NRL 2022: Wests Tigers defeat Canterbury Bulldogs, latest news and scores

Already reeling from the effects of the flu, Canterbury star Matt Burton has revealed the hurt at the ‘shock’ departure of coach Trent Barrett and where his future lies.

Luciano Leilua tries to crack the Bulldogs’ defence. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Canterbury playmaker Matt Burton says he has been left “devastated” by the departure of coach Trent Barrett, but insists he has no intention of following his mate out of Belmore.

Struck down by a severe case of the flu this week, Burton was still struggling to speak when he fronted media after his side was beaten by Wests Tigers 36-22 on Friday night.

The 22-year-old confirmed he had spoken with Barrett since his shock departure, but when asked what was said, he replied: “I don’t really want to talk about it”.

The Bulldogs No.6 had formed a strong relationship with Barrett during their time together at Penrith, and was seen as a key piece of what was to be the coach’s Belmore rebuild.

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Matt Burton says coach Trent Barrett’s departure has come as a massive shock. Picture: NRL Photos

However just 11 rounds into their first season together at Canterbury, Barrett is now gone.

Yet despite suggestions the walkout could also push Burton to seek the same, the reigning premiership-winner denied that was the case.

“No. I’m still here,” he said.

“I’m just focused on what is best for this team. I’ll leave it at that.”

Asked if he had been in contact with the coach, he replied: “I gave him a call and had a little chat.

“It’s devastating.

“It was a massive shock.

“And it’s hit the whole team hard.

“But that’s the game sometimes. You just have to keep focusing on footy.”

Despite battling the flu, Burton scored a try only minutes into the second half that would then see No.9 Jeremy Marshall-King and winger Jacob Kiraz also cross within the ensuing 13 minutes.

“We definitely showed some fight there in the second half,” Burton said.

Bulldogs teammates celebrate Matt Burton’s try in the second half. Picture: NRL Photos

“But our first half wasn’t good enough. We need to fix our discipline.

“It’s been a tough week but no excuses.

“Out on the field we have to be better than we were in that first half.

“But we’ll have a look at it all and get back to it next week.”

Burton also revealed that he has not watched many games involving his old side Penrith this year.

“Not really, I just try to focus on what’s best for this team,” he said.

“It was obviously going to be difficult here with (so many) new players coming into the side but we need to stick with each other. Have some belief.”

New coach, but Bulldogs fail to shake bad habits

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Canterbury began life after Trent Barrett at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night but it proved “Ground Dog” day as the wooden spoon favourites crashed 36-22 to fellow strugglers Wests Tigers.

The Dogs did show plenty of fight in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to claw their way back from an 18-point deficit, but this one still goes down as another addition to the loss column.

The blue and whites remain anchored to the bottom of the table with just two wins for the year.

“Our discipline needs to change and we need to be able to defend our line,” Bulldogs interim coach Mick Potter said. “We can’t have 36 points scored against us.

Luciano Leilua is wrapped up by the Bulldogs’ defence. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“There are some positive points out of the game, but at the end you look at the win-loss. We can do better than that, I’m sure.”

New Tigers recruit Brent Naden was wearing a large grin at fulltime, no doubt grateful for the sliding doors moment that allowed him to escape the Belmore kennel this week for a new life in the black and gold. He must have felt like a death row prisoner granted a governor’s pardon five minutes before midnight.

Naden threw the last pass for one Tigers try and saved one at the other end with some desperate defence in a solid first-up performance.

Canterbury’s spluttering attack ran on premium unleaded for parts of the second half as it fought its way back into the contest, but the damage was done in a dreadful first half display.

With Potter in charge against the club that sacked him eight years ago, the Dogs showed very little. The warning signs flashed early, Tigers second-rower Luke Garner pushing through some awful goal-line defence to score after just six minutes.

Jackson Hastings somehow missed the easy conversion but was hitting the mark with ball in hand. The No.7 laid on a beautiful short ball for Starford To’a to score on 12 minutes as the Dogs shot “here we go again” looks at each other.

The Tigers were in just before the half hour after Ken Maumalo profited from some lovely work inside to touch down one-handed in the corner. The big left winger was in again on the stroke of half-time, easing the Tigers out to an 18-0 lead.

Starford To’a scored one of four first-half tries for the Tigers against the Bulldogs. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Canterbury did well to be that close following a half of football that could best described as ordinary. The blue and white spend most of their time defending, conceding penalties and attempt to get out of their own 50 without success.

The Bulldogs did rally in the second half and threatened to pull off a remarkable escape midway through the second half. But old habits crept back in and the Tigers were able to pull out of reverse and get back on track for a vital victory.

“The boys went away from a few things they were doing in the first half and it was really pleasing to see them find their way back again,” Tigers coach Michael Maguire said.

“I always felt it they could get back in control, we’d be able to get the game.”

SIGNS OF HOPE

It’s official – there is some life left in the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2022.

Legless, directionless and pointless in the 40 minutes, the blue and whites absorbed every word of Potter’s first NRL half-time speech in eight years before stunning the Tigers with a scoring blitz to start the second half.

The worst attacking side in the NRL suddenly became the great entertainers, scoring three

unanswered tries to draw within two points after being down 18-0.

Sadly, it all fell apart from there.

Jock Madden had a strong game for the Tigers. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The Tigers steadied to pull away with the game, scoring two tries while Canterbury centre Aaron Schoupp was in the sin bin for a lifting tackle on To’a.

Nu Brown, in his first NRL game in three years, grabbed the first of the two tries to kick-start the revival.

HASTINGS HITS JACKPOT

With England coach Shaun Wane in town, Tigers half Jackson Hastings picked a good night to stand out.

Hastings had his fingerprints all over this win, guiding the Tigers around the park and

providing the composure so often needed to offset his teammates’ brain explosions.

The Tigers lost the plot with Hastings in the sin bin early in the second half but looked a different side when he returned.

He was given a standing ovation after leaving the field late in the game.

Dolphins target and halves partner Jock Madden was another stand out.

POSSUM INVADES COMMENTARY BOX

Fox NRL commentators were caught off guard when a possum invaded their commentary box during Wests Tigers’ home game against Canterbury on Friday.

Andrew Voss tweeted: “We have an intruder in the @FOXNRL. Leichhardt Oval commentary box. This is a first. Are possums good or bad luck?”

It might not have been the first occasion it’s happened though, with some replies to Voss suggesting other commentators have faced the same situation.

Fellow caller Matt Russell tweeted on April 2: “Career first today. A possum crawled into Leichhardt Oval commentary box TWICE and scared the *poo emoji* out of @FOXNRL @SpuddsGym10 (Mark Carroll) each time!”

We have an intruder in the @FOXNRL Leichhardt Oval commentary box. This is a first. Are possums good or bad luck? @WestsTigers v @NRL_Bulldogs@[e-mail]/O3qBpyRERq

— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) May 20, 2022

Naden has last laugh against former club

-Nick Walshaw

Brent Naden, with his first real touch, got dragged over the sideline.

But, hey, it’s been that sort of year, right?

Or at least opening half of it. Especially at the battling Canterbury Bulldogs.

Yet from there?

Well, in a week where he started with Canterbury, switched to Wests Tigers, then ran out against his old club at Leichhardt Oval, this fella in jersey No.21 also provided a performance with a little bit of everything.

Like his brilliant tryline tackle on Matt Dufty. A moment which occurred early in the second half, and with the Doggies flyer looking certain to score.

Elsewhere, Naden also produced a beautiful tip on for the Tigers third try, and to winger Ken Maumalo, in a moment that showed why no less than reigning premiers Penrith not once, but twice, wanted to make this 26-year-old into an NRL star.

Which for Tigers fans, if nothing else, is a case of Watch This Space.

Same deal prop Alex Twal’s search for that elusive first try.

Celebrating his 100th NRL game, the Tigers favourite got agonizingly close to the white stripe on four, maybe five occasions in this Friday Night Football tryathon – yet each time without luck.

Tigers recruit Brent Naden was in the action early against his former club. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Same as the banner Tigers fans built for his milestone match was also missing one small ingredient … it didn’t split in the middle.

With Twal, instead, charging all 105kg into a fabric that rather than tearing where expected, instead ripped off one of the poles and starting rapping around the Tiger like an anaconda.

Not quite Peter Sterling in the USA. But still, wonderfully rugby league.

And somewhat apt at a ground where a possum was discovered in one of the TV commentary boxes. But still, one of rugby league’s nicest blokes got a deserved win.

In fact, for the opening 40 minutes this man who has yet to score threatened more than even the entire Bulldogs outfit, who by the break trailed 18-zip.

And, no it wouldn’t finish that way.

But, geez, the Dogs were bad early.

Forever in rugby league, rightly or wrongly, there has been a perception that sides lift in the game after a coach quits, gets sacked, whatever.

But not at the start of this one. No, in a woeful first half, Canterbury were tackled just twice inside the Tigers 20m line, and just 15 times over halfway.

All while the Tigers racked up one, two, three, four tries.

The first of which came early, when backrower Luke Garner got the ball 10m and out charged for the gap between Bulldogs Kyle Flanagan and Joe Stimson.

Truly, it was that simple.

With the Tigers tough pushing through a couple of outstretched arms to score.

Naden, meanwhile, would provide that tip on for a try while, in the second half, then move out to the wing for an overall performance solid enough to suggest promise.

Same deal Twal.

Who removed late for a HIA, and receiving a standing ovation from the Leichhardt faithful, now gets his chance to break that duck egg in game 101.