Tigers show defensive resolve as Newcastle's attack splutters again

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Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers

The Wests Tigers have put aside a disappointing Newcastle Knights by 20-4 at McDonald Jones Stadium as questions continue to linger on the Knights attack.

After a quiet opening quarter of the contest, the Tigers decided to run the ball on the last and they caught the Knights napping on the last play. Some quick hands out to the right edge caught Greg Marzhew out of position and it was Sunia Turuva who got down low to score for the visitors after 19 minutes.

Eight minutes later, the Tigers crossed for a second try that seemed a long time coming in the aftermath of some poor handling. The Knights made continuous yardage errors and their right edge again was found wanting in defence. Starford To'a got given the early ball and made Bradman Best look foolish to break away and score the second try of the contest.

Jahream Bula then took matters in his own hands in the final ten minutes, catching Kalyn Ponga out of the line. Bula then put boot to ball, won the race to the ball and grounded it to give the visitors a 14-point lead. Newcastle had some better territory in the final five of the opening half but it appeared they were a step behind the pace and trailed 14-0 at the change of ends.

The second half began the same way as the first half, with the Knights making errors and the Tigers camping down the Newcastle end. But, much like the first half the home side hung on. Dane Gagai let his frustration get the best of him when he instigated a melee with To'a which resulted in the pair being sin-binned midway through the second half. Doueihi added a gift penalty goal for a 16-0 lead.

Just on the hour mark, Jermaine McEwen put the ball down coming out of his own end and the Tigers immediately capitalised on it. Jarome Luai went down the left short side to find Doueihi to score for the Tigers and make it a 20-0 ball game. The rest of the game followed a very similar script, with the Knights having few and far attacking opportunities as they are desperately lacking troops.

The visitors thought they finished with a bang. Luai put up a bomb late in the game, Marzhew struggled under the high ball once more and the Tigers capitalised. A great pass from Alex Seyfarth found a flying Tallyn Da Silva to put an exclamation mark on it but the Bunker determined Turuva obstructed Best which impacted the catch and it was no try. Newcastle got a scrappy consolation try in the last few moments when Fletcher Sharpe cleaned up a grubber kick and crossed in the dying moments.

Despite that, the Tigers still held a team to nil for the first time in five years. The Tigers didn't come out of this unscathed with Jeral Skelton aggravating a hamstring injury which he was on return from. Newcastle are likely to get Jack Cogger and James Schiller back next week, but outside of that there is little to be excited about based on this performance.