Injury-hit Wests Tigers hold off gutsy Newcastle Knights

WESTS Tigers clawed their way to victory after losing two of their key men to injury against a gutsy Newcastle side on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron Woods of the Tigers tackled.

THE Wests Tigers temporarily eased pressure on coach Jason Taylor with an unconvincing victory over a much-improved Newcastle outfit at Campbelltown on Saturday.

In a match that won’t be remembered alongside Friday’s North Queensland and Brisbane epic, the Tigers overcame the loss of two players to concussion to record a hard fought eight-point win.

Prop Ava Seumanufagai (twice) and club debutant Matt Ballin both failed to return from concussion tests.

Sadly, Ballin’s comeback to the NRL after nine months on the sideline with a knee injury lasted just four minutes.

Former Panther Elijah Taylor also briefly left the field after copping a head knock, but returned to finish the game and take home the man-of-the-match honours.

Taylor played 71 minutes, including time at hooker when Dene Halatau left the field.

Despite having 15 players at their disposal at one stage, the Tigers bravely fought on to claim their fourth win for the season.

Skipper Aaron Woods led the charge for Wests with 193 metres and 33 tackles, while halfback Luke Brooks responded to criticism by scoring a crucial try to seal the win in the second half.

Brooks also set up a try for Josh Addo-Carr with a brilliant cut-out pass.

Newcastle may not have won the match, but they can hold their heads high.

Mitchell Moses of the Tigers goes over to score a try.

Just six days after suffering their worst ever home defeat – a 62-0 smashing at the hands of Cronulla – the Knights responded with a determined display.

In fact, the Novocastrians led by two midway through the second half and looked set to cause an unlikely upset.

Young prop Daniel Saifiti was enormous for the Knights with a mammoth 237 metres off the bench, while fullback Dane Gagai and halfback Trent Hodkinson both tried hard.

Hodkinson’s four-pointer in the 31st minute was the Knights’ first try in 211 minutes of football.

For all Newcastle’s effort, they lacked polish when the game was on the line.

This opened the door for the Tigers, via Brooks, to seal the victory.

Coach Jason Taylor conceded his side is still learning how to win in the NRL, but he was still pleased with the two competition points.

“It was a win and we are happy with that,” Taylor said.

“There were a lot of great efforts, particularly from individuals carrying injuries or playing extra minutes.

“We got knocked around with a few head knocks in regards to guys leaving the field, but we got the job done.

“So we are happy with that, but we have got more in us, we can be better and that’s what we are striving for.”

Brooks was singled out for his lack of involvement in his side’s 36-4 loss to Canterbury but responded by orchestrating his side’s fourth win of the year.

Tim Simona of the Tigers in action.

While the victory, in front of 8658 at Campbelltown, did little to relieve pressure on coach Jason Taylor, the Knights continue to flounder with just one win from 11 games.

After going 211 minutes without scoring a try, returning skipper and halfback Trent Hodkinson put the Knights back in the game with a four-pointer in the 32nd minute.

The Tigers had all the momentum and field position in the first half and, after blowing a handful of early opportunities and twice electing to go for a penalty goal when on the attack, they took just a 10-6 lead into the break.

Luke Brooks of the Tigers scores a try.

And when Dane Gagai found the Tigers’ defensive line open up in front of him, he danced over to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the match in the 49th minute.

The Tigers were forced to battle for most of the second half with just two men on the bench after Matt Ballin and Ava Seumanufagai were both forced off because of concussion.

Ballin’s first game in Tigers colours, and his first match in eight months because of a knee injury, lasted just a couple of minutes and he contributed just two tackles before being helped from the field.

WESTS TIGERS 20 (J Addo-Carr L Brooks M Moses tries J Rankin 4 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 12 (D Gagai T Hodkinson tries T Hodkinson 2 goals) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Devcich. Crowd: 8,658.

Originally published as Injury-hit Wests Tigers hold off gutsy Newcastle Knights