Wests Tigers skipper James Tamou apologizes for ranting at suspended referee Ben Cummins

Wests Tigers captain James Tamou says his ‘heart broke’ when he realized verbal attack on referee Ben Cummins could have ended his NRL career .

In the second half of the Tigers’ record-breaking 72-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters, Tamou knocked on and conceded a penalty for throwing the ball away as a self-reprimand.

He channeled his frustration at Cummins and took a guilt in the 79th minute with a dissent, but was upgraded to a sending-off for calling the referee “f***** incompetent” when he left the field.

The mental snaps of the usually cool-headed veteran showed just how frustrating the night had been for the Tigers, who left SCG after suffering the biggest loss in joint venture history.

“I apologize for my actions towards Ben Cummins,” a lonely Tamou told reporters.

“(The referee) is doing a great job. Frustration overwhelms me.”

Tamou is set to face suspension and could be referred directly to the NRL’s judiciary on Sunday morning with no option to file a petition.

Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith was mentioned in July for calling referee Adam Gee a “cheating bastard” and was keen to discourage players from committing similar offenses, and the judiciary ordered him to was banned for four weeks.

A two-week suspension would keep Tamou out for the rest of the season, but the 300-game prop forward said he would accept whatever punishment was handed down.

“I wear criticism all week long. I have to take responsibility for my actions,” he said.

“I let everyone down. I let myself down. I’m ashamed.

Tamou’s contract expires at the end of the year and he will be 34 by the time the 2023 season begins.

Tamou is in talks to extend his career for at least another year, but said he finds it difficult to accept the prospect of retiring on such ominous terms.

“I didn’t think about it until someone mentioned it. My heart dropped,” he said.

“It will be difficult to get out of a game that has given me so much.

A post-game press conference isn’t mandatory for the NRL captain, but Tigers interim coach Brett Kimoley praised Tamou for choosing to front the media.

“Jimmy was the first to raise his hand and say, ‘I want to go to the press conference,’ and hold himself accountable,” he said.

“It speaks to the stature of a man over 300 games.”

Roosters captain James Tedesco, who plays for NSW alongside Tamou, said he sympathized with his Tigers counterpart who has led the playing group through a difficult year.