Yuin Monaro, featuring players from Group 16’s premiers the Moruya Sharks, tackled the Yowies, who featured former NRL star and Newcastle fan-favourite Timana Taha and other NRL players such as Tyrone Roberts and Travis Waddell.

Tahu scored 121 tries in 196 first grade matches, played State of Origin for NSW 12 times and wore the green and gold of Australia on five occasions.

Despite being 34 he was in the thick of the action on Saturday afternoon and was one of his side's best as the Newcastle Yowies side opened their 2015 campaign with a 24-6 win against Yuin Monaro United.

"I've been playing knockout since I was 16 and this is probably where I got my aggression and my ability from and the knockout keeps you honest and it brings you back down to earth as well," he said after the win.

"A lot of outback teams have the kids and uncles come out and play and put a couple of shots on the big star players and it takes us back."

Former NRL referee Jason Clark was the man in the middle in it took him just three minutes to call a try when Yowies winger Kiah Cooper scored out wide.

Yuin did not take a step back and it was soon 6-all after centre Joel Deaves' try was converted.

There was a number of bruising hits in the match, but four minutes from the break the Yowies got back in front when Cooper scored his second and it remained 10-6 at the break.

Yuin continually kept trying to get back into the match but they copped a big blow mid-way through the second half when Yowies youngster Nangarra Barker scored following a brilliant barnstorming run from prop Reggie Saund.

Tahu had threatened to break through during the first half and the powerful centre showed he has lost none of his class.

Four minutes into the second stanza he finished off a flowing right-to-left move to set up a 14-6 lead.

That try virtually sealed the win and it was put beyond doubt just two minutes from time when Wayde Faulkner crossed and Adrian Davis kicked another conversion to wrap up the 18-point win.

"The win is good but 20 minutes are really hard because teams like that, outback teams, it suits them," Tahu said.

He also spoke of the exciting big hits and flashy runs.

"I think that's just the first game, everyone is a bit excited and wants to put some shots on and we had a few of them today,” he said.