Wests Tigers turned in their finest performance of the Holden Cup competition with a crushing 40-6 victory over Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval tonight in round three.
The defending premiers forward pack outmuscled their more physical and bigger Parramatta opponents in a real football lesson that would have pleased Coach Todd Payten. It would also have left Parramatta Eels Coach Andrew Webster with nightmares after working with Payten as an assistant coach last season.
Wests Tigers were proudly led out by local junior Kyle Lovett, a member of the 2012 premiership winning NYC team under Payten
The game was just seven minutes old when replacement five-eighth Manaia Rudolph gave a good ball for right centre Leva Li to score. Rudolph converted for a 6-0 lead.
Some good scrambling defence in the 12th minute by Wests Tigers prevented the Eels from scoring.
Sixteen minutes later, Wests Tigers produced a length of the field try with Manaia Cherrington crossing for the four pointer. David Nofoaluma came off his wing to take an early hit up, made a great half break before offloading to fullback Kurtis Rowe. Rowe got the crowd on its feet, beating a number of players including the fullback before offloading brilliantly to Cherrington who evaded the cover defence to score. The try was not converted for a 10-0 lead.
It didnt take too long for Curtis Sironen in his first game back from a shoulder injury to terrorise the opposition when he came on in the 32nd minute.
Wests Tigers took a 14-0 lead when Nofoaluma showed his class and zoomed in off his wing to step and power his way under the posts. Luke Brooks created the opportunity with a booming 40/20.
The try was converted to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers extended their lead to 20-0 in the 47th minute when Li made a 30 metre run up the middle to offload to full-back Kurtis Rowe in support to score untouched next to the posts. The try was converted by Rudolph for a 22-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Curtis Sironen barged his way over the tryline in the right corner for a 26-0 lead. The try was not converted.
Rowe grabbed his second try when Manaia Cherrington sliced through the defence to find open space to offload to Rowe to score his second try. Rudolph converted for a 32-0 lead after 58 minutes.
Nofoaluma scored his second try from a cross kick by Brooks for a 36-0 lead.
Opposite winger Delouise Hoeter got his own piece of his action with a try in the right corner for a 40-0 lead.
The Eels registered their first points in the 74th minute through halfback Zach Dockar-Clay who charged to score. The try was converted for a 40-6 scoreline.
Wests Tigers
1 Kurtis Rowe, 2 Delouise Hoeter, 3 Nathan Milone, 4 Leva Li, 5 David Nofoaluma, 20 Manaia Rudolph, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Nathan Brown, 9 Nofoa Leapai. 10 Shane Lalogafau, 11 Kyle Lovett (c), 12 Salesi Funaki, 13 Brenden Santi; interchange: 15 Andy Fiagatusa, 16 Jake Dooner, 17 Manaia Cherrington, 18 Curtis Sironen.
Parramatta
1 Isaiah Mosese, 2 James Tuitahi, 3 John Folau, 4 Connor Broadhurst, 5 Takai Moeakiola, 6 Mitchell Brasingtonb, 7 Zach Dockar-Clay, 8 Pauli Pauli, 9 Luke Vescio (c), 15 Junior Paulo, 11 Joseph Ualesi, 12 Fred Junior Mauala, 13 Jordan Latham; interchange: Chad McGill, 10 Frazer Masinamua, 16 Diamond Charlie, 17 Tepai Moeroa.
The defending premiers forward pack outmuscled their more physical and bigger Parramatta opponents in a real football lesson that would have pleased Coach Todd Payten. It would also have left Parramatta Eels Coach Andrew Webster with nightmares after working with Payten as an assistant coach last season.
Wests Tigers were proudly led out by local junior Kyle Lovett, a member of the 2012 premiership winning NYC team under Payten
The game was just seven minutes old when replacement five-eighth Manaia Rudolph gave a good ball for right centre Leva Li to score. Rudolph converted for a 6-0 lead.
Some good scrambling defence in the 12th minute by Wests Tigers prevented the Eels from scoring.
Sixteen minutes later, Wests Tigers produced a length of the field try with Manaia Cherrington crossing for the four pointer. David Nofoaluma came off his wing to take an early hit up, made a great half break before offloading to fullback Kurtis Rowe. Rowe got the crowd on its feet, beating a number of players including the fullback before offloading brilliantly to Cherrington who evaded the cover defence to score. The try was not converted for a 10-0 lead.
It didnt take too long for Curtis Sironen in his first game back from a shoulder injury to terrorise the opposition when he came on in the 32nd minute.
Wests Tigers took a 14-0 lead when Nofoaluma showed his class and zoomed in off his wing to step and power his way under the posts. Luke Brooks created the opportunity with a booming 40/20.
The try was converted to give Wests Tigers a 16-0 lead at half-time.
2nd Half
Wests Tigers extended their lead to 20-0 in the 47th minute when Li made a 30 metre run up the middle to offload to full-back Kurtis Rowe in support to score untouched next to the posts. The try was converted by Rudolph for a 22-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Curtis Sironen barged his way over the tryline in the right corner for a 26-0 lead. The try was not converted.
Rowe grabbed his second try when Manaia Cherrington sliced through the defence to find open space to offload to Rowe to score his second try. Rudolph converted for a 32-0 lead after 58 minutes.
Nofoaluma scored his second try from a cross kick by Brooks for a 36-0 lead.
Opposite winger Delouise Hoeter got his own piece of his action with a try in the right corner for a 40-0 lead.
The Eels registered their first points in the 74th minute through halfback Zach Dockar-Clay who charged to score. The try was converted for a 40-6 scoreline.
Wests Tigers
1 Kurtis Rowe, 2 Delouise Hoeter, 3 Nathan Milone, 4 Leva Li, 5 David Nofoaluma, 20 Manaia Rudolph, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Nathan Brown, 9 Nofoa Leapai. 10 Shane Lalogafau, 11 Kyle Lovett (c), 12 Salesi Funaki, 13 Brenden Santi; interchange: 15 Andy Fiagatusa, 16 Jake Dooner, 17 Manaia Cherrington, 18 Curtis Sironen.
Parramatta
1 Isaiah Mosese, 2 James Tuitahi, 3 John Folau, 4 Connor Broadhurst, 5 Takai Moeakiola, 6 Mitchell Brasingtonb, 7 Zach Dockar-Clay, 8 Pauli Pauli, 9 Luke Vescio (c), 15 Junior Paulo, 11 Joseph Ualesi, 12 Fred Junior Mauala, 13 Jordan Latham; interchange: Chad McGill, 10 Frazer Masinamua, 16 Diamond Charlie, 17 Tepai Moeroa.
