‘An initiation to manhood’: NRL great Timana Tahu reflects on Koori Knockout, favourite teammates

Timana Tahu has done it all in the game including representing Australia in two codes, and he owes his success to being thrown in the deep end as a 16-year-old in the Koori Knockout. Read more.

Newcastle Knights legend Timana Tahu. Picture: Robert McKell

Timana Tahu was a fresh-faced teenager when he got his first taste of the Koori Knockout.

Before he went on to play almost 200 games of NRL, win a premiership with the Knights and represent NSW and Australia in both league and union, Tahu was mixing it with the big boys.

“My first men’s Knockout was when I was 16 in 1997,” he said.

“It was a very scary moment playing against men. Back then there wasn’t really age limits. There was myself and Dean Widders was another.

“It was very daunting trying to take a hit up against the men and feeling that strength. But it actually helped us in our development as well, playing under pressure and it toughened us up physically.

“Moving up into Jersey Flegg, it didn’t really worry us as much when it came to the physicality because we already felt the hits of men and we got roughed up a little bit as well.

“It was an initiation of a welcome to manhood. All my experience, abilities and what I did in my professional career was from being developed in the Koori Knockout.”

Timana Tahu during his time at the State of Origin level. Picture: Peter Wallis

It would be the first in a long involvement as a participant in the event for Tahu, with the highlight being able to deliver the Knockout home for the Newcastle Yowies.

“I was captain-coach for three Knockout wins, so that’s an honour,” he said.

“It’s hard to win a Knockout. There’s so many players that miss out on them, even your great NRL players.
“Every draw is a hard draw, so for me to win three, just to win one would’ve been good.

“It gives you a bit of bragging rights, but the achievement of beating 60 teams and going through unbeaten is a big achievement.”

“There’s a lot of emotion, a lot of preparation and for families it brings the family unit together and the community together,” he said.

“Some of the best players, legends and future immortals have played, so it has a big significance in the Indigenous community and the football community.”

Timana Tahu in action at the Koori Knockout. Picture: Mark Scott

Tahu did it all in the game, winning a premiership with Newcastle in 2001, representing NSW in State of Origin and falling just shy of 200 games at the elite level.

He’s also part of an illustrious club to represent both the Kangaroos and Wallabies after making the switch to union.

When looking back at some of his favourites to play alongside, Albert Kelly and Travis Waddell rate among the top for Tahu.

“Albert’s a very talented player. I remember when he came to Jersey Flegg at Parramatta and he was just naturally gifted and a really good bloke off the field,” he said.

“He was a good team person who you want around your team and he just brings positive vibes.

Albert Kelly. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I played with Travis in Newcastle and he’s just a really good mate. The fellas that I played with in my team were all good people off the field and that’s what I built the club around.

“Adrian Davis played a bit of NSW Cup. For me in the 2000s, he would’ve been the best halfback in the Knockout. I haven’t seen anyone that comes close to him.

“Dane Gagai, Brenko Lee, Maurice Blair. Just some really talented guys that I got to play with and it was a privilege to do that because I learnt a lot from them.”

Tahu said one of the things he was most looking forward to was seeing players from outback regions being given their chance to shine on a bigger stage.

“There’s always really good talent at the Knockout,” he said.

“The metro areas, a lot of our Indigenous players get the right development, coaching and are in strong competitions.

“When you get out to towards outback towns there’s not much development going on, there’s not many games, education and the competition’s are not strong.

The Koori Knockout shines a light on the next generation of Indigenous league talents. Picture: Andrea Francolini

“The good thing about the Knockout is that those bush towns come in and the ability that some of those undeveloped players have, they pull out special stuff that you don’t see.

“I feel that’s what a lot of our NRL players pick up on is watching other players and seeing what they can pull out under pressure.

“The early games are 20-minute halves and anyone can win it. It’s not about fitness in those games, it’s who can score the most tries. That’s what makes it entertaining.

“Just watching the talent and the entertainment some of these players bring, and also our young talent coming through in the 15s, some are really gifted and athletic.

“It’s a good opportunity for NRL clubs to go out and scout these players.”

Watch the Koori Knockout on NITV and SBS On Demand on Sunday 6 October, and the finals on Monday 7 October on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand, live and free in HD.