KNIGHTS prop Sam Mataora is on his last chance, and he knows it.
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Released by the Raiders midway through last year, he played out the season in Newcastle's NSW Cup side then in October signed a three-year deal to stay at the Knights.
The 24-year-old Cook Islands international knocked back an opportunity to follow former coach Wayne Bennett to the Brisbane Broncos, instead preferring to continue his career resurrection under Rick Stone, his NSW Cup coach last year.
Stone has given Mataora a chance to secure a spot in the NRL squad by naming him to partner former NSW and Australian prop Kade Snowden in a trial against Wauchope and Port Macquarie at Wauchope on Saturday.
Knowing the departure of Willie Mason (Manly) and Adam Cuthbertson (Leeds) has left places in the prop rotation to be filled, Mataora hopes to do well enough to be retained for the full-blown NRL trial against his old club at Queanbeyan seven days later.
"There's an opportunity there, so it's up to me to grab it with both hands," Mataora said.
"I have to perform in this trial and hopefully I can get another game in Canberra.
"That would be good, going up against the old boys, but I have to take it one step at a time."
Mataora seemed to have the world at his feet when he made his NRL debut for the Raiders in 2010 as a 19-year-old.
He played another 32 games for the Raiders in the subsequent three seasons, but his career stagnated amid "dark times", which he would not expand on, and he needed some spiritual guidance to rediscover his passion for rugby league.
"I was wasting my time in Canberra, so it's up to me to come here and perform and do what I love," he said.
"I'm so thankful, and I'm so blessed from the man above.
"Those days when I was struggling, there was no one to turn to except God, so my faith in God has been strong, and that's what got me through the dark times."
Mataora said he was closer to his preferred playing weight of 112 kilograms than when he first arrived in Newcastle at about 117kg.
He was enjoying the company of his 10-month-old daughter, Manea, and partner Casey, who have joined him in Newcastle, albeit temporarily.
"They're here now, but we're still trying to sort a few things out," he said.
"It's good to have the little one here. It makes my day when I go home after a big day because she makes me happy."
Stone selected his other NSW Cup bookend Pat Vaivai at lock.
"They were really good for us in NSW Cup at the back end of last year, and those two boys, both Sam and Pat, get a great opportunity to push for a first-17 spot in week one," Stone said.
"Pat played a bit in the Nines and this is a chance for Sam to put some runs on the board and possibly get himself in the team to go to Canberra the following week.
"Obviously it is a bit tougher for the bigger blokes in the summer months . . . but they've worked hard on their extras and getting themselves in shape and good enough nick to compete with some of the blokes who played regular first grade last year."
Stone said another prop option, David Fa'alogo, was unavailable to play on Saturday due to a minor shoulder injury so he will have to wait until the Raiders trial for his first hitout since captaining Samoa at the Four Nations tournament.
Snowden's preseason progress has been slowed by a knee injury, but he will start on Saturday as part of his build-up to the March 7 season-opener against the Warriors at Hunter Stadium.
"I think game time for your front-rowers is really important," Stone said.
"Snowy is one of those blokes who hasn't had a chance to play yet. He's had a little bit of a monitored program with his knee, but he's training really well.
"Dave Fa'alogo looks like he's going to miss the game because he's got a little shoulder impingement that's going to keep him out of contact for another week, but apart from that, we're pretty happy where everyone is and we're trying to keep everyone fit and healthy to round one in a couple of weeks."
Auckland Nines stand-out Jake Mamo and Chanel Mata'utia were named to start on the wings, outside Pat Mata'utia and Samoan international Joey Leilua.
Knights: Nathan Ross, Jake Mamo, Pat Mata'utia, Joey Leilua, Chanel Mata'utia, Tyler Randell, Jaelen Feeney, Kade Snowden, Chad Redman, Sam Mataora, Marvin Filipo, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Pat Vaivai. Bench: Danny Levi, Jake Finn, Sam Keenan, Jah Pakau, Tuiala Togitasi, James Elias, Honeti Tuha, Luke Yates.
