Tim Sheens’ new-look Wests Tigers have given fans reason to believe after a decade of dread, entering the NRL season on the back of a 36-4 trial win over Canberra.
After 11 years out of the finals and seasons of misplaced hope, the Tigers will enter the season with confidence after completely outplaying Canberra.
With Luke Brooks and Apisai Koroisau out, five-eighth Adam Doueihi had his fingerprints all over the win, days after signing a one-year extension at the club.
The Tigers had a similar trial win over Manly in 2021 before another year of pain, but Sunday’s performance at least suggested this is a team capable of far more than last year’s wooden spoon.
Despite the points, what would have impressed Sheens most was the defence.
The joint-venture were the second-worst defensive team in the NRL last year, and conceded 42 points in one half against the Raiders in the final round of last season.
But after a summer of talk about attack, Sunday’s success was built on the back of early resilience without the ball.
The Tigers turned the Raiders away repeatedly early in the match and rarely looked like breaking on their own line.
“I’m not saying we’re going to be an iron wall or something,” Sheens said.
“But we will be tougher in that area than we have been, in so far as just getting into the right positions.
“They can tackle, but defence and tackling are two different things. (Assistant) David Furner has worked really hard on the defence.”
Canberra’s only try came from long range, when Jamal Fogarty and Matt Timoko combined down the right edge and Nick Cotric kicked back inside for Danny Levi.
Then the Tigers were able to take their chances with seven straight tries.
One came when Doueihi put on an excellent ball for Tommy Talau to run onto, while another was off the back of a 40-20 from the five-eighth.
Doueihi kicked for another when Raiders winger Elijah Anderson failed to clean up a ball in his own in-goal and David Nofaluma capitalised.
The pick of the Tigers’ tries was a length-of-the-field effort, when Brandon Wakeham and Junior Tupou linked up from within their own half and Asu Kepaoa finished the job.
There was one concern for the Tigers, after winger Ken Maumalo limped from the field early with a knee injury and is in severe doubt for round one against Gold Coast.
Canberra have bigger worries. Last year’s finalists have lost both pre-season matches to perennial strugglers in Canterbury and the Tigers.
And while the majority of their big names missed last week against the Bulldogs, many of them were back today and failed to have an impact.
Jordan Rapana could also be in hot water over two high tackles. He was placed on report for a shot on Kepaoa before being sin-binned for another hit on Doueihi.
Rapana had been playing on the wing, with Sebastian Kris at fullback and Xavier Savage out with a broken jaw.
