Wests Tigers notch win in 500th Premiership game

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wests Tigers

In their 500th game as a club, Wests Tigers were comfortable 34-6 victors against Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, tonight at Bankwest Stadium. 

For the first time this season, Wests Tigers recorded back-to-back victories in a six-tries to one result including doubles to David Nofoaluma and youngster Tommy Talau alongside four-pointers to Joseph Leilua and Adam Doueihi as they move into the top eight. 

Macguire challenged his side for a full 80-minute performance after last weekend's limp second half and the Tigers delivered albeit against a turgid Bulldogs side. The work between Josh Reynolds and on-loan hooker Harry Grant was a highlight, as the Tigers piled on points. 

After some brave efforts, the Bulldogs started bright as winger Reimis Smith latched onto a Kieran Foran grubber to make it 6-nil. That was the closest the Bulldogs got as the attack was anameic even when the contest was done. The arrival of English forward Luke Thompson might give them a brief bounce but there is some hard questions to be asked down Belmore way. 

The Tigers showed their credentials again though, Joseph Leilua was unstoppable out wide showing his strength to make it 10-6 then the silk with the between the legs offload as his combination with prolific try-scorer David Nofoaluma will create havoc to possibly rival Leipana from his days at Canberra. 

Once the Tigers got a sniff of blood, they went for the kill tonight. Tommy Talau got his first four-pointer followed winger's putdown right after the break as the joint venture side were breaking the line at will. Nofoaluma was handed the Tigers fifth on a platter from a Foran intercept then Adam Doueihi closed out the scoring with a strong effort as the Tigers flew past the 40-point mark. 

It was a night for the youngsters, Grant again injected energy at dummy-half and gives the Tigers an extra demension that they'll be hoping the youngster remains at the joint venture next season. Talau not a natural winger produced two good efforts for his tries and the enthusiasm is flowing through this Tigers side and if they can continue to build, it might be a repeat of 2005. 

Where to next for Canterbury? The loss of Will Hopoate early wasn't ideal but it was another outing where they looked lost in attack and unable to compete against the Tigers pack which will be galling after their brave effort against the Sharks last Sunday night. 

Reality is though, they sit rock bottom of the Premiership, their sole win against St George Illawarra, and more questions than answers for a proud club. Chopping and changing might provide a quick fix but there needs to be a root-and-branch review at Belmore.