The St George Illawarra Dragons have obliterated the Wests Tigers 56-14 in an absolute bloodbath at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
Extremely, the Tigers lead 14-12 at halftime however the second half was all a technique visitors because the Dragons piled on seven unanswered factors, together with a private milestone of 32 factors for NSW Origin rep Zac Lomax.
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Main 26-14 with 23 minutes remaining, Hunt backed up his Origin double, working to the appropriate earlier than chopping again on the within and wrong-footing three Tigers gamers to attain.
It was simply the tip of the iceberg in a masterful efficiency that additionally included 4 attempt assists, a line break and a line break help.
However regardless of scoring a terrific particular person attempt, Hunt was removed from completely satisfied as he acquired to his ft, throwing the ball down on Tigers second rower Samuela Fainu.
“And a little bit little bit of nasty from Ben Hunt as he dumps the ball on the child on debut,” Dan Ginnane stated on Fox League.
“Tensions proceed to boil right here but it surely ought to be a attempt to the Dragons.”
Fainu wasn’t on debut for the report — the match was the sixteenth of his NRL profession, having performed 5 for the Sea Eagles in 2023 and his eleventh match of the 12 months for the Tigers.
In the end it was awarded a attempt however Cooper Cronk hit out on the transfer from the Dragons half.
“He’s a competitor and I don’t suppose he had to do that Ben Hunt, throw the ball down on Fainu,” Cronk stated.
“Fainu comes excessive, he doesn’t like that perhaps the swinging arm got here down.
“Ben Hunt didn’t must throw the ball down, Fainu doesn’t must react. It’s pointless.”
Ginnane stated Fainu’s motion didn’t seem like sufficient for an eight-point attempt because the referee awarded the 4 pointer.
Though Hunt was given a warning from the referee to cross onto his aspect about becoming a member of the melee, the attempt stood and the Dragons continued to run away with the victory.
On 9, Phil Gould identified the incident, with Andrew Johns replying: “There isn’t a want for that. I haven’t seen Ben Hunt do something like that.”
Gould added: “It doesn’t take a lot to set footballers off lately.”
However followers have been fuming.
One referred to as the motion “p**s poor sportsmanship”, one other stated Hunt’s motion confirmed “no class”, one other stated it was “gutless”, whereas a fourth claimed it was a “disgraceful act”.
Nevertheless, it was only one spiteful second amongst a number of, but it surely didn’t cease the Dragons from working riot, cracking 50 at WIN Stadium for the primary time in seven years.
Extremely, Lomax’s big haul beat the earlier membership report for the three way partnership, which was held by Amos Roberts (2000), Jamie Soward (2007), Gareth Widdop (thrice — 2015, 2017, 2018) and Lomax (2021) at simply 22 factors, which means he beat it by 10 factors.
