March 13, 2013, 11 p.m.
RESIDENT jokers Willie Mason and Aku Uate made life uncomfortable for Knights teammate James McManus on Wednesday s he fronted a media conference to announce his new three-year contract with the club.
As the "Flying Scotsman" answered journalists' questions on the verandah of the players' lounge at their Mayfield training facility, Uate and Mason pulled faces and pressed themselves up against the adjacent glass doors trying to put McManus off his game.
To his credit, McManus soldiered on with the same stoic professionalism he has shown on the field in 110 games for the Knights since his NRL debut in 2007.
Uate, who signed his own new four-year deal one week earlier, emerged after the media conference to shake McManus's hand and embrace him with an affectionate man-hug.
■ Back-up half Tyrone Roberts was enjoying his new dummy-half role so much he forgot a few calls while filling in for injured pivot Jarrod Mullen against Wests Tigers on Monday night.
Roberts came on for starting hooker Travis Waddell with 10 minutes left in the first half but finished the game. Waddell replaced Mullen in the 65th minute and returned to dummy-half, and Roberts partnered Kurt Gidley in the halves.
"I just went out there and tried not to make any mistakes or put the team under pressure, and I think we did that pretty well and the result came our way," Roberts said.
"I got my hands on the ball more often, as you saw. He [Waddell] is up there to do a job and I'll do the best of my ability to help that job.
"When he [coach Wayne Bennett] moved me back to half and five-eighth, I sort of got a bit lost, but it was a bit of a change, but this weekend it's on again and I'm looking forward to it."
Roberts, who played 18 games at halfback filling in for the injured Gidley last season and was the team's top pointscorer, said he had gained confidence from that experience.
Bennett was so impressed by Roberts's efforts in the team's 18-6 pre-season trial victory over Souths at Coffs Harbour last month he said the 21-year-old former Junior Kangaroos representative had secured a place in the 17 for the first-round game against the Tigers.
"I'd just trained well and got the opportunity to get out there and do my best. I did it and got the results, and it was good that Wayne had the confidence in me to do the job again," he said.
■ Bookmakers reacted quickly to Newcastle's crushing win over the Tigers.
TAB Sportsbet wound them in from $13 to $9 to win the premiership, and sportsbet.com.au framed a market on how many Knights will play State of Origin this season.
That market is $1.91 take your pick, over or under 4½ players.
"The Knights have at least four players who you'd think are locks for Origin this year - Darius Boyd, Beau Scott, Kurt Gidley and Akuila Uate - but after only round one you could mount a good case for a few more getting the call-up," sportsbet.com.au public relations manager Ben Hawes said.
■ Injured centre Timana Tahu is making steady progress from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the win against the Tigers, but he is expected to miss at least two more games.
Tahu, who suffered the injury in the team's pre-season trial against Cronulla at Tamworth on February 23, had hoped to return against the Cowboys at Hunter Stadium on Monday week.
But it seems the Easter Sunday home game against the Raiders on March 31 is a more likely return date.
■ After racing to a 30-4 half-time lead, the Knights struggled to a 36-24 victory over newcomers Wyong in their NSW Cup season-opener at Morry Breen Oval on Sunday.
Kevin Naiqama scored two tries and Josh Mantellato scored a try and kicked six goals for the Knights, who looked good in the first half but struggled to control the ball or defend their mistakes after the break.
The Knights have a bye this weekend before hosting Auckland Vulcans at Cessnock Sportsground at 5pm on March 23.
■ Newcastle's under-16s suffered their first loss of the Harold Matthews season on Saturday, 16-12 to Canberra at Lakeside Sporting Complex. The Knights will try to get back on the horse at Jubilee Oval on Saturday against St George, who have won one game out of five.
It was a tough day at Raymond Terrace for both of Newcastle's junior rep teams on Saturday as the Raiders won 40-24 in SG Ball (under-18), extending the Knights' losing streak to four games.
Sitting 15th out of 18 teams with one win, the Knights play the seventh-placed Dragons on Saturday.
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