There’s no sugar coating it – the Wests Tigers were an absolute embarrassment in their 26-4 loss to the Knights yesterday.
Without late withdrawals Kayln Ponga and David Klemmer, the Knights may have been a little vulnerable but were always in charge against a disinterested Tigers outfit.
Michael Maguire has to address some frightening statistics – 17 errors, 37 missed tackles, 19 ineffective tackles and a general lethargy in their play.
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Add to that the one Tiger who tried his heart out – five-eighth Jackson Hastings – is on report and likely to be suspended, it’s more troubled times in Tiger-town.
The Knights played well as they secured back—to-back wins – but in fairness, had very little to beat.
Titans thrill in attack
In his third season in charge of the Titans, Justin Holbrook has taken the brakes off his exciting young team.
Holbrook steered the Titans to the finals last season – but did it playing a relatively conservative style.
But this season, he has given ownership of the team to exciting players like AJ Brimson, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Jayden Campbell and Toby Sexton.
Against the Warriors on Saturday, the Titans scored some breathtaking tries – even though their defence was a worry at times.
Insiders have told me that Holbrook has given the team licence to play what they see in front of them – and it spells exciting times for Titans fans.
Special mention has to go to much-improved winger Greg Marzhew, who destroyed the Warriors with his powerhouse running out wide.
Marzhew scored two tries, ran for 222 metres and made nine tackle breaks in perhaps the best performance by a winger in round two.
Moylan turns back the clock
Nicho Hynes’ arrival at Cronulla seems to have rejuvenated the career of Matt Moylan.
Moylan has been a much-maligned figure at the Sharks over the last couple of seasons but looked very sharp in the last-gasp win over the Eels.
It was Moylan who threw the crucial pass for Teig Wilton’s try that tied the scores – which Hynes converted under immense pressure to give the Sharks their emotional win in their first game back at home for two years.
The halfback pair seem to have worked up a good combination in a short space of time in a great sign for Sharks fans.
Cowboys end losing streak in Townsville
It’s not often a team faces crunch time in round two – but that was the situation for the Cowboys against Canberra on Saturday night.
The football gods gifted the Cowboys the perfect start to the year – two home games against teams that performed poorly in 2021.Todd Payten’s men couldn’t get the better of the Bulldogs in a tight, controversial game last week – but came good on the weekend, outclassing Canberra 26-6.
The win ended a worrying run of six straight home losses for the Cowboys and gave the young team a massive confidence boost.
“We needed it, for sure,” Payten told Wide World of Sports.
“The boys were up for the game and the win has really lifted morale after coming so close against the Dogs – just what we needed coming into the big game at the Broncos next weekend.”
Bellamy finally wins milestone match
For the coach with the best batting average in the NRL, Craig Bellamy has a less than flash record in his milestone games.
The man known as ‘Bellyache’ lost his 100th game, lost his 200th, won his 300th, lost his 400th and on Thursday night, narrowly won his 500th in extra time.
The Storm were pumped to ‘do it for Craig’ but blew a 14-0 lead as Souths charged home to take the game into extra time.
It took a Ryan Papenhuyzen field goal to pull the game out of the fire – and save the Storm from copping one of Bellamy’s now legendary ‘sprays’ in the sheds after the game.
Full marks to Souths, incidentally, who would have been shattered at the last-gasp loss but hung around to honour Bellamy’s remarkable 500-game feat.
Kikau on fire for premiers
The Panthers certainly found a way to get the best out of game-breaking back-rower Viliame Kikau in his 100th game for the club against the Dragons.
Kikau has been a slow starter to the season in recent years but after his family was flown by the club from Fiji to present him with his jumper, he was always going to have a big game.
The long-striding forward was the difference between the premiers and a determined Dragons side, scoring two tries, running for 108 metres and making 34 tackles in the 20-16 win.
I bet Ivan Cleary is just waiting for the big fella’s 200th game to come around.
Concerns at Brookvale
So are Manly capable of repeating their efforts of 2021 and making the finals after a nightmare start? Sea Eagles fans are quick to point out they lost their first four games last year – and still almost made the grand final.
But there is one big difference between this year and last – in 2021 they were missing Turbo Tom in the opening rounds.
This season they have had the superstar fullback in the first two rounds and he was well contained by the defence both times.
The Sea Eagles have looked pedestrian in attack and lethargic in defence in worrying signs for coach Des Hasler.
To be fair, they have played two of the big guns in the Panthers and Roosters in the first two rounds and the wins will come against poorer opposition.
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