it difficult with sponsorship commitments.
Tamou, 33, said he had only returned to training full-time with the team in recent weeks because of complications following “TightRope surgery” on his ankle.
“The doc cleaned it out at the time; I had spurs growing out of my ankle, but it caused me grief leading up to Christmas,” Tamou said. “Then COVID hit after Christmas. It was good to get the hit-out on Friday.”
Coach Michael Maguire said Hastings would trial against the Roosters, as would the returning Daine Laurie, Ken Maumalo, Luke Garner and James Roberts, who was a late scratching against Manly because of an infection behind his knee.
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I definitely thought this decision was needed, but I'm actually surprised that it's happening.
AD is the obvious long term captain.
It's juts a matte of what they do until he returns
Top 8 2023
I definitely thought this decision was needed, but I'm actually surprised that it's happening.
AD is the obvious long term captain.
It's juts a matte of what they do until he returns
Peachy
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I’m thinking a three or four man leadership group, maybe Hastings, Doueihi, Tamou and Brooks.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Why wait Mr Tamou can go to Super League now..
I definitely thought this decision was needed, but I'm actually surprised that it's happening.
AD is the obvious long term captain.
It's juts a matte of what they do until he returns
Peachy
Not opposed to that at all,but beforehand would like to get a take on Jacko’s on-field style.
Why wait Mr Tamou can go to Super League now..
I’m happy to drive him to the airport but I’m sure he has heaps of friends out Penrith way to lend a hand
A true leader is a leader of men no matter whether he has a (c) beside his name or not
What is the go with all the infections ..can we stop using the back yard boys as surgeons lol
Could they be giving the Captaincy to Brooks and that was used as a sweetener to shut down the Newcastle talk?
Yeah this is a good thing that James speaks out like this. But who to give the c to until Douehi is back?
Look Brooks isn’t captain material let’s get that straight! So I’d go with our fearless winger Nofa and most experienced player.
Yeah this is a good thing that James speaks out like this. But who to give the c to until Douehi is back?
Look Brooks isn’t captain material let’s get that straight! So I’d go with our fearless winger Nofa and most experienced player.
Hastings would be my choice. Was given the chance OS and by all accounts did a great job.
Yeah this is a good thing that James speaks out like this. But who to give the c to until Douehi is back?
Look Brooks isn’t captain material let’s get that straight! So I’d go with our fearless winger Nofa and most experienced player.
No way can Nofa be captain.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Yeah this is a good thing that James speaks out like this. But who to give the c to until Douehi is back?
Look Brooks isn’t captain material let’s get that straight! So I’d go with our fearless winger Nofa and most experienced player.
I wasn't saying that he should be. But considering all the constant "backing of the club" talk, I wouldn't be surprised if they picked him for a bit. Definitely not Noffa. No way.
