Tahu: We can get better

Despite moving into the top eight with a comfortable 20-point win over the Penrith Panthers on Monday night, Hunter Ports Newcastle Knights centre Timana Tahu believes there is still plenty of improvement left in the Knights.

Tahu said the sombre mood following a lack-lustre second-half performance, combined with injuries to Kurt Gidley and Danny Buderus, meant he felt like he was in the losing dressing room following Monday’s 34-14 victory.

“It felt like we got flogged instead of the Panthers getting flogged,” Tahu said.

“We’re probably a team that expects more from each other and we’re competitive.

“It was a probably a good thing we did feel like that, even though it was a big score line because we know we’ve got a lot of improvement in us.”

The Knights’ tally of six tries was their highest of the season thus far, indicating their attacking combinations are starting to gel.

However, ball security still proved to be an issue late in the game and Tahu said that is something Newcastle would be looking to address before Sunday’s clash with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

“Wayne talked about starting the game well early, and we did that to a certain point,” Tahu explained.

“Everyone knew the last 30 minutes or so wasn’t good for us. There was a lot of drop ball, but Wayne said to look at the positives.

“It was a good score and a good win, but we don’t want to dwell on it and we’ll fix it up and talk about it during the week.

“One of the best things we got out of it is that when we made errors, we defended it well and that’s something we can take into this week.”

With injury concerns to captain Kurt Gidley and back-up skipper Danny Buderus, Tahu said it was important the Knights’ squad band together to make up for the absence of two leaders.

“We just need to weather the storm a little bit and stay confident,” he said.

“It is a team sport and I think that everyone just needs to pick themselves up a little bit more.”

Tahu also backed young half Tyrone Roberts to step into Gidley’s shoes with aplomb.

“He’s played that position the last couple of years and filled that position well,” Tahu said.

“He’s a good young kid and he’s been helping Jarrod Mullen in the halves the those last couple of games and he’ll fit into the side really quickly.”