JIMMY BACKS BOLTS
FORMER Cowboys prop James Tamou has praised the man who inherited his No. 10 spot Scott Bolton, saying if State of Origin were held tomorrow Bolton would be a “walk- in”.
Tamou will be at Sunday’s NRL grand final as a Cowboys supporter just over 12 months after leaving North Queensland for Penrith because of a combination of financial and family reasons.
Tamou started at No. 10 in the Cowboys’ 2015 grand final team and was a vital contributor in their eventual win, but this time it will be Bolton paving the way upfront.
“He’s got this,” Tamou told the Townsville Bulletin.
“I couldn’t be happier for him. Something like me leaving the club had to happen for him and he got that opportunity and took it.
“Everyone at the club knows he’s always been capable of taking on this role, but he’s done much more than that.
“He’s just been getting better as the season’s gone on, and if they were playing Origin at this time he’d be a walk- in for Queensland. He’d have to be.
“He could even play for Australia at the World Cup and I’m sure he’ll be on the minds of selectors.”
Bolton was largely relegated to the Cowboys bench as Tamou made his name during the seven years he spent at the Cowboys, with his rise starting during a breakout 2012 season.
His form was so irresistible that he found himself at the centre of a representative tug of war between Australia and New Zealand, with Tamou pledging his allegiance to the green and gold.
From there he played 12 Tests for Australia – winning a Rugby League World Cup in 2013 – and 14 Origin games for New South Wales.
Copping flak from Cowboys fans during the 2015 regular season after having off- season neck surgery, Tamou eventually surged back to his best and formed part of that season’s most formidable forward pack.
This time around there is no Tamou and no Matt Scott, who coach Paul Green has ruled out of Sunday’s starting 17 pending late injury concerns.
“He’d be itching to play,” Tamou said.
“Who knows, he could still be out there on Sunday.”
But with or without Scott, Tamou says the current crop can replicate the class of 2015.
“It looks like the 2015 side, everyone’s playing a part,” he said.
“They played against a Roosters team that had players worth millions of dollars out there, but those Cowboys fellas just dominated for like 60- 70 per cent of the game.
“It’s just amazing, and even though I’m not there anymore, I’m just filled with pride.
“Paul Green plays a huge role in that and it really goes to show he knows his business.
“Every team he comes across like Parramatta and the Roosters, he would have pointed out their glitches in defence – and I know Melbourne obviously don’t have many – but I’m sure he’s found some.”
Tamou said he would not make his way to the Cowboys dressing room at full- time no matter the result.
“This is their story, they’ve done this by themselves and no one else,” he said.