HE HAS just played his best game in 18 months but James Tamou’s teammates are amazed the hulking prop is even on the field.

Tamou has been smashed, both on and off field, after underperforming this season and last.

While Tamou was again quiet in the first half against Melbourne on Monday night, he returned to his form of 2012 and 2013 in the second half.

Several thumping Tamou runs played a major role in getting the Cowboys back into the contest.

Teammates were quick to praise Tamou for his performance but are in awe that he’s even taking the field.

Tamou re-injured his neck last July and spent several weeks on the sideline before having surgery late last year.

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He had already suffered a bulging disc earlier in his career. Understandably, he wasn’t running as hard as he once did.

Until Tuesday night.

“It is great to see Jimmy come back from his spinal injury and to play the way he is right now,’’ fellow forward Jason Taumalolo said.

“Full credit to Jimmy for the effort and dedication he’s shown us.’’

Tamou is also considering a move to Sydney to help his girlfriend and track-and-field prodigy Brittney McGlone launch her career.

On Monday he showed why rival clubs were interested in signing him.

“It has gradually been coming for Jimmy. He had a tough operation on a serious neck injury,’’ Cowboys coach Paul Green said.

“He grew as the game went on. He had a couple of errors around him early in the game. He stuck it under his wing and did what he does best.

“If there’s any evidence there needed for Jimmy that he’s one of the best props in the game, he only has to have a look at that game.’’

Front-row teammate Matt Scott said Tamou remind himself what he’s capable of.

“I think this gives him confidence. It reminded him that he’s a 118kg giant and he’s pretty hard to handle when he brings the ball back like that,’’ Scott said.

“It is good to see him back in full flight.

“We were getting good metres through their middle all night.

“We knew if we kept playing like we had in the second half we could get down the other end and we have Johnno (Johnathan Thurston) and in that situation you wouldn’t want to give the ball to anyone else.

“Jason (Taumalolo) and Jimmy in particular had great games for us.

“We were really strong through the middle.’’