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Tigers captain James Tamou has likely played the last match of his NRL career after being charged with grade-three contrary conduct for his blow-up at referee Ben Cummins.
The match review committee’s assessment means a ban of 2-3 weeks depending on whether he pleads guilty or challenges the judiciary. Off contract and with the last-placed Tigers having just two rounds left, the veteran prop may have played his last game unless he can secure a deal in the NRL or Super League next year.
Tamou was sin-binned for dissent late in the 72-6 thrashing but had his punishment upgraded to a send-off for calling Cummins “f—ing incompetent” as he left the field.
“I actually didn’t think of that until someone just mentioned it. My heart dropped,” a contrite Tamou said.
“I’ve got to be accountable for my actions. I’ve got four kids at home and that’s how they have to see their dad.
“It would be a tough way to go out of a game that has given me a lot. It’d be great to go around again but I’m also a bit of a pessimist. If the time comes to hang up the boots, I’ll be a realist and go out and find a job.”
The in-form Roosters produced their most intimidating performance of the season to close in on an NRL top-eight finish while consigning Wests Tigers to a record-breaking loss at the SCG.
In the Roosters’ last game at the SCG before a return to the Sydney Football Stadium, they scored the biggest-ever win at the historic ground as the Tigers suffered their worst defeat in 23 seasons as a joint venture.
The loss crippled the Tigers’ already dismal points differential and all but confirms they will need to win again this season to avoid their first wooden spoon.
It also reiterated just how difficult a task Tim Sheens and his new-look coaching staff will have in turning the struggling club around from next season.
The sixth-placed Roosters must win one of their last two games to guarantee themselves a finals berth but could still qualify with losses to Melbourne and South Sydney if other results fall their way.
“We didn’t have a lapse in our intensity in our defence, we didn’t have a lapse in our support or the power we were running with,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said. “I was really happy.”
The Roosters were never challenged by the Tigers, who did not have the defensive steel to stifle the home side’s edges, nor the firepower to match it with rival halves pairing Luke Keary and Sam Walker once the onslaught began.
On the cusp of signing a new deal, second-rower Angus Crichton barged over for two tries in four first-half minutes.
Both came directly after poor kicks from Tigers halves Jock Madden and Adam Doueihi, who struggled all night to boot the visitors out of trouble.
Crichton’s second-row counterpart Nat Butcher had a career-best night, scoring more tries in 80 minutes than he did in the 2021 and 2020 seasons combined.
He crossed four times, opening the scoring in the 11th minute before completing his haul in the 75th minute as part of a 12-try romp.
The Tigers’ defence through the middle was just as brittle and could not contain James Tedesco and Victor Radley, who played with alarming ease.
Once they did have the ball, the Tigers were short of answers and losing Luke Garner (concussion), Ken Maumalo (groin) and Alex Seyfarth (shoulder) did them no favours.
Their only try came from a Brent Naden intercept with seven minutes to play.
Victor Radley was reported for entering a tackle on Joe Ofahengaue late but will not face time on the sidelines after being charged with grade-one dangerous contact, which means a fine of $1000-$1500.
© AAP
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