NewsBite

Wests Tigers savaged over 99m kick-off try within 10 minutes

The Wests Tigers were honouring Tommy Raudonikis once again but a horrific kick-off capitulation has fans crying into their beers.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
2 min read
May 8, 2021 - 9:08PM
The Tigers had a horror start to the game.
The Tigers had a horror start to the game.

The Wests Tigers rough patch appears to be continuing with the Gold Coast Titans leading 24-12 at halftime following a brilliant start.

The Titans ran out to 18-0 after just 13 minutes, including a try that had Tigers fans fuming at yet another poor start.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The Titans scored first against the Tigers in the seventh minute when Phillip Sami just had to fall on the ball to score a try.

But there would not be another tackle before the Gold Coast scored again, running 99m to score a try off the kick-off.

While most teams just take a hit up with one of the props looking to get on the front foot, a pass from the big bopper found fullback AJ Brimson to run straight through a yawning gap.

After shrugging off one defender, Brimson came to Tigers fullback Daine Laurie and passed to lock Tyrone Peachey, who stood where he was for the kick-off as Brimson ran past him.

Peachey sprinted away with Tigers halfback Luke Brooks the only one in chase but unable to get there.

“What a try,” screamed Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane. “They’ve gone the length off the kick-off and Tyrone Peachey out-duels Luke Brooks. A stunning try.”

Braith Anasta added: “This is brilliant, it’s fast, it’s furious, it’s from one end of the field to the other, it’s from the kick-off. The Tigers kick it off and they fell asleep.”

Tyrone Peachey completed a length of the field try.
Tyrone Peachey completed a length of the field try.

It was a stunning try for the Titans with Peachey scoring his fourth try against the Tigers.

On a day that the Tigers were looking to commemorate the life of Western Suburbs Magpies legend Tommy Raudonikis the traditional jersey, it was far from the ideal start.

Fans were quick to turn on the Tigers as the side again failed to turn up at the start of the match.

Having lost the first match to celebrate Raudonikis’ life at Leichhardt Oval when they were beaten by the North Queensland Cowboys, it couldn’t have started worse.

Brian Kelly then scored in the 12th minute to make it 18-0 before the Tigers turned it around.

Tries to Joey Leilua and Jake Simpkin made it 18-12, before the Titans again moved out to a two-try lead.

But the Titans blew out the lead again before the Tigers came back late, finishing 36-28 in a high scoring affair.

The Titans claimed the win.
The Titans claimed the win.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire hit back at his side after they were accused of “sleepwalking” by Anasta in commentary for the early burst.

“Sleep walking? Well I guess you can’t fault what he says when you have tries scored like that,” Maguire said.

“You have got to have a look at where we are at the present moment and not think that you can just turn up and things are going to get done defensively.

“We have got to learn how to do it week in and week out if we are going to be a fair dinkum team here.

“We have to find a way to fix that because it was pretty embarrassing there today.

“I’m not going to come up with any excuses. We as a group need to find out how to fix it and do it fast.

Originally published as Wests Tigers savaged over 99m kick-off try within 10 minutes

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-savaged-over-99m-kickoff-try-within-10-minutes/news-story/e0f61ce1881bb6720fb5f4859461878b