The Samoan back arrived from French side FC Lezignan during the week but had a first run-out to remember with two tries and two assists from full-back in York’s 58-8 demolition of their old foes.
That’s not to say there weren’t one or two hairy moments, not least when his expansive offload to Ben Jones-Bishop on the kick return failed to find its intended target 15 metres from the Knights’ line, but if first impressions are anything to go by, Mata’afa’s certainly not left a bad one.
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Head coach Mark Applegarth was left pleased, saying: “It was a solid debut. Obviously, he’s still familiarising himself with how we want to play.
“There were a couple of areas in that first half that he put some tweaks into in that second half, but what I do love about him is that he feeds his centres early, and good centres want early ball to go and attack their opposite number.
“I really think he’s going to be a quality addition for us. It was a very solid debut, and I know there’ll be a lot more to come as he familiarises himself with our shape, our structures, players, and things like that.”
Mata’afa scored the fourth and ninth of the Knights’ 11-try rout, with fellow mid-season signings Scott Galeano and Ben Jones-Bishop adding another six tries between them from the wings.
But he first set up both Joe Law and Jones-Bishop to add their names to the scoresheet with neat passes along the line.
The Samoan’s first score saw him collect Jacques O’Neill’s drop-off pass and take three Hunslet defenders with him next to the posts, whilst his second came after he was fed by Liam Harris before rounding the visiting defence.
Mata’afa was confident under the high ball in place of the rested Joe Brown, but it was his size and strength that perhaps proved his most impressive attributes ahead of next weekend’s huge 1895 Cup semi-final against Bradford.
“He’s a big boy, isn’t he!” Applegarth laughed.
“He just glides, and it looks effortless how he goes about his running. It was very similar to Browny [Joe Brown] and Bish [Jones-Bishop] when they get into full flight, they don’t look like they’re moving too quickly but then you get to the side of them and it’s ridiculous just how quick they’re going.
“I think he’ll be a lot better for that hit-out and it was a solid debut overall.”
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