Round 12
Rabbitohs 4 l. Tigers 44

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Intensity lifts Wests Tigers to good win
Mon May 29, 2006
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

Tim Sheens said intensity was the key in the Wests Tigers crushing 44-4 victory over South Sydney at Telstra Stadium on Sunday, May 28.

Wests Tigers ran in eight tries to one with half-back Scott Prince bagging three tries ? his second hat-trick for the club. Souths were very ordinary with Sheens angry about the media hype leading into the game.

"Souths were given every chance and every reason to play well considering the way the media gave it to them," Sheens said.

"It was an ambush waiting to happen as far as we were concern. We laid a good platform in the first half with only three errors, plenty of completed sets, and some hard work, to finish 18-0 in front at half-time.

"Souths turned plenty of ball over because we tackled and got in their faces, compared to last week's game where we tackled pretty poorly.

"I was happy with the quality of the win in that not too many sides have put Souths away this year by that sort of score. That would be their worst score in terms of for and against is concern, so it was a good result for us. We needed to do that too just for our own creditability as well.

"It is always a danger when you get comfortable and today we were very intensed all the time. We kept pulling together in the middle of the field and kept talking about the next set of six and remained focus on our game, rather than just look at the clock.

"We are still in the mix with that win and we needed to be,otherwise we were going to be in a bit of trouble. The season gets tougher and tougher during the rep season and we needed to win this game.''

Wests Tigers took just 11 minutes to open the scoring when five-eighth Benji Marshall broke through a tackle to race downfield to offload inside to full-back Brett Hodgson, who gave the ball back to Marshall to send winger Taniela Tuiaki over. Hodgson converted for a 6-0 lead.

It was Tuiaki's third try in two games after scoring a double in his debut against the Warriors the week before.

Five minutes later, Prince scored the first of his three tries when he took on the defence to score behind the posts. Hodgson converted for a 12-0 lead.

Marshall was unlucky not to have scored himself after picking up a drop ball to race for the corner, only to be taken into touch in a desperate tackle by full-back Todd Polglase.

A mistake by winger Nathan Merritt one minute from half-time resulted in Prince scoring his second try. After the ball was spread right, Prince stopped and sent the ball left through prop Bryce Gibbs who offloaded in a two man tackle for Prince to score five seconds from the break. Hodgson converted to give the Wests Tigers an 18-0 lead at half-time.

The lead was extended to 22-0 when Hodgson scored four minutes after half-time. The ball was spread right to Marshall, who stepped the defence to offload to Hodgson to slice through a poor tackle by Joe Williams to score.

A drop ball by Souths then led to Wests Tigers second-rower Chris Heighington scoring out wide. Hodgson converted for a 28-0 lead.

The onslaught continued when centre Dean Collis stepped inside Shane Rigon to score out wide for a 32-0 lead before hooker Robbie Farah dived over from dummy half for his first try of the season. Hodgson converted for a 38-0 lead after 70 minutes.

One minute later, a great break by second-rower Anthony Laffranchi found Farah in support who offloaded short of the line for Prince to score his third try. Hodgson converted for a 44-0 lead.

Souths then scored a late consolation try to Merritt for the 44-4 scoreline.

News sent by: www.weststigers.com.au


Wests Tigers a role model says McRae
Mon May 29, 2006
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

South Sydney coach Shaun McRae has paid the Wests Tigers a massive compliment, describing the club as a role model.

The embattled Rabbitohs coach said the Wests Tigers were a success story, both on and off the field, after watching his side lose 44-4 to the NRL Premiers.

McRae said,

"I think the Wests Tigers are a great role model club to learn from. I like to think Souths could be like them at some stage in the near future.

"It was always going to take time to get the merger right. In terms of their administration, their training facilities, their ability to attract players, the processes of the lower grades, it is all of a very high standard and a very professional manner in which it is handled.

"Success to the Wests Tigers hasn't come because of any other reason apart from hard work and being in a position to build every year, on and off the field.

"They are a very good role model in terms of what they have been able to achieve. Most of the players are young and gaining experience week in, week out.

"I just like what I see about the Wests Tigers. We could take a leaf out of their book but we are probably two to three years behind.''

McRae paid tribute to the way the Wests Tigers played in the win over Souths and went on to say,

"I thought they were absolutely outstanding.

"That would be the best performance we played against this year, by a long way.

"We have probably defended worst than we did against them and not have as many points put on us.

"I have to give them a lot of credit. I congratulate the Wests Tigers on their performance and I actually thought our effort was pretty good, even though the scoreline doesn't reflect that.

"They came out and played like a confident side, like a side who had been winning most of their games. We got blown away by them."

News sent by: www.weststigers.com.au

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