NRL 2023: Wests Tigers win 66-18 over Cowboys in Luke Brooks’ 200th game, Api Koroisau presses Origin claim
Luke Brooks has celebrated his 200th NRL game in style, as the Wests Tigers broke the club’s point scoring record to throw the Cowboys’ season into disarray.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dance like no-one’s watching, run like you’ve stolen something and variations of the old Aussie adage “Have a go, you mug” were on show at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night when Wests Tigers smashed and humiliated North Queensland Cowboys 66-18.
It was the most points ever scored by Wests Tigers, Balmain Tigers or Western Suburbs Magpies. It equalled the most points ever conceded by the Cowboys.
It was carnage.
After wins over Penrith and St George Illawarra and a tough loss to South Sydney, the Tigers returned to their spiritual home and thoroughly entertained a vocal crowd of 12,247. There were quick hands, offloads at speed, sweeping backline plays and 11 converted tries.
Luke Brooks in his 200th game was dangerous, John Bateman ran unconventional lines and Starford To’a scored a double and outpointed Cowboys’ strike centre Val Holmes.
Junior Tupuo also scored a double while 21-year-old Jahream Bula scored his first try in his fifth NRL game while being excellent under the high ball.
“It was a great win,” Tigers coach Tim Sheens said. “A good night at Leichhardt, we’ve been letting things down with our performances here. Great crowd. Great response from ‘Brooksy’ and the team.
“You don’t expect those games. You don’t expect to win like that. And you certainly hope you don’t cop one of those, which we have in the past.”
Leichhardt Oval chanting Luke Brooks’ name at the end of the game. I challenge anyone not to be happy for the bloke. #NRLTigersCowboyspic.twitter.com/R0jei6wiss
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) May 20, 2023
Api Koroisau gave NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler food for thought with a sterling display out of dummy-half. Koroisau’s stats read: 80 minutes, 34 tackles, three try assists, three line-break assists, a try and two goals.
Sheens said “I’d pick him tomorrow. True. Tomorrow.”
Koroisau said: “It was a great win … Origin’s obviously around the corner and I’ve done what I can do. I’ll just wait for whatever happens.”
The Cowboys were, for the most part, effectively spectators. They defended like the Tigers were covered in funnel-web spiders, like it was round 26 and Bali beckoned. They’re in a world of hurt. More of this and they could, probably would, win the spoon.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten described it as “probably the worst performance we’ve had as a team since I’ve been at the club.”
“Everything to play for and we were beaten in all parts of the game, across all parts of the field,” Payten said.
“We made 130 more tackles. They were 41 out of 45 sets and played some pretty good footy.
“And we just sat on our heels. We didn’t tackle or move or run hard enough. That’s the disappointing part.”
Cowboys captain Chad Townsend said: “From the opening whistle they ran harder than us and tackled harder than us.
“It’s a simple game sometimes. They dominated from the start and collectively we just weren’t on tonight.”
SHEENS UNHAPPY WITH REFS
Given the record scoreline it was surprising to hear Sheens launch a broadside at referees and the bunker, saying: “I will be at the referees and the bunker big time.”
Asked for specifics Sheens listed contentious decisions for a Cowboys try, a Tigers non-try and a penalty against his team for off-side.
On the non-awarding of a try to Joe Ofahengue Sheens said: “Ofahengue scored. I don’t care what she [Kasey Badger] said. Ofahengue put both forearms on the ball, on the ground. That’s a try.
“I’m not happy so I’m going to say a few things. I don’t care about the scoreline,” Sheens said.
SIGN HIM UP FOR LIFE: MOSES STARS AS EELS MAKE STATEMENT
—Martin Gabor
The Eels should have signed Mitch Moses for life after he and halves partner Dylan Brown produced one of their finest performances as a pairing to conjure a stunning 36-16 upset over South Sydney.
Last year’s beaten grand finalists were written off by all and sundry after winning just four of their opening 11 games, but with their backs against the wall, the blue and golds produced a statement of intent that might have saved their season.
A day after he finally signed the contract extension that we all knew was coming, Moses ripped the Rabbitohs apart with four try assists in his first game back from the head knock he suffered at Magic Round.
The halfback got the ball rolling with a shortside raid in the opening minutes and then stood tall when his team needed him at the death, first grubbering for Brown to plant the ball just before it rolled dead before he set up Will Penisini to ice it.
“He was great tonight,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said.
“But our spine can only be really good on the back of the platform the middles lay.”
This was a game they had no right to win given they lost two forwards to injury, but it mattered little as a couple of unsung heroes had the night of their lives with Wiremu Greig supporting Junior Paulo up front with his best game in the NRL.
A return to the top eight is far from guaranteed, but this could be the spark they need to go on a special run.
“Our confidence has been there every single game,” skipper Clint Gutherson said.
“We have to string a few wins together … a win like that gives you a lot of confidence.”
STREAK SNAPPED
This was supposed to be a special celebration at Allianz Stadium with a big crowd turning out for a club that does Indigenous Round as well as anyone.
Instead, the Rabbitohs got a reality check as their six-game winning streak was snapped by a team they were expected to beat comfortably.
Their big men have played a key role in their recent success but they went missing on Friday night, while halfback Lachlan Ilias had a couple of shocking moments with two kicks going out on the full which led to Parramatta tries.
It’s not the end of the world, but it was a flat result on such a special night.
There were some incredible moments from their Indigenous stars with Alex Johnston scoring a double, while Cody Walker had two assists, including a stunning interchange of passes with Latrell Mitchell which ended up with Johnston scoring.
ORIGIN WATCH
All eyes were on Damien Cook as the veteran rake tries to win back his starting Blues spot, but it was a Maroons bolter who stole the show with a stunning first half that would have caught Billy Slater’s eye.
J’maine Hopgood is at long odds to earn a Queensland debut, but Josh Papalii’s shock retirement has opened the door for someone to steal a spot in the middle.
The Eels lock was unstoppable in the first half, running for 79 metres, busting three tackles and popping four offloads to go with 25 tackles as Parramatta bashed their way through South Sydney’s forwards.
Cook was solid without being great, while Campbell Graham has all but secured a maiden Blues jersey after he scored a try and came up with some big defensive plays.
INJURY CRISIS
The Eels better hope they get Joe Ofahengaue in the coming days after their back row stocks took another massive hit with Andrew Davey and Ryan Matterson set for stints on the sideline.
Davey was ruled out in the opening minutes following a head clash with Campbell Graham, while Matterson is set for scans this weekend after he limped off early in the second half with a calf injury.
The Eels are already without Shaun Lane, with the back-rower set to miss at least the next six weeks with a hamstring injury, and they can ill-afford to lose Matterson for an extended period after he starred with a try assist in the first half.
NRL Rich 100: Walsh among nine snubbed Maroons stars
Reece Walsh is among a posse of Queensland Origin stars that didn’t make the 2024 Rich 100 list, in proof that big bucks doesn’t guarantee big-name performances. See the analysis of notable omissions and underperforming inclusions.
Coach unleashes blistering NRL attack
Outgoing Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has taken aim at the NRL as he launched a scathing attack on the controversial Bunker system.