Tahu, now retired from the NRL, 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 now 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 over 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."

Tahu was one of a number of big name players in the Yowies side with Tyrone Roberts and Travis Waddell also in action while Dubbo Westside's Jade Hooper was one of the best up front for the Newcastle side.

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.

But Yuin didn't take a step back and it was soon all level at 6-all after centre Joel Deaves' try was converted.

There was a number of bruising hits in the match and Yuin were determined to make an impact against their more fancied opponent but four minutes out from the break the Yowies got back in front when Cooper got his second and it remained 10-6 at the break.

Tahu had threatened to break through during the first half and the powerful centre showed he's lost none of his class four minutes into the second stanza when he finished off a flowing right-to-left move to set up a 14-6 lead.

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

That virtually sealed the result and it was put beyond doubt just two minutes from time when Wayde Faulkner crossed and Adrian Davis finally 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, before speaking about some 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 and probably after the second game things will start to calm down and I think that's when you'll see some of the experienced teams come into play."

The Yowies, in the hugely talented Group D side of the draw, now face Combined Countries after they brushed aside Bono Brothers 54-4.