The Wests Tigers returned to winning ways in style on Friday with a comprehensive 38-14 victory over an under-par Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
Two tries apiece from Luke Brooks, James Tedesco and Pat Richards banished memories of last week’s collapse against Canberra.
But it was the golden boot of veteran winger Richards and a freakish first-half play from Kevin Naiqama that set the platform for the win.
With just four minutes on the clock, a Tedesco grubber kick appeared to be heading out of the in-goal area only for Naiqama to lunge forward and scoop the ball over his head and into the grateful arms of the onrushing fullback.
Richards added the extras with his first of six successful kicks before Naiqama crossed for a four-pointer following another smart Tedesco kick.
Brooks added a third try with less than 15 minutes played after his speculative kick from midfield took a wicked bounce over the head of Sam Perret, then crashed off the upright and the halfback raced through to grab the rebound and score.
Shellshocked by their horror start, the Bulldogs finally managed to get on the scoresheet through Frank Pritchard midway through the opening stanza.
But on the stroke of halftime, Richards returned to the field following stitches for a facial cut to convert a monster 55-metre kick from inside his own half to open up an 18-6 lead.
Tedesco scored his second just after the restart, putting the finishing touches to a length-of-the-field try after being put in the clear by Naiqama.
A Richards penalty stretched the Tigers’ lead before Brooks ended the game as a contest from close range after some poor defence from the home side.
Pritchard and Curtis Rona crossed late in the game for the Bulldogs but there was to be no repeat of the fightback that secured their 25-24 victory over the Tigers in round four as Richards went over in the corner in the final minute.
Tigers coach Jason Taylor said he was delighted with the way his side bounced back from last week’s morale-sapping loss to the Raiders with a much-improved performance.
“We played for the full 80 minutes, I wanted us to go right to the bell and we played until the finish,” Taylor said.
“We have only played for the full 80 minutes once this season and to do it and beat a quality side like Canterbury is very pleasing.”
Canterbury coach Des Hasler was upset with his side’s first-half effort and made his players return to the field five minutes before the end of halftime to warm up.
Hasler played down the significance of the decision but admitted his side were poor.
“We weren’t too good tonight and paid the price,” Hasler said.
“Our third-quarter starts been been a bit dusty and I wanted to get their heart rates going.
“The Tigers got up in our faces and scored three tries off kicks and we couldn’t get any momentum.”
Tigerdon
Roar Rookie
the Tigers are always going to be able to score points. The challenge with them is defence. This year JT has got the structure right, its just that they haven't been able to do it for 80 mins
ferret
Guest
See my post @ 9:28am above. Can you see anything there that required moderation?
TONY
Guest
You wouldn't know that Gould used to play for and coach the Doggies the way he gives it to them and not fogetting the way he kept carrying on about them coming back on the field early after half-time to warm up. Even my missus who doesn't really follow the footy was telling him to shut-up.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yeah, it's pretty cool to watch.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's a myth though that they're relying on their forwards to score tries. Before last night their wingers, centres and fullbacks had scored 23 of their 26 tries. Rona is the NRL leading try scorer. Reynolds had 3 try assists and 3 line break assists last week. That was only his second starting game of the season. Don't get me wrong, they're attacks not working perfectly but there are definitely some myths being perpetuated here.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I guess the point I'm trying to make Baz, is that they're relying on forwards to get the points from punching it over the line. When they should be relying on their playmakers to create scoring opportunities from anywhere on the field. Doesn't matter how many ways you cut it their halves are very ordinary at the moment unfortunately. I believe they can do so much better but time is starting to get away from them.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They scored three and twice dropped the ball over the line. Most teams would settle for five tries going into a game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Old breathalyser's blown big numbers this morning. Two grand finals, a minor premiership and three semi final appearances in three years. That's a hell of a fluke...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah he did. Halligan did as well. Ross Conlon started place kicking for touch for a little while. There is something exciting about someone having a crack from that far out.
Breathalyser
Guest
Grand Final Bondi v Belmore..You are kidding..There are 5 sides in front of the overweight and over rated, badly lead, cheap shoting Bulldogs...The Bulldogs fluked it into last years decider and were flogged by 30 points..And if Souths weren't so conservatative in attack in the first half they would have won by 50. Watching the badly behaved Bulldogs faithful leaving the ground 5-10 minutes before the end of the game was like winning the lotto. If you are a punting man like myself mortgage your house and get on Queensland in the first game..They are dead set morals if the Bulldogs halves are picked ..Don't worry about last year...That was an aberration. And if for some reason the NSW selectors pick the side while they are out on the drink and pick that big over rated pea hearted Tony Williams get a bank loan and put more on Queensland
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Feeling persecuted ferret?
ferret
Guest
This is a test. Do all my comments await moderation? If so why?
MAX
Guest
Congratulations to the Tigers. Simply too good. I remain confident that come the GF it will be Belmore v Bondi.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
The Dogs still can't score though. They had plenty of opportunities yet they seem to be lacking that bit of spark to create things. Eastwood kicking on the second tackle in the twenty metre zone says it all.
ferret
Guest
I'm quite impressed with how Taylor has got the Tigers playing this year. They've still got flair but are playing a much more disciplined game. An obvious example is Robbie Farah. In past seasons he was always trying for a "miracle" play that by definition doesn't work 99% of the time. Now he plays a more controlled game but still manages to organise his forwards and his kicking from dummy half is excellent. So still a major influence but without as many mistakes.
The eye
Guest
All other things being equal you put the 2 Morris boys back in that side,Lafai.. and Graham and Klemmers grunt in the middle and the scoreline is reversed..really doubt Mbye as a center,might have his work cut out next week against the bigger cowboy traffic that will be targetted at him..
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Didn't Ross Conlon used to drop fifty metre goals back in the day?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tigers were good and deserved the win but I don't think it was as grim for the dogs as made out. The Naiqama try was an amazing bit of skill but more luck than judgement and not much you can do to prevent it. Brooks scored from a kick that hit the posts. The Tigers scored directly off the back of the ridiculous marker not square penalty, awarded after they had lost the ball (how Badger invented that is beyond me). They also scored off the back of the decision not to award a penalty to the dogs when Mbye was caught high and then dropped the ball - although the Tigers did go length of the field to score So four of six tries had an element of luck about them. The sixth was scored a minute before full time after the dogs turned over possession trying to throw the ball around. Thompson and Rona both dropped the ball over the line. That's the way the game goes sometimes. Tigers were better and deserved the win. Dogs were flat but nowhere as bad as Gould was making out in the second half. They were camped out in the Tigers 20, scored two tries, Rona bombed a third, Naiqama did well to recover a fumble and they forced two or three dropouts. Gotta say the Richards penalty at half time was exhilarating to watch.