Alive and gone: Tigers bury Knights’ finals hopes with 46-4 belting
Wests Tigers are alive and kicking in the race for a top eight berth after belting Newcastle 46-4 in Campbelltown, with the Knights now all but out of the running for a spot in finals footy.
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Michael Maguire is far from satisfied with his side just being in the mix for a finals spot.
In his first year as a Tigers coach the premiership winning mentor wants his side to sit in the top eight at the end of 25 rounds.
Their 46-4 hammering of Newcastle in front of 11,107 people moved them to ninth on the premiership ladder.
While they still need results to go their own way, they play St George Illawarra next Sunday before a final round showdown against Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval which could be an all-or nothing result.
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“Everyone knows the situation with where we are at,” Maguire said.
“The players showed what it means to them.
“We as a group expected to be there. We are not satisfied of where we are.
“I didn’t see the scoreline (coming). For us it’s making sure we do that again next week. It’s what matters.”
The Tigers led 30-0 at half-time with Ryan Matterson, Robert Jennings, Esan Marsters and Luke Garner scoring.
Garner and Marsters had a field day on the left edge while Corey Thompson was again dynamic at fullback.
MARSHALL’S CALL
With Jacob Liddle and Robbie Farah sidelined Benji Marshall stepped up to fill the void.
He was the unlikeliest of dummy halves but the Tigers veteran told Michael Maguire he wanted to start the game at hooker.
Marshall did more than just hold his own. He dominated the opening 31 minutes before reverting to his preferred five-eighth role when Josh Reynolds came onto the field.
“It was my idea,” Marshall said. “To control the start of the game. I felt pretty good there. I enjoyed it…a bit of movement, a bit of deception.
“It allowed me to take a better pressure off Luke (Brooks) and control our game plan and give Luke the ball when he wanted it. I’m just lucky I didn’t have to defend there.”
Marshall laid on four tries as he wound back the clock prompting the Tigers faithful to chant “Benji, Benji” when he came from the field with 10 minutes left on the clock.
“It’s probably the first time we put 80 minutes together,” Marshall said.
“Everyone turned up with the right attitude. We spoke all week if we didn’t win that was pretty much it.”
Ryan Matterson started at five-eighth.
REYNOLDS’ NERVES
It is hard to control Reynolds’ energy at the best of times. But when he hadn’t played since round seven? Well that’s virtually impossible. Reynolds sat as calmy as he could before being injected into the game with the Tigers on top. He did what he had to do, making 16 tackles – missing three – and provided an extra kick option for the Tigers..
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Reynolds said he was almost ill such were his nerves in the lead up to the game.
“How good is a win?,” Reynolds said. “It’s been a weird year but to come back out and feel the vibe, it’s awesome. I felt terrible (on the bench). My guts…it’s hard to start on the bench.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be back here.”
NOFA HAT-TRICK
David Nofoaluma scored the first hat-trick of his career on a ground where he played his junior football.
The winger scored three times in 16 minutes – either side of half-time. One try came off the back of a solo effort when he regathered his own grubber.
“It was a special moment,” Nofoaluma. “I started my junior career playing at Campbelltown. To get a hat-trick was special.”
WESTS TIGERS 46 (D Nofoaluma 3 M Chee Kam L Garner R Jennings E Marsters R Matterson tries P Momirovski 7 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 4 (A Guerra try) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Jon Stone, Adam Gee. Crowd: 11,107
Originally published as Alive and gone: Tigers bury Knights’ finals hopes with 46-4 belting