Timana Tahu returns to NRL Knights in 2012 - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Timana Tahu returns to NRL Knights in 2012

By David Beniuk 19/05/2011 07:43:55 PM Comments (0)

Dual international Timana Tahu's fiery return to Newcastle last year will be water under the bridge when he takes his career full circle and heads back to the NRL club in 2012.

Tahu will complete a tumultuous journey home when he rejoins the Knights for two years from next season under incoming master coach Wayne Bennett.

After leaving Newcastle at the end of 2004, the 30-year-old has had two stints at Parramatta, one in rugby union and is sidelined at Penrith for the rest of this season with a torn pectoral muscle.

His return to Newcastle last year, after a break following his NSW State of Origin walkout, resulted in a four-week ban for a blatant high tackle on winger James McManus.

Plenty was also made of him coming up against then Blues skipper Kurt Gidley in the wake of the Origin controversy over a racial slur by NSW and Newcastle great Andrew Johns.

"I know Kurt hasn't got a problem with him at all," Gidley's brother Matt, a former Knight and the club's business development manager, told AAP on Thursday.

"They speak regularly and Kurt was outspoken when Timana's name was bandied about coming back for this year.

"He was certainly advocating that.

"From Kurt's point of view, there's absolutely no issue there whatever."

Tahu had reportedly been desperate to re-link with his family in Newcastle.

Matt Gidley, a close friend of Tahu's, said the combination of a settled family life and Bennett's ability to get the best out of his players would ensure the move was a success.

"Wayne's certainly got a reputation for that and, if he's settled off the field with his family life, I think he can pretty much guarantee Wayne will get the most out of him on the field," Gidley said.

As rumours continued to circulate that favourite son Danny Buderus was also on his way home from Super League, Gidley admitted Tahu was hopeful of a return to the glory days of the 2001 premiership.

"He's obviously got some fond memories of his time up here," Gidley said.

"I think he feels that arguably he had his most successful time on the footy field up here as well."

The Knights are in the midst of a shake-up, with Bennett coming on board and several players being told they can look elsewhere.

St George Illawarra fullback Darius Boyd is tipped to join Tahu and Kade Snowden at multimillionaire Nathan Tinkler's newly-privatised club.

Meanwhile, suspended Sydney Roosters hooker Anthony Watts has spoken about his impending court case over an alleged assault of his partner Shannon Kiss.

"Fingers crossed that will be fine and I'll try and get my NRL career back on track," he told Network Ten.

Asked if his three-year contract with the Roosters was at risk, he said: "It's not for me to decide".

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