Tweed Seagulls defeat Papua New Guinea Hunters 10-0 in Intrust Super Cup Round 1 action

IT was fitting that the Piggabeen Sports Complex scoreboard was out of action on Sunday afternoon as a gritty Tweed outfit toiled their way to a promising win to kickstart their 2019 Intrust Super Cup season.

IT was fitting that the Piggabeen Sports Complex scoreboard was out of action on Sunday afternoon as a gritty Tweed outfit toiled their way to a promising win to kickstart their 2019 Intrust Super Cup season.

Scorekeepers had little to do for the majority of the clash against Papua New Guinea, with neither side getting off the mark until the 54th minute, when Seagulls winger Ryland Jacobs snuck over in the left corner.

Ten minutes later, Titans fringe half Ryley Jacks benefited from a Kalani Going offload to nab a four-pointer of his own – and that’s where the score would remain, 10-0 in the home side’s favour.

Ryland Jacobs scored Tweed’s first try of the season. Picture: SMP Images

There was some scrappy football as is to be expected in Round 1, with the Hunters’ new combinations particularly producing errors.

But above all, there was a completeness and steely resolve about Tweed’s defence that hasn’t been so present in years.

There were big hits by the likes of Kirk Murphy and desperate efforts from 1-17 when put under goal-line pressure.

CO-CAPTAIN COOK EMBRACING RESPONSIBILITY

There is work to be done in attack but halves Jacks and Lindon McGrady controlled the game relatively well and Talor Walters provided spark from the back in arguably his best game for the club.

A former Melbourne under-20 player, Walters said he is reaping the rewards of a full pre-season after wrist and ankle injuries disrupted his preparations for his first two years at Piggabeen.

Talor Walters. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“It’s probably the fittest I have been in a long time so it is good to be up there and to get the call-up in Round 1,” the 22-year-old said.

Seagulls fans can take optimism from the fact they are still to get more Titans players back, plus Cheyne Whitelaw and Christian Hazard. The one downside is confirmation that Harry Hughes is set to go for surgery after dislocating his shoulder at training last week.

“Everyone knows in Cup that it’s the depth in your squad that makes you actually win, not the people that start,” Walters said.

There is a genuine sense that the Seagulls victory song could be sung a whole lot more in 2019 and that was reflected in a slight buzz among fans.

“I guess we have come off a good pre-season and there is probably a bit of word around that we’re doing a lot better than the past years and even Woolfy (coach Ben Woolf) said compared to 12 months ago, we’re far ahead now and it showed,” Walters said.