Sharks toothless as Tigers roar big warning

NRL
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Wests Tigers v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

The Wests Tigers have showed things could be very different in the Benji era after they were ultra impressive in their 32-6 win over a toothless Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval.

It was actually a good start for the Sharks who dominated field position early on and Nicho Hynes looked on and it was the unlikely Tom Hazelton who got over the line first to score first.

The game was an even arm-wrestle as the Tigers were slowly able to fight their way back and the wheels started to fall off the Sharks attack which continued to gift the Tigers field position and they took advantage when an Aiden Sezer kick was tapped back to Isaiah Papali'I who scored.

Dominance began to grow for the Tigers as Api Koroisau's dominance continued when he looked to go out the back from dummy half before he elected to go short to Alex Seyfarth who went through with pure ease. The first half ended perfectly for the home side and it was Api Koroisau who went through some very soft defence and Justin Olam went through to score.

The Sharks needed a big second half but it was anything but that as they lost the plot conceding a penalty goal soon after half time when Justin Olam copped a high shot and then Jesse Ramien was penalised for just shoving over the man playing the ball. Cronulla then gifted the Tigers points as Braydon Trindall kicked the ball back into his own in-goal area and then failed to clean the ball up as the Tigers pounced.

Things turned into a bit of slogfest between the two sides though things hadn't improved for the Sharks as they continued to struggle and it was Jahream Bula who added a second sliding through some pretty average defence from the Sharks again.

The big win for the Tigers will give them a much needed confidence boost but the questions will be raised if they can build on it because they've struggled with consistency. Next week, they will be boosted by their win in their traditional Easter Monday clash against Parramatta at Commbank Stadium whilst the Sharks will return back to Shark Park for a clash against the Raiders on Sunday.

Wests Tigers 32 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6

Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal
Crowd: 15990
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 18 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 6

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Apisai Koroisau
2 points - Jahream Bula
1 points - Justin Olam

WESTS TIGERS (32)
Tries: Isaiah Papali'i, Alex Seyfarth, Justin Olam, Jahream Bula (2)
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (3/3), Aidan Sezer (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Apisai Koroisau (1/1)

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (6)
Tries: Thomas Hazelton
Conversions: Nicho Hynes (1/1)


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