Knights prop Sam Mataora rejected approach from Wayne Bennett to join Broncos Newcastle forward Sam Mataora knocked back an offer from Wayne Bennett to sign with the Broncos. Picture by Peter Lorimer. MEET the 117kg front-rower who did what few other players have been able to do during their careers - say no to supercoach Wayne Bennett. In a remarkable show of loyalty to Newcastle, Mataora rejected a move back home to Brisbane and instead has his sights set on resurrecting his NRL career at the Knights by filling the void left by the departure of Willie Mason. The 24-year-old former Junior Kiwi and Cook Islands international is no stranger to the top grade. He played 33 NRL matches for Canberra after debuting in 2010 as a 19-year-old but admits he cost himself two years of his career by "going off the rails." Newcastle forward Sam Mataora at training. It's taken the inspiration of seven-month-old daughter Manea to get him back on track. The last two years with the Raiders, I sort of slacked off. I didn't really care about my footy," Mataora said. At the time, I was going through a lot of things - a lot of personal issues off the field. I went off the rails and basically lost two years of my career. But now, because I've got a little one to think about, that's who I'm doing it for. The Raiders released Mataora and he joined the Knights halfway through last season with his partner Casey and little Manea remaining behind in Canberra. They are still living there which in itself has been tough for the big prop to handle. Newcastle forward Sam Mataora. "I would love them to come (to Newcastle)," he said. Hopefully, it happens. It's hard not seeing my little girl. But she is the one who gets me through every time when I'm struggling with everything. To be honest, I try not to think about it all too much and just focus on pre-season training and getting myself fit. Mataora described knocking back an offer from Bennett at the end of last season to join him at the Broncos as a "huge decision to have to make." He spent seven years living in Brisbane when his family moved there from the Cook Islands when he was 11 and his mother and father still reside there. Sam Mataora at training. "Wayne spoke to me a few times about it but in the end, he just told me to do what I thought was best for me," Mataora said. It took me a month just to get my head around it. There were days when I thought I would go with him because of the opportunity. But for my family, here was the best option and I just wasn't ready to walk away from Newcastle. I love the vibe here in Newcastle. All the guys here, they have helped me back to enjoying my football again and with Stoney here, I wanted to continue playing under him. The club gave me an opportunity and I'm keen to try and repay that. Newcastle forward Sam Mataora knocked back an offer from Wayne Bennett to sign with Brisbane. Mataora, a self-confessed lover of food, is in the process of trying to strip five to seven kilograms from his frame during the pre-season, recognising there is a big opportunity at the club with Mason gone. "Yeah, there is definitely an opportunity there for me now," he said. It's up to me to get fit and try and force my way in there. That's the goal for me, to get back in the NRL. I was 19 when I made my debut for Canberra and that was too long ago. Originally published as The 117kg monster who told Wayne "No"