When James Tamou was first asked about making a shock retirement backflip, he was vehemently against the idea.

Townsville Blackhawks boss Adrian Thomson had come knocking, inquiring about the North Queensland Cowboys champion’s interest in spearheading the region’s next generation of stars.

“I said that’s it. I did the retirement thing with the NRL and was just looking at some wellbeing work where I’ve been studying for the last couple of years,” Tamou says.

“I said, no, I’m done, but thank you for the thought.”

Tamou had already forged a storied NRL career, playing 307 games which included the Cowboys’ premiership triumph in 2015.

The towering prop added 14 State of Origin caps for NSW and 12 Test appearances for the Kangaroos to his name before hanging up the boots at the end of the 2023 season.

He felt he was ready for his next chapter, engaging with schools and juvenile detention centres to hopefully lead them towards a better future.

“I owe a lot to rugby league ... I was able to see how much a leader was able to make someone better,” Tamou says.

Loading

“I was fortunate enough to have great leaders above me who made me a better person. It’s one of those things where you do something for so long, and you try to gravitate towards something else, and it just fits right in.

“Hopefully, I can help out a few young kids and get them on the straight and narrow.”

But the more he trained with some of his former teammates, among them two-time New Zealand international Kalifa Faifai Loa, the more Tamou sensed he still had something to give.

“I thought the body is feeling all right. I bumped into Adrian again at a coffee shop, and he asked me if I wanted to play again, and in a heartbeat I said yep, I’m in. The rubber arm, right?” Tamou says.

“Going down to the semi-professional level I’m able to take a step down, whereas most players kind of fall off a cliff and find themselves a bit stranded, not too sure what to do.

“I guess I’m very fortunate in that aspect, and am able to take little steps at a time to help that transition.

“I’ve got four kids at home, so I don’t have time to think about and feel sorry for myself; otherwise those kids will tear me apart.

“I talk to former NRL players, and they always say, ‘You’re still going?’

“I say bloody oath, and they say ‘I wish I could’ve kept going’. Then they always follow that up with, ‘You’re a long time retired’.”

Comprehending retirement has been a challenge for many NRL alumni, leading Broncos forward Corey Jensen to call for greater support for players once their careers are done.

Brisbane will launch Mental Health Round this week in their clash against the Gold Coast Titans, donning a black kit to raise awareness for mental illness and funds for Black Dog Institute.

As part of the 2023 player bargaining negotiations, the Rugby League Players Association fought for a program to be established that would include counselling and mental health referrals for past players.

Jensen believes more needs to be done.

“I’ve had a lot of close friends and mates I’ve played footy with who have lost their battle through suicide,” he says.

“I think the awareness has definitely changed within clubs themselves.

The biggest aspect I find is people post their career. It’s such a massive change going from being a professional athlete, you’re so regimented in your day-to-day life.

“It’s just such a different lifestyle when you finish playing professional sport and that’s where a lot of people find their struggles.

“That’s probably where the game could help a bit more, reaching out to those players in retirement, probably 10 years-post to make sure they’re doing all right.”

Loading

At 36 years old, Tamou has averaged 102 running metres and 19 tackles a game to help Townsville to second on the Queensland Cup ladder.

He will come off the bench against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday at BMD Kougari Oval.

Tamou says playing at that level has provided a fresh insight into the lifestyles and mindsets of those “trying to have a crack” at the NRL dream.

“Some in Townsville are on the roofs, or digging ditches on the tools, and then they come in and have to put their best foot forward for training,” he says.

“Now that I’m working, I’ve found not only does it affect you physically, and you have to push past it, but also mentally it’s those long days, and you have to take a breath and go again.

“It builds some of the toughest players ... it’s a really tough way to make a living.”