Timana Tahu

Who is Timana Tahu?

Timana James Aporo Tahu is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer and rugby union player. He played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. Prior to that he played rugby league for the Newcastle Knights, the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers before returning to the Knights, as well as playing for New South Wales in the State of Origin and for the Kangaroos, the Australian National Team.

Tahu 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 20 March 2007, Tahu announced he would be switching codes to join the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby from the 2008 season. Tahu's contract with Parramatta ended at the end of the 2007 NRL season after three seasons in the Eels. The contract with the Waratahs was expected to be a four-year deal.

On 12 June 2010 Tahu walked out of the New South Wales State of Origin camp because of an alleged racial slur made by assistant coach Andrew Johns. It is believed Johns made the racial slur at a team bonding session.