Tahu leads Yowies to emotional win

Newcastle Knights centre Timana Tahu coached and captained the Newcastle Yowies to a 26-20 win over defending champions the Mindaribba Warriors in the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout at Raymond Terrace last weekend.

Still on a high after Monday’s result Tahu told newcastleknights.com.au that winning the Knockout in a team full of his family and friends, sat alongside winning the 2001 premiership with the Knights.

“I started playing with the Yowies when I was 16 and we got in to the Grand final then but lost,” Tahu said.

“I have waited 15 years for this opportunity to come around again.

“I have played for my country in both codes, and NSW and won a Grand Final with Newcastle but this was one box I had not ticked.”

Tahu says that it was an incredible feeling to go out there and play in front of his family and friends.

“You have your grandparents and parents on the sidelines and kids cheering you on,” he explained.

“It was a bit emotional, a lot of people were crying.

“I told my teammates to enjoy their football and the moment because they don’t come around very often.”

Adding to the emotion on the day was having his late father’s name on the sleeve of the team’s jersey.

“There were a lot of old players there supporting us,” he said.

“Brett Grogan who used to play for the Knights and the Yowies was there and his old man and my old man were on the sleeves.

“They both passed away a while ago so it meant a lot.

“He gave us an emotional speech before we ran out.

"There were a few fellows who had passed away so we were playing for them as well.

“A lot of the boys got a buzz out of that.”

The win gives the Yowies the right to host the Knockout competition next year and Tahu says he hopes the people of Newcastle will come out and support this fantastic event.

“It is a great three days, you get to watch a lot of footy,” the 32-year-old said.

“There are four or five teams from Newcastle in the competition and we try and pride ourselves in keeping a lot of locals in our side.

“It is probably the biggest Indigenous gathering in the world and it is good to be a part of it.”