COWBOYS forward James Tamou has been fined $1900 after pleading guilty to drink-driving and driving without a licence.

And in a new twist to the saga, the court heard Tamou jumped from the driver's seat into the rear passenger seat before police pulled him over.

The 24-year-old North Queensland and NSW prop appeared in a Townsville court after being arrested in the city last month with a blood-alcohol level almost four times the legal limit.

He was also disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Last month, Tamou was fined $20,000, received a one-match NRL ban and was made ineligible for State of Origin II following the drink-driving incident.

Tamou played a starring role in North Queensland's important win over the Sharks on Sunday night.

If fit, he will be named in the NSW side for the Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.