NRL: Family calling for Tamou to come home, Cowboys stint may be over

James Tamou. Photo / Getty

In-demand Kangaroos star James Tamou says his growing family will be the top priority when he makes a decision on where he plays rugby league next year.

The off-contract North Queensland prop, whose partner is expecting to give birth to their second child, is understood to have been offered a lucrative four-year NRL deal by Penrith last week. Tamou admitted he was being lured by family to move to Sydney.

"I've got my kids' family down here in Sydney, so we're looking at that option," Tamou told AAP.

"We'll look at everything and make sure that we're happy wherever we go. That's the main thing.

"Obviously last year Canberra were in the picture but now we've got another one on the way."

A member of last year's historic premiership-winning side, Tamou said it would be difficult to leave a successful club that just re-signed a pivotal piece in fullback Lachlan Coote a fortnight ago.

Coote resisted the appeal of a big-money move to the Sydney Roosters to stay in Townsville.

"A move back to Sydney's been on the radar for a while, but after winning the premiership and Cootey re-signing, it really puts a stamp on where the team's heading," Tamou said. "It's going to be something special and you want to be a part of that."

Tamou has previously indicated that he was heavily involved in a possible move to the Raiders last year, but has shown no such desire on leading the talks this time around. He says focusing on his football has allowed him to play career-best football.

"I'm happy at the moment and I'm playing the kind of footy I want to be playing," he said.

"If I was struggling a bit footy-wise, I'd be stressing a bit, but I'm doing well."

- AAP