State of Origin 2016: James Tamou spent 19 hours in hospital before joining NSW Blues

By Michael Chammas
Updated May 24 2016 - 11:13pm, first published 8:19pm
Pain away: James Tamou in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday. Photo: Janie Barrett
Pain away: James Tamou in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday. Photo: Janie Barrett

James Tamou was in a Townsville hospital bed on Monday when Laurie Daley announced his NSW team for game one, suffering  more pain with an infected butt cheek than he did when a bulging disc in his neck threatened his career.