The second coming of Tim Sheens is off to a horror begin because the Tigers had been thrashed 48-12 by the Warriors within the first NRL trial of 2023.
The Warriors scored twice within the opening 13 minutes as Marcelo Montoya and Jackson Ford each crossed for mushy tries at Mt Good Stadium in Auckland.
Tigers fullback Charlie Staines stopped it from turning into three as he made a try-saving sort out on a barnstorming Michael Sio at shut vary within the twenty fifth minute.
However the fullback couldn’t make it two in two minutes, with Montoya taking a cut-out at full tempo and bulldozing Staines to attain his second.
“Take a look at this, whack, Charlie Staines welcome to 2023,” Mick Ennis stated on Fox League.
“He loved that Marcelo Montoya. He was great final yr, six tries and at all times averaging round 150 metres, however he’s an underrated finisher.
“Take your hat off to Charlie Staines placing his physique on the road however Montoya too robust working excessive of him.”
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The large hit left many NRL followers in awe as some steered it might go down as probably the most brutal collisions of 2023.
“Oh my days, he hit him like a cartoon character,” one fan wrote in reply to Fox League’s tweet of the second.
“I’d retire on the spot,” wrote one other.
One other wrote: “Staines wishing he was again at Penrith now.”
“That was Sivo on Tedesco sequel,” wrote a fourth.
In the meantime, Sharks recruit Luke Metcalf had a blinder and scored the primary strive of the second half with a superb particular person effort.
Montoya additionally picked up the place he left off within the second half and crossed for his hat-trick within the fiftieth minute.
The winger reduce in off his left boot and barged his approach over once more, bullying the Tigers’ defence for his third strive of the evening.
“Montoya has three and what a finisher he’s,” Warren Smith stated on Fox League.
“First man to attain a hat-trick in 2023 and there could be extra to come back, I don’t assume he’s put his cue within the rack simply but.”
The Tigers hit again with quick-fire tries to Trey Peni and Stefano Utoikamanu and a comeback appeared on the playing cards.
Nevertheless it was brief lived because the Warriors crossed subsequent when a poor go gifted possession to Viliami Vailea who ran 50 metres to attain.
The Warriors then scored three tries within the ultimate quarter-hour to place a stamp on the emphatic victory.
“It’s been complete and the Warriors halves have had an evening out,” Ennis stated.
WARRIORS 48 (Marcelo Montoya 3, Viliami Vailea 2, Jackson Ford, Luke Metcalf, Solomon Vasuvulagi, Moala Graham-Taufa, 6/11 conversions) def TIGERS 12 (Trey Peni, Stefano Utoikamanu, 2/2 conversion)
Listed below are three of the most important speaking factors from the sport.
PLAYMAKER PUTS JOHNSON ON HIS TOES
Warriors recruit Shark Luke Metcalf has put playmaker Shaun Johnson on discover with a “scintillating” efficiency within the halves.
The previous Sharks half had his hand in all the things towards the Tigers and crossed for a strive of his personal 5 minutes within the second half.
Metcalf, 23, sliced by way of a niche and burned the quilt defence earlier than beating fullback Charlie Staines with pure pace from 40 metres out.
“Blink and he’s gone, what a run by Luke Metcalf, the Warriors add to their tally and that was blinding by the five-eighth,” Fox League’s Warren Smith stated.
Metcalf has performed solely seven NRL video games throughout two years within the NRL however is now in a battle to put on the five-eighth jersey beneath New Zealand’s new coach Andrew Webster.
To go together with his four-pointer, the Warriors recruit ran for 99 metres and broke three tackles throughout a “clinic” based on Fox League’s Michael Ennis.
“He’s been distinctive, a possibility that he has grabbed to go throughout the ditch to New Zealand, stored within the boundaries on the Cronulla Sharks,” Ennis stated.
“Spent a few seasons getting nice training from the likes of Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson and Nicho Hynes in recent times.
“The category of younger Luke Metcalf, getting his alternative with the Warriors this yr.”
Fox League’s Greg Alexander echoed Ennis’ opinion and believes the younger gun has made a “assertion” with a “fluent” show.
“He (Johnson) will lose his spot to Metcalf if he performs like he performed final yr,” Alexander stated.
WEBSTER’S ATTACK HUMMING AS MONTOYA FIRES
You couldn’t wipe the smile off rookie Warriors coach Andrew Webster at full time after his aspect made the proper begin to 2023.
The Warriors assault was very good as they crossed for 9 tries and winger Marcelo Montoya crossed for a hat-trick.
“What a begin for the Warriors, approach too good for the Wests Tigers,” Braith Anasta added.
The hosts dominated from begin to end as halves Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin fired and their outdoors backs completed the job with brute power.
“This left edge has been harmful,” Greg Alexander stated.
“Montoya may have scored three tries in that first half. Not many run more durable than him, he’s like a chunk of granite and Charlie Staines discovered that out.”
NEW YEAR SAME TIGERS
They collected the picket spoon final yr and it was solely a trial however the Tigers have proven little or no indicators of enchancment.
Their assault and defence was poor for a lot of the recreation as they allowed the Warriors to attain 9 tries and solely crossed for of their very own.
There was loads of hype across the Tigers this summer season with Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall returning to the membership however the aspect failed badly of their first efficiency.
“It was fairly stunning, our defence was fairly poor, we performed a reasonably younger staff and we will’t count on an excessive amount of,” Stefano Utoikamanu stated on Fox League.
“We simply need to give attention to subsequent week and what we have to do to enhance.
“We fell away on the finish, it was disappointing.”
Initially printed as Warriors younger gun places Johnson on discover, Tigers recruit annihilated by Montoya
