James Tamou parents: Meet Dave Tamou & Pippa Tamou

North Queensland Cowboys fan favorite James Tamou has announced he has retired from the NRL effective immediately.

The 34-year-old broke the news at halftime of his side’s clash with the Sharks, having played 307 first-grade games since making his debut for the Cowboys in 2009.

Tamou also had stints with the Panthers and Tigers, before returning for one last season in Townsville where he will finish his career.

He was also a member of the Cowboys’ 2015 premiership-winning squad and has been sidelined this season due to a Lisfranc injury.

“I’ve just announced it to the world, but internally I sort of knew,” Tamou said on WWOS.

“I couldn’t have asked for more. I’ve been around the world and I was very lucky and fortunate to come up here one last time. Unfortunately, you have to listen to the body.

Former teammate turned pundit Johnathan Thurston quizzed Tamou on his favorite moment of his career.

“Of course, as you get older you realize that premierships are hard to come by, so the 2015 premiership with the Cowboys,” he said.

“There are some great memories up here and what a way to finish it up here as well.

“I made lifelong friends, and that is the benefit of what rugby league brings. Some people treat it as a job but others, as a lifestyle.

“I have been fortunate to be in the game long enough to withstand the long-term things and have long-term relationships on the way.”

Tamou also played 12 Tests for the Kangaroos and earned 14 caps for the NSW Blues, featuring in State of Origin between 2012 and 2016.

James Tamou parents: Meet Dave Tamou & Pippa Tamou

James Tamuo’s parents are Dave and Pippa. her mother describes the ordeal that his son went through when he was at the cross road to decide if he will play for Australia or New Zraland

FOR two straight days, the calls were coming at all hours. At midnight, when James Tamou knew his mother would be awake. At 4am, when his father had risen to travel from the central coast to Sydney to work. Dave Tamou would text his son to let him know he was up, and the call would quickly follow.

”I wanted to go up there [to Townsville],” Tamou’s mother, Pippa, told the Herald yesterday. ”I was really worried about him. There were phone calls at all hours, day and night. ‘Mum, I don’t know what to do’.”