KNIGHTS winger James McManus says he would rather have Timana Tahu as an ally than an enemy and has laughed off a high-profile clash with the former Test star two years ago.
Tahu’s last game at Turton Road was for Parramatta in 2010 when, playing for the first time after the racist-comments scandal involving Andrew Johns, he produced two high tackles in the opening minutes that warranted a four-week suspension.
The first of those hits was a swinging arm that collected McManus in the side of the head and knocked him senseless, sparking a melee.
But McManus said yesterday that there were no hard feelings between the pair, who are expected to line up beside each other on Newcastle’s left edge for the season opener against the Dragons at Hunter Stadium.
‘‘I get along really well with Timana, even after he knocked me out in that game against Parramatta,’’ McManus said yesterday with a smirk. ‘‘The boys get into him about that. It was a late, swinging arm, and he’s got a rock-hard forearm, Timana.
‘‘I always tell him to pad it up before we do contact.
‘‘But I’ve got on well with Timana since before he left the club [in 2003] to join Parramatta, when I was a young fella. I’ve known him for a long time now and it’s good to have him back here and be playing alongside him.’’
McManus said Tahu had not needed to apologise when they renewed acquaintances in November for pre-season training.
‘‘No, no, it’s all good,’’ he laughed.
The 26-year-old, who switched permanently from right wing to the opposite flank last season, said he and Tahu had been developing a combination since early January.
‘‘It’s going to be exciting for me playing outside him,’’ McManus said. ‘‘He’s a great player and I know he’s set some goals for himself this year and if I can be part of that this year, great.’’
It took just four minutes for their partnership to deliver dividends in the trial games, when Tahu threw a pass for McManus to score the opener in the 18-all draw with Penrith at Port Macquarie.
McManus crossed again after a long break against Cronulla before Tahu powered over for a last-minute match winner in Muswellbrook last weekend.
‘‘I don’t think I’ve felt this good before at this time of year, in the trials,’’ McManus said. ‘‘Usually it takes me a few weeks to build up timing and match fitness but this year the lungs have felt sweet straight off the bat, which is a bit different.’’
Restricted by injuries to 12 games in 2009 and seven in 2010, McManus played in 23 of Newcastle’s fixtures, posting 10 tries, last year.
He said new high-performance manager Jeremy Hickmans had ‘‘taken our bodies to a new level’’ in laying the physical foundations for the season ahead.
‘‘It’s definitely been my toughest pre-season,’’ McManus said. ‘‘I enjoyed myself in the off-season more than I normally do. I got married and then had a honeymoon and probably enjoyed myself too much when it came to the start of the pre-season.
‘‘I’ve done a few pre-seasons and this has certainly been the hardest. We’re all in great nick and we’re looking forward to a great year.’’
Email a friend