Tahu's Origin hopes nosedive -  7sport.com.au, 24 May 2003 
Timana Tahu's chances of retaining his place on the NSW wing for State of Origin I nosedived when he was ruled out of Newcastle's National Rugby League clash with Cronulla on Saturday night.  Tahu will miss the round 11 fixture at EnergyAustralia Stadium with the same calf strain that prevented the Test flyer from backing up for Newcastle against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday following his appearance for Country Origin last Friday night.
With Cronulla star David Peachey emerging as the Blues' likely fullback for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium on June 11, Tahu is seemingly locked in a three-way battle for one of two NSW wing spots with Sydney Rooster Anthony Minichiello and Bulldogs goalkicker Hazem El Masri. Tahu has had a mixed start to the season and now is the not the time to be on the sidelines. Providing he recovers in time, the 22-year-old's last chance to impress Blues selectors before the series opener will come next Sunday against a Brisbane side stacked with Queensland Origin probables. That could be a good or a bad thing for Tahu. 

Tahu's Origin under threat -  Sportal
Knights winger Timana Tahu is at risk of missing a place in the New South Wales side for the first State of Origin match after a calf strain ruled him out of Saturday night’s clash against the Sharks. Tahu missed last week’s match against the Roosters after sustaining the injury for Country in the City-Country Origin clash at Gosford.  With the 22-year-old out of this weekend's clash as well, it leaves him desperately short of time to impress NSW selectors before the June 11 match at Suncorp Stadium. His main rivals for a spot on a wing are the Roosters Anthony Minichiello and the Bulldogs Hazem El Masri and with a fitness battle on Tahu’s hands, they would appear to have the upper hand.  Despite Tahu’s absence from Saturday night’s game against Cronulla, centre Matthew Gidley said his side were ready to improve on recent form. "The whole team was disappointed last week against the Roosters. We want to try and turn things around as a team against the Sharks," Gidley told AAP "We're back at home and we want to get back into the winners' circle."

Tahu on Origin bomb alert -  7sport.com.au,  06 June 2003 
NSW winger Timana Tahu is readying himself for a bomb blitz from Darren Lockyer and Ben Ikin as Queensland tests his delicate confidence in the opening State of Origin game.   Tahu, an incumbent Test winger, was in danger of losing his place in the NSW side after he suffered a case of early-season dropsies.  His problem reached its nadir in the Knights' round five win over the Bulldogs, when he made eight handling errors. But his form has been on the upswing since, culminating in his two-try performance in Newcastle's 32-22 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.  "I had a pretty bad off-season," Tahu said. "I didn't do anything at all in the off-season with my calf operation and then I rolled my ankle in a session the week after my calf operation. "But I'm getting my fitness back now, I'm feeling sharper.  The last four or five rounds leading up to this week I think I started playing a little bit more consistent footy.  Last week against Brisbane it was just a taste of Origin footy. I'm looking forward to next week. I'll be confident." 
Even so, Tahu is taking no chances.  The 22-year-old has had Andrew Johns and Craig Wing peppering him this week in anticipation of something similar from Ikin and Lockyer. I have been getting Joey and Wingy's bombs all this week," Tahu said.  "You just have to prepare yourself mentally.  If you're going half-hearted in Origin you're going to make mistakes. Against Brisbane I saw Benny Ikin and Lockyer looking at me. They were trying to strike them my way but they weren't hitting them sweet. I'll be looking forward to them, but it will be a big test for me."
Tahu was a revelation for the Blues last season, playing all three games and then featuring in Australia's Test matches against Great Britain and New Zealand.  But his brilliance this season has been tempered by moments of poor concentration, something he's been trying to eliminate from his game. He believes the problems that blighted him against the Bulldogs are a thing of the past. 
"The rounds before that I was pretty bad ... just losing concentration on the high balls," he said. "I didn't drop any last year. All I wanted to really do this time was get confidence back in myself and play good footy for my team and come off the field and be happy with my game.  I wasn't really worried about representative football because I thought Hazem (El Masri) and (Anthony) Minichiello might have had the wings."
But now he's in the NSW squad, Tahu is expected to be a focal point of the Blues attack.  His combination with Newcastle and NSW teammate Matthew Gidley tore the Broncos apart at the weekend and the Maroons will have to be on their guard on Wednesday night. Me and Gids have ... a good relationship on the right side," Tahu said. "It's a bit hard coming into the representative camp and you have to make a new relationship. Gids, I feel much more comfortable with him."

Tahu holding his breath over Test spot -  7sport.com.au,  19 July 2003 
Timana Tahu is an incumbent rugby league Test winger, was an integral part of the State of Origin series-winning NSW side and scored three tries in his last outing. But he'll be holding his breath when national selectors sit down to name the Australian side for Friday night's Trans-Tasman clash with New Zealand at Aussie Stadium. A week ago Tahu was a certainty.  But then Matt Sing came out in the third Origin game and scored a hat-trick as Queensland thrashed the Blues 36-6 at Suncorp Stadium. With NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello expected to fill one wing spot in the Test side, Sing's performance loaded pressure on Tahu.  The 22-year-old responded in resolute fashion to that challenge at EnergyAustralia Stadium, scoring his own hat-trick in the Knights' 29-16 loss to Penrith. But he'll have to wait to find out whether it was enough to save his place in the Test side.  "I don't know," Tahu responded when asked whether he expected to be selected. "They've been talking about other wingers getting in before me. I'll just see what happens on Sunday. I think there's Sing, there's (Shannon) Hegarty, there's (Brent) Tate and Minichiello.  If I don't get picked I'll probably freshen up for Sunday against the Wests Tigers. We'll see what happens on Sunday."
Tahu only played after a visit to the physiotherapist. The Knights winger had an injection in his troublesome Achilles tendon and showed no after-effects, scoring all his tries in the first half as the Knights took a 16-12 lead into the break. "I thought it was my ankle but it was my Achilles," Tahu said. "A few needles helped it and I got through the game. Hages (coach Michael Hagan) asked me for three tries so I gave him three tries. It's just disappointing to be on the losing team."

Tahu top tryscorer? Don't bet on it - 1 September, 2003,  SMH
Before yesterday's match at Kogarah Oval, Newcastle fullback Robbie O'Davis was "thanking Christ" he hadn't been able to bet on injury-plagued teammate Timana Tahu finishing the season as NRL leading tryscorer.  Afterwards, St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown consoled teenage rookie Ben Creagh for the three tries Tahu scored on his wing by telling him: "Timana is likely to do that to Jesus Christ." 
At least O'Davis had the satisfaction of knowing that his 78th-minute try had kept him one ahead of Tahu as the Knights' greatest tryscorer.  For Brown and the Dragons, their finals hopes were finally put to an end after a lopsided second half in which Newcastle scored 28 unanswered points and Tahu grabbed a hat-trick to at one stage equal O'Davis's career record of 74 tries.  "It's funny," O'Davis said. "We were talking about it last night, and I told Timana I'd been going to put a bit of money on him at the beginning of the year to be the leading tryscorer but we couldn't get a bet on.   "I said, 'Thank Christ I didn't because you've had a shocker this year'.
"Then we started talking about who had the most tries. He said he had about 80, but I told him that was bullshit or they would've been talking about it in the Newcastle media.  But I knew he was pretty close because he's a prolific tryscorer. He's only been playing since about 2000 so he's done it in about half the time I have."
After watching his side secure a finals berth, Knights coach Michael Hagan was just glad to have O'Davis and Tahu back from lengthy injury lay-offs and had little idea of the tryscoring duel.  Aside from skipper Andrew Johns and centre Mark Hughes, Newcastle are suddenly looking healthy as they head into the finals series in two weeks' time. "We're getting our best players back at the right end of the season and across the park we're starting to look pretty strong," Hagan said. "We're firmly in the eight now and can look forward to next week and hopefully a few weeks after that."

Play-off pain; Surgery puts Tahu in doubt - BRETT KEEBLE. Herald. Newcastle, N.S.W.: Sep 9, 2003. 
NEWCASTLE and NSW winger Timana Tahu underwent minor knee surgery last night in a desperate bid to play for the Knights in their sudden-death quarter-final against the Roosters at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night. The 22-year-old tryscoring machine has torn cartilage in his right knee, and Knights medical specialist Dr Neil Halpin said the arthroscopy was the only chance Tahu had of taking on the defending premiers. Knee specialist Dr Michael Johnson was due to perform the procedure in Sydney last night. Tahu also had a cortisone injection yesterday morning to settle a shoulder injury, but his knee was causing the most concern. "Six days is cutting it fine, but it's been done before. In principle, there's no reason he can't play if he pulls up OK," Dr Halpin said. "It's the only hope he's got of playing this weekend, and it's a case of all hands on deck at this time of year. If it's anything other than torn cartilage, then it's probably the end of the season, but we're fairly confident it's nothing more than cartilage."
Utility forward Andrew Price has been ruled out with a broken jaw, but former NSW and Australian back-rower Steve Simpson has been cleared of a serious injury after being accidentally poked in the right eye in the 65th minute of Sunday's 34-26 win over the Cowboys. Simpson is a certain starter and skipper Ben Kennedy (foot) will return alongside him in the back row after sitting out the Cowboys game. Danny Buderus, Robbie O'Davis and Kurt Gidley could all need pain-killing injections for ongoing injuries, but coach Michael Hagan said his players had every right to feel confident about their chances against the Roosters.
The Knights must win to progress any further in the finals, but the Roosters have the luxury of a second chance should they lose. The consensus among the eight finals captains yesterday was that the Roosters were again the team to beat for the title, but coach Michael Hagan said the Knights would welcome the challenge. "The opposition are the other form team at the moment, so we need to apply ourselves and show a little bit more attention to detail because there's a little bit more at stake this week," Hagan said. "But we've been in good shape for the past five or six weeks, so we're reasonably confident."

Knights' tale of woe -  3 April, 2004
Newcastle's nightmare week is expected to take another cruel twist this morning when Test star Timana Tahu is ruled out of tomorrow's match against St George Illawarra with a hamstring injury.  If the Kangaroos winger is unable to make the trip to Wollongong then the first-time halves pairing of brothers Kurt and Matt Gidley will be split to accommodate Parramatta off-season purchase Steve Witt. NSW Origin winger Tahu has been absent from training all week meaning Knights coach Michael Hagan may have to reshuffle his backline for the second time in five days. Newcastle officials last night rated Tahu only a slim chance of passing a medical examination early today before the Knights make the trip to Wollongong. 

Union pushes for Tahu - 21 April 21, 2004
Timana Tahu yesterday became a target for rugby union as Penrith rival Luke Lewis joined the Australian team to cover for any late withdrawal before Friday night's ANZAC clash with New Zealand in Newcastle.  Lewis's call-up coincided with fullback Anthony Minichiello's inability to participate fully at training for the second day in a row because of a shoulder injury received in the Sydney Roosters' 32-22 win over Newcastle on Sunday. Australian team management denied Minichiello was in doubt saying Kangaroo tourist Lewis would have been brought into the camp anyway. 
Tahu said yesterday he expected Lewis to beat him to a wing spot when the Australian team was named on Sunday after "every Sydney paper" picked him in their Test side. Still only 22, Tahu comes off contract with Newcastle this year along with skipper Andrew Johns, Test forward Ben Kennedy, prop Matt Parsons and new halfback Kurt Gidley. Knights' chief executive Ken Conway said yesterday the club was aware rugby union had shown interest in Tahu and they hoped to meet the player's manager tomorrow. Tahu, who has three children, said he wanted to remain in league and to keep playing for Newcastle. "Hopefully there's enough money left for me," he said.  Tahu, who has never played union, has two league "caps", the second earned against the Kiwis in Wellington in 2002 when he was called "a traitor" by fans for electing to play for Australia even though his father is Maori.  "My mum is Aboriginal and I was born and raised in Australia," Tahu said. "When New Zealand approached me in 1999 I was too young and inexperienced to play Test football and I think Karmichael Hunt is in the same boat at the Broncos. He's only 17 and needs more experience. "It was hard to make a decision because even now when we go over to New Zealand I get called a traitor by people who don't really know my background." 
 

Shane Webcke chases Timana Tahu during the touch footy session at the Australian team's training headquarters in Newcastle. Tahu is still smarting over being called a 'traitor' in New Zealand because he has elected to play in Australia.

Knights talk to Tahu - 21 April 2004, Daily Telegraph
Timana Tahu will kick off contract negotiations with Newcastle tomorrow amid concerns of a potential tug of war developing with the Australian Rugby Union for his services.  Tahu is one of five high-profile Knights players whose contracts expire at the end of the season, with injured captain Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Kurt Gidley and Adam Woolnough also up for renewal. Tahu admitted yesterday in camp with the Test squad he was nervous about his future at the club. 
"It is good to know something is happening because I am pretty nervous about it all with Joey, BK and a few other guys off contract as well," he said. "I really want to stay here so hopefully it can get sorted out."  Tahu said he was unaware of rugby's interest in him but his manager Daryl Mather and Knights football manager Mark Sargent both confirmed the speculation.  "Rugby seems to get thrown up as an option for players without any basis these days but I don't believe that is the case in this instance," Sargent said. "We know we are going to have to work hard to keep him."  Mather admitted there had been interest from rugby in Tahu for two years with it gathering momentum towards the end of last year.

Highlight becomes Tahu lowlight  - 24 April, 2004
IT had all the ingredients to be a career highlight for Newcastle Knights centre Timana Tahu.  Playing in front of his hometown crowd, Tahu ran on to a deft grubber from Knights teammate Matt Gidley to score an impressive try for Australia in the first Trans-Tasman rugby league Test played in Newcastle.  Instead the first half try that helped set up Australia's 37-10 Test win over New Zealand at EnergyAustralia Stadium last night was the catalyst for what he deemed a new career low.  Despite Australia piling on seven tries to two including five unanswered second half four-pointers, Tahu cut a disconsolate figure in the Kangaroos dressing shed after tearing his hamstring while sprinting to the try line.  The roar of the 21,000-plus home crowd - many wearing the Knights colours of red and blue - when he scored the try in only his third Test were forgotten by Tahu as he faced at least two weeks on the sidelines.  To make matters worse, Tahu's frustration was compounded by the fact he won't know the full extent of the tear until scans on Monday.  However, early reports said Tahu would be out for a "minimum two to three weeks".
"In the 26th minute when I scored a try my hammy just went on me and there was nothing more I could do," a depressed Tahu said.  "I stayed out there for the rest of the half and now as it's cooling down it's getting heaps worse. Hopefully I am not out for four or five weeks, it's just a minor tear and something they can fix fairly quick.  I will have to wait and see on Monday to get some scans, our club physio has gone down to Canberra for our (NRL) game tomorrow night." Tahu, 23, believed he had let down the Australian selectors and his Newcastle team which will battle on without him starting in tonight's NRL clash at Canberra.
"Playing in front of your home crowd is a buzz (but) getting the injury in an Australian team when the selectors are relying on you to play the full 80 minutes, it's a little bit shattering," he said.  "I'm a bit disappointed with myself, there's nothing I can do about it now.  But hopefully when I get back on the field in a couple more weeks I can try and perform for the City-Country, the Origin and maybe green and gold."

Rah-rahs target Tahu -   2 May, 2004
NEWCASTLE'S off-contract Test winger Timana Tahu has officially become the No1 target in rugby union, with the Brumbies and Waratahs both desperate for his signature.  The Sunday Telegraph has discovered that, in the past 12 months, the ACT Brumbies have contacted Tahu's manager Darryl Mather on six occasions to express and reiterate their interest in the 23-year-old.   Mather met Newcastle management last week and told football manager Mark Sargent of the rugby push for Tahu.  Tahu yesterday revealed to The Sunday Telegraph he has given serious thought to switching codes.  "At the moment, I'm open to anything - including rugby," Tahu said.  "Going across to rugby is something I'm definitely interested in and my manager said the Brumbies along with the Waratahs are both interested." 
Tahu said he has told Knights coach Michael Hagan of his desire for a full-time switch from wing to centre - and that factor will weigh heavily when it comes time to make a decision on his playing future.  Tahu said the major factor, however, was a desire to look after his fiancee Kasey and children Leketa (5), Tommy (2) and Larni-Ann (1). "My next contract will be three or four years and easily the biggest I'll ever sign," Tahu said. "If the money is good, that might turn my head towards rugby because my biggest concern is looking after my family. I played a bit of rugby at school and watch a lot of Super 12s. The game is a lot more complicated than league but I'm sure I could learn it. It gave me a lot of confidence when I read your paper last week and saw that Wendell Sailor said I could make it in rugby. 
"Also, my father is a Kiwi and a mad union fan and more than once he suggested I'm in the wrong game." 
Mather confirmed rugby officials were vigorously pursuing Tahu - who ranks among the NRL's most electrifying outside backs. "The assistant Brumbies coach Anthony Eddy has rung me on many occasions over the last 12 months," Mather said yesterday. Anthony indicated that if Timana was ever interested in switching codes, he would immediately go through the correct ARU channels to alert them of the fact. Bob Dwyer and I also met late last year and Bob wanted Timana immediately for the Waratahs and said the door was always open." 
Dwyer said yesterday any rugby official who said they weren't interested in Tahu would be lying. Despite the rugby interest, Mather said the Knights would be given every opportunity to retain Tahu. "Newcastle and Timana have been a great fit and Timana is extremely happy there but I have told Sarge that Timana is going to put his family first in relation to his next deal," Mather said. "Timana is also adamant he wants to be classified as a centre and this will have a huge bearing on what he may do." 
The Knights face a battle to retain Tahu with Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Kurt Gidley and Adam Woolnough all off-contract. Tahu said he had spoken to Hagan on numerous occasions about the prospect of a move to the centres. "Hages and I have talked for the last couple of years about where I'd like to play and I've always told him centre," Tahu said. "That's where the money is and you've got a much higher price on your head being a centre - and I like the involvement more."  Ruugby would provide Tahu with the option of playing centre, wing or fullback. But Tahu said he would also consider a move to another NRL club if they could give him a guarantee of being a starting centre. "I've spoken a lot with Kasey and even though we both love Newcastle and all our family are here, we aren't afraid to leave," Tahu said. "I won't get as much money after this contract because I'll be older and I've got no experience in the workforce and don't have a trade behind me so that's why this is a really important contract." 
 

"Hages and I have talked for the last couple of years about where I'd like to play and I've always told him centre," Tahu said. "That's where the money is and you've got a much higher price on your head being a centre - and I like the involvement more."

Talented Tahu down Knights priority list - Newcastle Herald, 8 May 2004
If the Newcastle Knights land all their retention targets, headed by Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy, explosive NSW and Australian winger Timana Tahu looks like being the odd man out. Johns and Kennedy are No. 1 and No. 2 on the hit list but, according to club insiders, Kurt Gidley and Adam Woolnough are considered higher priorities than Tahu. Gidley, only 21, is seen as a long term replacement for Johns as playmaker but is already dominating matches and is developing into one of the hottest properties in the game as a five eighth or halfback. The Knights rate Woolnough, who turns 23 later this month, highly because they see him and Josh Perry as their front rower combination for now and the future. Newcastle's success over the years has been built on foundation laid by the likes of Paul Harragon, Mark Sargent and Tony Butterfield in the engine room and the Knights believe Parry and Woolnough's best years are still ahead of him.
Tahu's existing three year contract is understood to be worth about $120,000 a year but he can rightfully ask for at least double that, given his rise to Origin and international status since he signed it in mid 2001. If Knights manage to sign Johns, Kennedy, Gidley and Woolnough - and keep a few dollars up their sleeves for the other seven or eight senior players coming off contract - there simply will not be enough to make Tahu an offer worthy of his ability and reputation. Despite some reports, Tahu desperately wants to stay in Newcastle. Away from rugby league he is an intensely private person and his immediate family and support network are all in Newcastle. For that reason, not to mention his success on the end of the Newcastle back line, is why his manager Daryl Mathew will "exhaust every avenue" with the Knights before he has to take Tahu to the marketplace.
Super 12 club ACT Brumbies are believed to be keen to entice the 23 year old try scoring machine to rugby union. The Sydney Roosters are also rumoured to be ready to make Tahu an offer he cannot refuse but they cannot legally speak to him until after the June 30 anti tampering deadline, or unless the Knights give Mathew permission to negotiate with other NRL clubs. the Knights have gone through the same pain each season for the past few years and, as illustrated by the departure of Darren Albert and Adam MacDougall, they see high priced, high profile outside backs as more expendable than other key positions. Tahu is one of the clubs more popular players, especially with younger fans, but the simple facts are the Knights cannot keep everyone in the blue and red forever.

The dash for cash -  08/05/2004,  Newcastle Herald 
TIMANA Tahu may well have been the lowest-paid member of the Kangaroo team in last month's Anzac rugby league Test against New Zealand, but that situation should change in the not-too-distant future. One way or another, the dynamic Newcastle Knights winger appears certain to hit the jackpot when he scribes a signature on his next contract. Whether Tahu can secure in Newcastle the dollars a player of his stature deserves remains to be seen. Indeed, after the 23-year-old flyer declared this week that he was effectively open to all offers, the Knights realise they face a no-holds-barred stoush to retain the most prolific tryscorer in the club's history. They certainly won't re-sign him for anywhere near the bargain price they paid in 2001 when a fledgling Tahu agreed to a three-year contract. Since then he has helped Newcastle win a grand final, represented NSW and Australia, and racked up tries at a rate that compares favourably with some of the game's all-time greats. A total of 78 tries in 94 first-grade appearances has established Tahu as one of the NRL's most dangerous strike weapons. And he will never get a better chance to cash in. On the open market, Tahu could conceivably command the best part of $300,000 a season. At the moment, he probably earns less than half of that. Already Tahu's manager, Darryl Mather, has taken steps to place his client in the shop window. Last weekend Tahu who by all accounts is usually as elusive to the media as he is on the field featured prominently in the headlines. Posing happily in a picture with two of his children, he explained how he was ``open to anything", including switching codes. ``Even though we love Newcastle and all our family are here, we aren't afraid to leave," he warned. Mather revealed that ACT Brumbies officials had been in regular contact and had a Super 12 contract waiting any time Tahu felt like defecting to the 15-man game. ``Timana is going to put his family first in relation to his next deal," Mather said. If Mather's intention was to put subtle pressure on the Knights, they showed little sign of buckling. Club officials maintain that the retention of skipper Andrew Johns and forward leader Ben Kennedy is their main priority. ``When you've got players like Johns and Kennedy and it might be some time before we see players of that quality come through the club again you've got to retain them when you can," Knights football manager Mark Sargent told The Herald this week. Tahu and a host of other established first-graders, including Kurt Gidley, Matt Parsons and Adam Woolnough, will have to wait patiently in the queue. Newcastle's bean counters are certainly in an unenviable position. Johns and Kennedy are Rolls Royce performers, even though both have plenty of miles on the odometer and have spent their fair share of time at the panel-beaters. Tahu is a late-model Ferrari with enough blinding acceleration to turn half-chances into tries. In an ideal world, you'd like to have all three in your garage. Knights officials will presumably play their usual cards in a bid to entice Tahu to re-sign for a price that they can afford. They'll remind him that the cost of living in Newcastle is cheaper and that the lifestyle is more laid-back.
They'll point out that he plays his best football outside Matt Gidley and that he might not be as effective at another club, let alone in another code. But Tahu's focus will quite rightly be on the bottom line. He is an elite player probably the best winger in rugby league and deserves to be paid accordingly. In an ominous message for Knights fans, Sargent admitted: ``I think somewhere along the line there's going to be someone in the mix who's not going to be satisfied with what we can offer."

Tahu's Origin blues -  13 May, 2004
NSW winger Timana Tahu fears a decision from Newcastle medical staff may have cost him an Origin I jumper but Blues selectors still have him under consideration.  Tahu has been carrying a hamstring injury since the Anzac Test and was ruled out of the Newcastle team to play the Broncos in Brisbane tomorrow after a fitness test earlier this week.  The talented Blues winger has conceded concerns he is likely to be overlooked for the opening Origin game in Sydney on May 26 after missing the past month of football.  But it is understood Blues selectors still hold hopes of having the Newcastle winger in the team.  "I had a run on Monday and the hamstring pulled up pretty good so I thought my chances of playing this weekend were good," Tahu said.  "But the doctor ruled me out. With the amount of hamstring injuries in the club I think they might be a little bit nervous. They decided to give me one more week but I think it might have cost me a Blue jumper. "I would be 100 per cent right for the first game but I think coach Phil Gould would like to see players playing club footy.  It's just a feeling that I've got that I might not be there."  Tahu's right-side combination with Australian centre Matthew Gidley and previous experience at Origin level mean he was considered a certain selection until yesterday. 

Tahu fits the bill as injuries hit Blues -  17 May, 2004
The Knights flyer has been sidelined with a torn hamstring but his recovery in time for the opening Origin match on May 26 is good news for the Blues after Matt Cooper was one of three key players injured on the weekend.  Cooper, his St George Illawarra teammate Jason Ryles and Newcastle lock Ben Kennedy were all ruled out yesterday after failing to finish round-10 matches for their respective clubs.  After previously being resigned to Tahu being unavailable, NSW coach Phil Gould said last night he would ask the Blues selectors to consider the Test winger for his first match since he picked up the injury against the Sydney Roosters on April 18.  "I've spoken to the Newcastle doctor and he has said that if the Knights had a game next weekend, Timana would be right to play," Gould said.
But Gould confirmed that Kennedy, Ryles and Cooper were all unavailable, while the selectors are also likely to check on the fitness of Melbourne five-eighth Scott Hill after he was forced from the field with concussion in yesterday's 36-16 win over Parramatta.  With Andrew Johns, Trent Barrett, Luke Bailey and Steve Simpson also sidelined by injury, NSW are set to pick a new-look side for the series opener at Telstra Stadium that may feature as many as five debutants.

Tahu wary of Hagan's influence
Newcastle Knights player Timana Tahu says he expects the weaknesses of himself and team-mates Matt Gidley and Danny Buderus will be exploited by Queensland in next week's second State of Origin clash in Brisbane. Tahu, who has been side-lined for six weeks because of injury and personal leave, said he was well aware that the Maroons would benefit from having Knights coach Michael Hagan guiding them and imparting valuable knowledge about the Newcastle trio. "Him (Hagan) being the head coach, I think he'll slip out a couple of weaknesses from me, Bedsey (Buderus) and Matt Gidley so it is going to be strange," Tahu said.  "He knows our weaknesses and strengths, so we've got to be on top of our game and make sure we don't make those mistakes."
Tahu said he was surprised to be included in the Blues squad for the second State of Origin clash, as he was not expecting a line-up change after their one-point win over the Maroons two weeks ago in Sydney.  He said he was glad to have returned from injury in time for the crucial match.  "With the Blues winning in the first Origin, I thought they'd want to keep the same team but a few players got injured and it was just probably the right time for me to come back from my hamstring injury," Tahu said.  "I feel pretty lucky, but I'm really excited and can't wait until next Wednesday."

Tahu ready to stake claim for Origin call - 05/06/2004, Newcastle Herald
RETURNING Newcastle Knights centre Timana Tahu has not given up hope of playing in this year's State of Origin series but does not expect a call-up for game two in Brisbane on June 16. Tahu, who has not played since tearing a hamstring in the Anzac Test at EnergyAustralia Stadium on April 23, will make his comeback against Parramatta tonight at the same ground. Selectors will name their squad for Origin II on Monday and are expected to recall Anthony Minichiello and Mark Gasnier, who were sacked from game one for their roles in the Blues' infamous bonding-session fiasco. Penrith wingers Luke Lewis and Luke Rooney are expected to hold their positions, meaning Tahu may need some game time under his belt and some form on the board to stake a claim for the potential series decider in Sydney on July 7. ``I thought my Origin hopes might have been over because I've missed six weeks, but maybe I'm still a chance for the third game," Tahu said. ``The boys won the first game, and I haven't played much footy, so [NSW coach Phil] `Gus' [Gould] will probably stick with the same team. But if I can play OK in the next couple of games, I might be a chance for the third Origin, depending on how the boys go in the second one or if anyone gets injured." Tahu's future beyond this year remains in limbo. But the Knights hope to retain the 23-year-old try machine, and he is keen to stay in Newcastle. His manager, Darryl Mather, who also acts for halfback Kurt Gidley, will continue negotiations on behalf of both players with Knights football manager Mark Sargent next week. 
``Nothing's really been confirmed. It's all a bit of a guessing game at the moment," Tahu said. ``It would be good to get pen on paper, but I need to be playing and playing good football if I want any sort of a deal with the Knights or any NRL team." 
Tahu, who will play right-edge centre inside winger Anthony Quinn, expects the Eels to target his side of the field tonight. ``It's been about six or seven weeks since I've played a game, and with Parramatta coming off a big loss to Wests Tigers and everyone getting into them, it's going to be a tough game for us," he said. ``They'll probably test my fitness and maybe test me by kicking my way if I'm on the wing during the game. I haven't really trained for a week and a half, so my fitness is down a little bit, but I've prepared myself really well this week ." 
Injured Knights fullback David Seage is back in hospital after contracting a golden staph infection in his reconstructed left knee. Seage had his knee surgically manipulated last Friday as part of his rehabilitation, but it blew up like a balloon over the weekend, and he was readmitted on Tuesday under the care of a bacteriologist. Knights medical specialist Dr Neil Halpin said the staph strain was not a ``hospital infection", meaning it was responding to intravenous antibiotics. 

Tahu frustrated at speculation  -  10 June 2005
NSW winger Timana Tahu today expressed his frustration at the uncertainty over his future amid speculation he could be the next Newcastle player to leave the NRL club.  Tahu is off contract at the end of the season and his manager has twice asked the Knights for permission to test his value on the open market.  However, the club has knocked back his requests, leaving Tahu to play a waiting game until the June 30 anti-tampering deadline expires. The 23-year-old Test winger has been linked with Manly, which today announced the signing of his Newcastle teammate Ben Kennedy on a two-year contract, starting next season. "My manager has asked twice and the Knights said 'no just wait'," Tahu said. "I'd just like to see what offers I can get from other clubs, Sydney clubs. I really want to sort out my future really fast. I've got three kids and it's a nervous part of the year and a frustrating one too. I'd be happy to come down here (to Sydney) and play but I really want to stay in Newcastle. "I've been there ever since I was 14, I played my local footy there and I came up through the ranks and stuff but it's a decision I'll have to make when the Knights give me an offer." 
Newcastle, intent on re-signing injured captain Andrew Johns and emerging star Kurt Gidley, was unable to compete with the Sea Eagles offer. Knights coach Michael Hagan said he was sorry to lose his most experienced forward. "Ben Kennedy came to the Knights in 1999 and became an instant hit with fans, teammates, coaching staff and management alike," he said. "He has had a huge effect on the club in a period that has seen him gain state and national selection and win a premiership with the club." 

Kennedy's exit opens purse for Tahu -  11 June, 2004 
Newcastle will make an offer to NSW Origin winger Timana Tahu next week and plan to use some of the money freed up by Ben Kennedy's departure to discourage Tahu from negotiating with other clubs. With Manly yesterday confirming reports in Wednesday's Herald that Kennedy had agreed to a two-year deal with the newly privatised club, Tahu's future is the subject of speculation after the Sea Eagles indicated they would also be keen on him. Tahu and Kennedy's wives are friends and the 23-year-old international said at Blues training that he had twice been refused permission to talk to other clubs and would ask again after Origin II.  However, Tahu's agent Daryl Mather was last night unaware of any such request and said that he hoped a deal could be struck to enable Newcastle to retain him. "I've never, ever, ever asked for permission to negotiate on behalf of Timana Tahu. I don't know anything about it," Mather said. "He's happy there, there's certainly no dramas. We're waiting to start negotiations next week."
Knights chairman Michael Hill said the club had been focusing on negotiations with Kennedy, Andrew Johns and Kurt Gidley.
Now that Kennedy had announced his decision to leave, Newcastle were confident of re-signing Johns, Gidley and Tahu before the anti-tampering deadline of June 30.  "It was always going to be difficult to keep them all," Hill said. "But once this game is over we will get fair dinkum with him [Tahu] and I know that [football manager] Mark Sargent and Daryl Mather have had some discussions already."
Mather accepted that Johns and Gidley were greater priorities for the Knights but now that they are thought to be close to re-signing he was confident of resolving Tahu's future. "There's a pecking order like there is at every club and Joey Johns, Kurt Gidley and Ben Kennedy are at the top of that pecking order," Mather said.  "But I am commencing these negotiations with Mark Sargent in good faith and with great optimism given that Ben Kennedy's departure may have freed up some valuable dollars to allow Timana to stay."
Tahu told AAP: "I really want to sort out my future really fast. I've got three kids and it's a nervous part of the year and a frustrating one, too. "I'd be happy to come down here [to Sydney] and play but I really want to stay in Newcastle. I've been there ever since I was 14, I played my local footy there and I came up through the ranks and stuff, but it's a decision I'll have to make when the Knights give me an offer."

Tahu says show me the money -  18/06/2004,  Newcastle Herald
EXPLOSIVE NSW winger Timana Tahu is keen to keep playing for the Newcastle Knights, but only for the right deal. Tahu will back up against the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium tonight after his two-try haul in the Blues' spine-tingling 22-18 loss to Queensland in State of Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night. Fellow Blues Matt Gidley (quadriceps) and Danny Buderus (calf) are in doubt due to injuries they suffered or stirred up against the Maroons but Tahu, named at left centre, said he was a certain starter. After speculation linking him to Manly, Tahu told The Herald he was keen to settle his future as quickly as possible. His manager, Darryl Mather, will meet with Knights officials on Monday to begin negotiations on an upgraded three-year contract which Mather said should reflect the 23-year-old flyer's status as the ``number one winger in the world". 
It is the first genuine opportunity for the parties to meet because Tahu has been in Origin camp for the past two weeks and before that had been on compassionate leave to grieve the death of his father, Tom. ``If they don't want me, I'd like to get a release to go and speak to other clubs because I've got a family and three children to look after and I want to know what I'm doing or where I'm going," Tahu said. ``I want to stay loyal to the club and my mates, and if they come up with the right offer I'll definitely stay, but the last three-year deal I signed [in 2001] was for a lot less than I think I should be getting now. I started my career with the Knights and I'd be happy to stay with them, but they've got to come up with the right offer and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later." 
Having already lost Ben Kennedy to Manly, and probably Michael Ennis to another NRL club, Knights chief executive Ken Conway said the club were determined to keep Tahu and were just as keen to start negotiations in earnest. Tahu has been at the centre of a supposed tug of war between the Knights and arch rivals Manly since a comment he made in a radio interview last week about the friendship between his partner, Kasey, and Kennedy's wife Emma.  That sparked a blaze of controversy because Kennedy signed with the Sea Eagles two days later and media speculation suggested Tahu was poised to follow suit. By the end of last week, the Knights had lodged a formal complaint to the NRL alleging Manly could have broken the league's anti-tampering laws. The NRL began investigating Newcastle's protest but decided yesterday that there was insufficient evidence to issue the Sea Eagles with a breach notice. ``You make a joke on a radio station and everyone takes it seriously and blows it out of proportion and makes out that it's true," Tahu said. ``People were telling me there was a big blow-up between the two clubs. But it was all a big misunderstanding because I haven't spoken to anyone at Manly." 
Tahu, who has torn both his hamstrings this season, lines up tonight for only his seventh appearance for the Knights this year. But he is just five matches short of the 100-game milestone and is determined to stay injury-free for the rest of the year. Origin II was only his second game since tearing his left hamstring in the Anzac Test on April 23 but he ``pulled up good" after Wednesday night. ``That was something I was worried about, getting injured, but I've been looking after myself lately." 

Manly sights on Tahu -  23 June, 2004
Fresh from securing Brent Kite to a four-year deal yesterday, Manly will continue their most audacious raid into the player market for more than a decade by pursuing Newcastle winger Timana Tahu. In a frenetic day, fuelled by speculation Andrew Johns had agreed to play rugby union, St George Illawarra agreed to release Kite and goal-kicking hooker Mark Riddell, who has signed for three years with Parramatta. Newcastle are desperate to retain Tahu, having already lost Ben Kennedy to the Sea Eagles for next season but face another potential rival in the Australian Rugby Union. Tahu's agent Darryl Mather said yesterday he had started negotiations with the Knights but said he was obliged to look at Tahu's options. "We have spoken to Newcastle and while I would like to see him stay we will look at what's out there, which includes the ARU," Mather said. "I have scheduled talks with Eddie Jones next week and and can confirm Timana has a genuine interest in rugby. His late father was a big rugby fan and that influence has remained with Timana." 
Having gained Kennedy and Kite, said to be receiving $1.4m over four years, the Sea Eagles openly admit they have room under the salary cap to make one more major signing, with an outside back a priority. It follows the club's privatisation last month with property developer Max Delmege becoming majority shareholder. "This club is in a position to compete in the marketplace for the first time in some years and we won't shy from the fact we wish to make one more major signing," chief executive Paul Cummings said. Newcastle have denied Tahu permission to speak to rival clubs before June 30. 
Manly were last week cleared of breaching the NRL's anti-tampering guidelines over Tahu but will formally approach the NSW Origin winger immediately after that deadline. 

Wives hold the casting votes as Price and Tahu decide on their futures
By Brad Walter, James Gardiner and Alex Brown -  July 5, 2004
Dumped NSW Origin winger Timana Tahu has given the best indication yet that he intends to leave Newcastle at the end of the season by revealing that he and partner Kasey were planning to go house hunting in Sydney today.  Tahu, who was a controversial omission from the Blues side for Wednesday night's series decider at Telstra Stadium, met Manly and Parramatta officials last week and will look at real estate in each area in coming to a decision. The 23-year-old international and father of three is negotiating a four-year deal with both clubs and has set tomorrow as a deadline to settle his future. "At the moment it is not looking good with the Knights," Tahu said after yesterday's 34-26 loss to Cronulla, which he missed with an ankle injury. "The hardest thing is that clubs struggle with the salary cap. I want to stay in Newcastle and extend my football career here. All my mates are here and I grew up in Newcastle. [But] my family comes first. If my wife likes it in Sydney, which she does, we will move down there. I've got training early in the morning and I'll probably go down to Sydney after that and have a look around some suburbs. I've got to see if my girl feels comfortable living around Manly or Parramatta. We will have a look at some real estate and go from there."
The Sea Eagles are hoping that the signing of Knights forward Ben Kennedy and Tahu's relationship with coach Des Hasler from his two years as an assistant to Phil Gould at the Blues will work in their favour. But Tahu said he had also played under Eels coach Brian Smith when he had charge of Country Origin and was friends with hooker John Morris from his days at Newcastle.

Tahu could be on way out of Newcastle -  4 July 2004
Test winger Timana Tahu admitted today he was leaning towards leaving Newcastle at the end of the NRL season. Tahu, one of the hottest players on the open market, has received offers from several clubs including Parramatta and Manly. He also has an offer on the table from the Knights but is understood to be ready to follow teammate Ben Kennedy out of the club next season. Kennedy will play with Manly in 2005. "It's up to the Knights if they want to keep me or not," Tahu told ABC Radio. "I think it's turning towards me leaving the Knights at the moment. I want to know by the end of the week. If I do have to go I have got no problem." 
Tahu's decision is likely to have implications for several other players on the market. If he elects to join Manly, the Sea Eagles are likely to drop off Canberra's Joel Monaghan, who is considering leaving the nation's capital. If Tahu stays in Newcastle, Manly will up the ante in their quest to sign Monaghan, who has also been linked with the Sydney Roosters. 

Tahu says family comes first -  28 June 2004
Timana Tahu said he would make a decision on whether to re-sign with Newcastle based around his family rather than the retention the world's best halfback Andrew Johns. The Knights have tabled a three-year offer to Tahu, who will discuss the matter tomorrow with his manager Daryl Mather. Salary cap restrictions have already forced Newcastle to release Ben Kennedy and the club can ill-afford to lose Test winger Tahu, who comes off contract at the end of this season. Johns formally re-signed with the Knights today at EnergyAustralia Stadium in front of 18,000 Novocastrians after ending speculation on Friday that he would switch codes and play rugby for the NSW Waratahs. "It's not really about me staying because Joey's staying here," said Tahu, who scored two tries in his side's 56-12 victory over Manly today.  "There's a lot of good young players in this team. Joey's not going to make my decision because he's staying here. I'm going to make it because I've got three kids to look after and they're my main priority."
Tahu said if the Knights came to him with a reasonable offer, he would re-sign with the club. "I really want to stay with the Knights," he noted. "All my mates and my family are here (in Newcastle). It's going to be a hard decision probably this week - one of the toughest's decisions that I've had to make. But at the end of the day I have to think about my three kids."
The most pressing problem for Tahu is an ankle injury which may rule him out of the NSW side for the deciding Origin game in Sydney on July 7.  The 23-year-old will undergo scans tomorrow on his ankle. 

Tahu Accepts Eels Offer - 9 July, 2004 - Newcastle Knights
The Knights today were informed that international winger Timana Tahu had accepted an offer to play for the Parramatta Eels. Speaking today, Knights CEO Ken Conway said “The Club was disappointed to lose a player of Tahu’s calibre. “The Knights pride themselves on their ability to develop junior players into international stars and Timana Tahu was a perfect example of our success in that area” he said. “Timana came to the Knights from a local high school and won a grand final with the club and earning a NSW and Kangaroo Jersey along the way. While we have grown used to losing our junior’s to wealthier clubs, it doesn’t lessen the disappointment”. 
“I know that Michael Hagan is especially disappointed, particularly as we have already lost fellow international Ben Kennedy to Manly.  None the less, we are very confident that we will continue to produce champions at this football club and I know that we will be a premiership force in 2005. Next year we will have NSW Captain, Danny Buderus, and 2003 Kangaroo Skipper, Andrew Johns, leading a very talented side including at least four other State or Origin representatives. I don’t think that any club could ask for more than that.”

Tahu out for season -  23 July, 2004
NEWCASTLE have lost a second international player within a week following a season-ending injury to winger Timana Tahu. News that Tahu needs surgery on his injured ankle came just three days after 2003 Kangaroo tourist Steve Simpson broke his jaw against the Broncos last Sunday and will be out for at least eight weeks - effectively ending his 2004 campaign. Simpson made a comeback against Brisbane after 12 weeks out with a foot injury.  With seven matches left, starting with the North Queensland Cowboys in Newcastle on Sunday, the Knights are sitting in 10th spot, one win outside the eight. "It's a real battle for a place between three or four teams all trying, like us, to gain momentum and string a couple of wins together," Newcastle coach Michael Hagan said. "In the case of Timana and Steve Simpson it's now like having one hand behind our backs. But it's just a matter of trying to be as healthy as we can be from now until the end."