Tamou targets NRL title with Penrith

Nov 15, 2016 - 6:25 PM He can barely remember his way to the locker room but James Tamou knows exactly where he wants to end up with new NRL club Penrith next season.

Week one of the Panthers' pre-season hasn't even finished but the big-name signing is already talking a big game, saying only a premiership will bring success to the club in 2017.

"From what I saw last (season), there's only room to grow. We had a couple of video sessions and I've been excited to watch what the boys can produce," Tamou said.

"A premiership - that's the number one goal and that's on everyone's mind."

Tamou was knee-deep in a push for back-to-back titles with North Queensland in 2016 but admitted he had kept a close eye on the Panthers since signing a lucrative deal in June.

And the 27-year-old couldn't help but be enamoured with their high-octane play that fell two games short of a fairytale grand final appearance.

"I've been saying for a while, I've been very excited to come in," he said.

"Their last 12 weeks of the season I was very impressed. Obviously because I had signed and knew I was coming here, I was keeping an eye on them.

"They were definitely premiership contenders. The way they went about the Bulldogs (elimination final), who are nothing short of walkovers.

"Obviously a bit of bad luck against Canberra (in the semi-final, but) just goes to show how young and resilient this side can be.

"It'll be good for the club for everyone to stick around. It adds to the dynasty they can build."

Tamou met his new teammates for day one of pre-season on Monday, almost two months before the former Kangaroos representative expected to arrive at the foot of the mountains.

He was a shock exclusion from Mal Meninga's Australian squad for the current Four Nations tournament and while he admitted the axing hurt, was glad to help uproot the family to Sydney.

"I would've went away feeling not well leaving the wife there with the kids. I'm happy to be here. We can do some really good things here and day one is where it starts," he said.

"I know why I missed out. It just puts a bit more fire in the belly for next time."

And already he's taken confidence from the way new teammate Trent Merrin experienced a career resurgence after a similar high-profile move from Wollongong last summer.

"I was reading something about him, he thought he was over representative-wise. We all know the valuable player he is," Tamou said.

"He came here and went to another level. That's a bit of a goal for me. But first things first, get through a good pre-season and be injury-free."

Source: AAP