Tahu, who recently agreed to terms on a new deal with Parramatta reportedly worth $300,000 for next year, is understood to have parted company with the Eels after being absent from training and other club commitments for the past two weeks.

The 30-year-old former NSW and Australian rugby league and rugby union representative’s career remains in limbo amid reports he is trying to resolve personal issues, and it has been reported his wife Kasey and three children are living in Newcastle to be closer to her family.

Knights chief executive Steve Burraston, who coached Tahu in Newcastle’s lower-grade teams earlier in his career, offered to help the 2001 premiership-winner ‘‘in any way we can’’.

‘‘Some time ago I left a couple of messages for him and he hasn’t returned those calls. That was out of concern to make sure he was OK, so I haven’t spoken to him for a while,’’ Burraston said.

‘‘We certainly value him. He’s one of our juniors and spent a lot of time at the club but right at this time, as far as we’re concerned, he’s still contracted to Parramatta and we probably wouldn’t have any room for him anyhow.

‘‘I would be happy to help him in any way we can. I consider him a friend . . . so if ‘T’ needs some help, I’m happy to help him personally and offer the club’s support to him as well.’’

Newcastle coach Rick Stone said the Knights spoke to Tahu’s manager, Warwick Wright, earlier this year but made a decision to pursue other options.

Stone said the Knights had little room left under their salary cap and, with the likes of Adam MacDougall, Junior Sa’u, Aku Uate, James McManus, Wes Naiqama, Keith Lulia and Junior Kiwis international Siuatonga Likiliki already on their books, were in the market for a front-row forward rather than another outside back.

‘‘We contacted Timana’s manager a few months ago but we didn’t get too much out of that and from there we moved on and made other decisions,’’ Stone said.

‘‘Signing Adam MacDougall was obviously one late in the year, and there were a few other decisions a little bit earlier like signing Likiliki.

‘‘If anything, we’re on the lookout for a possible forward – preferably a front-rower – and that’s probably the only space we have at the moment.’’