Tahu comes home to Parramatta
* By Josh Massoud
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* August 08, 2009 12:01AM
AT 2:42pm yesterday, prodigal Eel Timana Tahu returned to Parramatta and declared himself a better player than the one who walked out on a cross-code crusade at the end of 2007.
Two years in rugby delivered mixed results for Tahu, who finished up out of favour at the Wallabies and playing club football before a handful of diehards on Saturday afternoons. But in his first interview back in blue and gold, the 28-year-old refused to be critical of the ARU.
Although upset at his limited chances at the top-level, Tahu credited the 15-man code for returning him in career-best shape.
"As far as rugby goes, probably my skill level has picked up,'' Tahu said before officially signing his new three-year deal. "I've learned to pass the ball both ways, to kick, and have played a lot more different positions. That's expanded my game. I feel I've come back a better player.''
That's a bold statement given Tahu's memorable NRL swan song - a starring hand in Parramatta's 26-10 loss to Melbourne in the second 2007 preliminary final. A result that has left Tahu pondering unfinished business ever since.
"I was filthy about that game, because I didn't know if I'd get another chance,'' he said. "I wanted to go out on a good note. We could have gone a step further and made the grand final.''
But for 11th-hour interest from close friend and new Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne, Tahu would most likely have finished his career in Japanese rugby. He said the lure of reuniting with teammates and officials at Parramatta "made sense''.
"I've been watching Parramatta for the last two years - they are the only team I've really watched because I made a lot of friends here and kept in touch,'' Tahu said. "`I didn't even watch the State of Origin this year, but I have kept an eye on the Eels.
"Nothing has really changed except the coach (Michael Hagan) - and that made it easier for me. For me coming to Parramatta was not like coming to a new club, it was like coming home.''
The Maori-Aboriginal speedster also revealed his initial motivation to play rugby was inspired by a conversation with his father shortly before Tom Tahu died in 2004. "We talked about me becoming a dual international with the All Blacks,'' he said.
"That wasn't possible, but I did manage to do the next best thing and represent the Wallabies. People might say my time in rugby wasn't that successful, but I feel it was. I'm a dual international and no one can take that away from me.''
It's well known Tahu has taken a sizeable pay-cut from his $400,000 ARU salary to return, but he said money ran second to playing "competitive, high-level football''.
"I wanted to play competitive football and play it at the highest level regularly. That wasn't really an option at (Sydney club rugby team) West Harbour. I don't want to be an old duck running on to the field for a pay cheque each week. A lot of players look for that last big payday but I want to finish at the best possible level and that's why I've come back to Parramatta.''
