Timana Tahu
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| Timana Tahu | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Timana James Aporo Tahu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1980 [1] | ||
| Place of birth |  Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[2] |
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| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | ||
| Nickname | Tim Tam | ||
| School | Cardiff High School | ||
| Rugby league career | |||
| Position | Centre / Wing | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Central Charlestown[2] | |||
| Professional clubs | Caps | (points) | |
| 1999–2004 2005–2007 |
Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels |
97[2] 46[2] |
(332)[3] (80)[3] |
| City vs Country Origin | |||
| 2001–2003 | Country Origin | 3[1] | (12) |
| State of Origin | |||
| 2002–2006 | New South Wales | 11[4] | (32)[4] |
| National teams | |||
| 2002–2006 | Australia | 5[2] | (20) |
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Super Rugby | Caps | (points) | |
| 2008 – present | NSW Waratahs | 7 | (0) |
Timana James Aporo Tahu (born 16 October 1980) is an Australian rugby union footballer who plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition. He formerly played rugby league for the Newcastle Knights and the Parramatta Eels, as well as playing for New South Wales in the State of Origin and for the Kangaroos, the Australian National Team.
Tahu was born in Melbourne of a New Zealand Maori father and Aboriginal/Australian mother. He grew up in St Kilda before moving with his mother to Bourke in western New South Wales at the age of 12. From there he went on to live in towns including Wilcannia, Grafton and Byron Bay.[5] He made his NRL debut for the Newcastle Knights in 1999. There he enjoyed a career as one of the most prolific tryscorers in the NRL. He joined the Eels in 2005, making a move from the wing to the centres.
On March 20 2007 Tahu announced he would be switching codes to join the New South Wales Waratahs of the Super 14 from the 2008 season. Tahu's contract with Parramatta ended at the end of the 2007 NRL season after three seasons in the Eels talented backline. He left the NRL as a record-braking tryscorer, State of Origin and Test representative and was widely excepted as one of the competitions most naturally talented and dangerous players. The contract with the Waratahs is expected to be a four year deal.[6]
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[edit] Rugby League career
[edit] Newcastle Knights
Tahu debuted for the Knights in 1999 at the tender age of 18, playing on the wing. He only played 3 games that season, but managed to score a try in his second game. The very next season became a huge success for the young winger, as he became the top tryscorer for the club that season, scoring 20 tries. In 2001, he continued this success, again becoming the club's top tryscorer for the season scoring 18 tries. He played in his first representative game playing for Country Origin in their 42–10 thrashing of City Origin, playing in the centres. He participated in the side that won the 2001 Grand Final over the Parramatta Eels 30–24, scoring the winning try.
2002 saw continued success for the young winger. He scored 21 tries in 21 games to become the club's top try scorer for the season for the third consecutive year. He scored his first ever hat-trick in his side's Round 8 win over the Melbourne Storm. For his consistent efforts for his club and his prolific try scoring abilities, he earned a place on the wing for the Country Origin side, scoring two tries in their loss to City. This impressive display earned him a place in the NSW side to compete in the State of Origin series. He played in all three matches, managing to score a try in the second game (the series went on to become a tie as a result of the 18–18 scorline of the decider). He followed up this success with two caps for the Australian Kangaroos National side later in the year, scoring a try in each match.
The 2003 season saw Tahu continue his success as a prolific tryscorer and arguably the best winger in the world. However, his season was shortened significantly due to recurring injuries. Despite this, he still managed to score 14 tries in the 14 games that he did play. During this season he surpassed teammate Robbie O'Davis' record as the all-time Knights top tryscorer (having played half as many games as the former record holder). He scored a hat-trick in Round 19 in his side's loss to the Penrith Panthers (he was the only player from the Knights to score any tries in the game). He followed this up with another hat-trick in Round 25. He also represented Country Origin (scoring a try in the match) and also NSW again in the State of Origin series , playing in all three matches and scoring 3 tries. Injury kept him from representing the national side again in the post-season.
2004 became an unhappy season for the Knights winger. Injury prevented him from playing all but 8 games throughout the season. He did however, manage to score 8 tries in these few games, including a double in Round 16. He represented Australia in the Anzac Test match in which the Kangaroos won 37-10, with Tahu scoring a try. He was also selected in the second State of Orign match in which he scored two tries. However, the NSW side eventually went on to lose the match.
Tahu left the Newcastle Knights as their all-time highest tryscorer, having scored 82 tries in the 97 games that he had played for them (still only at the age of 23). This outstanding record still stands today.
[edit] Parramatta Eels
In 2004, Tahu announced that he had signed a 3 year contract to join the Eels. The contract was worth $400,000 a season which made him one of the highest profile transfers for that year.
The 2005 season saw Tahu join the Eels backline in his new position of centre. After initially struggling in this unfamiliar role, he went on to score 10 tries for the season, including a hat-tirck in his side's 56-4 win over the Bulldogs. For his efforts he was awarded with the joint Eels Player of the Year Award along with captain Nathan Cayless. Injury again shortened his season and he was restricted to only playing 16 games. He did however, make yet another appearance for the NSW side in the final match, scoring yet another try. Also, the Eels went on the become the Minor Premiers and the favourites to win the premiership. However, they unfortunately went down to the North Queensland Cowboys in their Preliminary Final match. Tahu was selected in the post-season test match squad but was restricted by injury to playing in only one game.
Tahu was once again injured early on in the 2006 season and missed a few rounds. But he returned strongly by scoring a double in his Round 5 match against the Penrith Panthers. Two weeks later he scored another try against the Wests Tigers and he appeared to be playing at his very best. He participated in the Anzac Test for Australia scoring a double in their 50-12 win over New Zealand. However, yet again he was in and out of injury and failed to score any further tries for the season despite still playing some good football. He represented NSW for all 3 of the State of Origin matches and was the only NSW player to score a try in their 30-6 loss in the second game. His season was ended prematurely when he injured his knee in the third match for his state.
Tahu started the 2007 season slowly. Despite scoring a try in Round 2, he suffered yet another leg injury mid-season that kept him out of 9 games. After announcing that he would make a switch to Rugby Union to join the NSW Waratahs, Tahu was snubbed from any representative sides that year. He made an impressive return from injury scoring a try in his first game back in Round 18 against the Rabbitohs. He continued from this by scoring a further 5 tries for the season, including a double in the Eels record 68-22 win over the Brisbane Broncos in Round 25 in which Tahu scored his 100th career try. He was at this stage considered to be in career best form (a big statement considering just how prosperous his career has been). By the end of the season, he was considered to be the best and definitely the most dangerous three-quarter in the competition.
This late return to his best form allowed him to leave the code as arguably one of the most talented and dangerous centres in the competition. This also showed that he would continue to be a strong force in the Super 14.
[edit] Rugby Union career
In 2007, Tahu shocked the NRL when he announced that he had decided to make a move to rugby union. His contract with the Eels was set to expire at the end of the year, thus the NSW Waratahs attempted to sign him. He signed to a four-year contract worth $500,000 a year, which also included support from the Australian Rugby Union. Wallaby Lote Tuqiri says he remembers Tahu from their encounters in State of Origin, and believes that he has got what it takes to become a Wallaby even in his first year in the new code.
On the 19th of December 2007, Tahu agreed to a four-year contract with Shute Shield club, West Harbour. He joins fellow League-turn-Union convert Lote Tuqiri at the club, who is reported to be helping Tahu a great deal with his switch to Rugby Union. Although he may get little chance to play for West Harbour due to Waratahs and possibly even Wallabies duties, his signing to the small club is said to bring good things. Having high-profile players moving out to the smaller clubs will undoubtably bring more attention to these clubs and possibly assist in a better spread of the talent throughout the region.
On Australia Day (26th of January) 2008, Tahu played his first game of rugby union. The game was a trial match between the NSW Waratahs and the Queensland Reds, which the Waratahs won 26-10. Tahu starred by scoring a try from only his second touch of the ball.
Tahu made his debut performance in the Super 14 competition in the Waratahs clash with the Hurricanes on the 16th of February 2008. Tahu impressed by setting up two tries for youngster Lachlan Turner. The Waratahs went on to win 20-3.
Tahu suffered yet another hamstring injury during 2008. He was ruled out of the Waratahs clash with the Crusaders, but the injury was later declared a 6-week recovery period. This was dissapointing as he had only got to play 3 games (out of positon) so far in the season.
Tahu made his long-awaited return from injury in the Waratahs Round 13 match against the Stormers, coming off the bench. The match was drawn 13-all. He finally got the chance to play at outside centre, a position he has declared that he wants to cement himself into. He had been declared available two weeks prior to returning, missing the first week due to coach Ewan McKenzie not wishing to rush him back uneccessarily, and failed to make the side at all in the following game. As a result of this, and having missed so many games due to his hamstring injury, Tahu believes that he has very minimal chances of making the Wallabies side this year. He will be focusing on winning the Super 14 for the Waratahs and will look to possibly represent Australia in years to come.
Tahu helped the Waratahs win their Round 14 match against the Reds, again coming off the bench. This win cemented the Waratahs in second place on the ladder, and qualified them for a home semi-final aginst the Sharks. They went on to beat the Sharks 28-13. Tahu came off the bench in this game and showed some of his dangerous skills, making a line break and setting up a would-be try if it were not for Rocky Elsom knocking on. This win sent the team to the Super 14 Grand Final against the Crusaders.
The Super 14 Grand Final saw Tahu once again come off the bench for the Waratahs. Unfortunately, they were unable to win the match going down to the Crusaders 20-12. This is only the team's second time that they have made it to the final, going down to the Crusaders 35-25 in the 2005 decider.
[edit] Playing Attributes
Tahu's early days with the Newcastle Knights saw him as one of most prolific tryscorers that the NRL had seen in recent times. He played on the wing displaying blistering pace and blinding acceleration, as well as raw athleticism to leap high into the air to score off kicks. He combined this with a strong partnership with his centre, Matthew Gidley. Together they proved a dangerous duo which they also displayed in State of Origin matches. Their success was brought about by Gidley's ability to draw in the opposition winger and then throw beautiful back-hand flick passes to Tahu who would then use his speed to sprint and score try after try.
Tahu's move to the Parramatta Eels and to the position of centre brought about a slight change in his playing style. He reverted to a style of play based more around side-stepping and a lot of physical strength, as well as being a dangerous offloader of the ball. He formed a trademark hopping-stuttering stepping action which he would use to get outside his man before offloading to his winger or running into a gap. This made him extremely dangerous to stop in one-on-one situations.
In his final year in the NRL, Tahu made a habit of constantly performing big hits on opposition players. This served to add a dangerous element to his defensive play which complemented his already very dangerous attacking play.
[edit] Injuries
Tahu has suffered from a career plagued by hamstring and knee injuries. They caused him to miss nearly half of his games in the NRL from the 2003 season onwards. As a result of this he also missed the opportunity to participate in many State of Origin and Test Matches.
Tahu recently admitted in an interview while recovering from a hamstring injury sustained from playing for the Waratahs in the Super 14 competition, that he has held back from running at 100% of his speed in fear of doing further damage to his hamstrings. He stated that this has been the case since he was the age of 20 or 21. He also stated that while usually being able to get by in Rugby League on 90% capacity, Rugby Union required 100% potential right throughout a game. As a result he is currently having his running technique assessed, so as to work on redeveloping it so that he comes to use his gluteal muscles area in an effort to remove some of the strain from his hamstrings. Hopefully this will allow him to return to 100% of his potential and end his very long run of injuries.
This new information about Tahu having to restrain himself from running at his full speed definitely asks questions of just how prolific and successful his career could have been had it not been for all of these hamstring injuries. He has already enjoyed to date a career in the NRL as one of its most talented and successful players. Hopefully if this hamstring problem is corrected he will be able to enjoy an even more prosperous career in the Super 14.
[edit] Controversy
In round 21 of the 2007 NRL season, Bulldogs forward Brad Morrin bit Tahu, leaving a mark on his arm. Morrin was subsequently suspended for eight matches.
In Tahu's final game in the NRL, he was put on report for a head slam on Melbourne Storm player Israel Falou. He received a two-match suspension, and although his Rugby League was over, this suspension still carries across into Rugby Union. Instead of missing highly-important Super 14 matches, Waratahs Coach Ewan McKenzie attempted to look for alternatives where Tahu could serve his suspension. Getting him to play in Australian Rugby Championship side Western Sydney Rams served as a viable option. However Tahu's Rugby Union contract didn't commence until November 1, and with the ARC due to be finished by then, the Waratahs asked for an early release. However Parramatta demanded money in return which the Waratahs weren't willing to play. Parramatta argued that regardless of this, Tahu needed some time to rest after a long NRL season.
Other options included nominating him to play in the Rugby Sevens World Series or even finding an overseas club were other possible options. After his two-match ban he could then play the remander of this series giving him some game time. This would have also served to introduce Tahu to the new code and get him used to the different type of game.
[edit] Private life
Tahu and his partner Kasey have three children. They met while young; their oldest child, Leketa, was born when he was 20.
[edit] Achievements
- International: Played five tests 2002-2006
- State of Origin: Played 11 games for NSW 2002-2006
- Most tries in a season for Newcastle Knights for 3 consecutive years, scoring 20 tries in 26 games (2000), 18 in 25 games (2001), 21 in 21 games (2002)
- Broke the record for most tries for the Newcastle Knights with 82 tries in 97 games
- Was awarded with the joint Eels Player of the Year Award (2005).
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Player profile of Timana Tahu. Parramatta Eels. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ a b c d e Player profile of Timana Tahu. National Rugby League. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ a b Paul Jeffs. Timana Tahu's NRL First Grade Points Listing. stats.rleague.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ a b Jeffs, Paul. New South Wales State of Origin Points Listing. stats.rleague.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Tahu comes in from the cold and turns out for the Blues.
- ^ Timana prepares to be 'bored'
[edit] External links
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tahu, Timana James Aporo |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian rugby union and rugby league player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 16 October 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
