Rugby League Weekend Roundup: Wests Tigers Shine, Warriors Stumble
It was an eventful weekend in the NRL, with a mix of surprising results and standout individual performances. Despite the dreary weather conditions affecting several matches, the rugby league faithful were treated to some thrilling action across the board.
The highlight of the round was undoubtedly the clash between the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown. Neither side had any players selected for representative duties, allowing them to field their full-strength lineups. The result was a free-flowing affair, with the two teams combining for a remarkable 12 tries and over 70 points in a bonkers match. While the defensive effort may have been lacking at times, the sheer entertainment value more than made up for it.
Elsewhere, the Dolphins and Storm engaged in a tight, back-and-forth battle on Friday night, with the game going down to the wire. The three Saturday fixtures, however, were largely impacted by the horrendous weather conditions in New South Wales, with the quality of play suffering as a result.
The Wests Tigers’ victory was a much-needed boost for the club, as they moved off the bottom of the ladder and secured a win at one of their key home grounds, Campbelltown, for the first time in 12 attempts. The future looks bright for the Tigers, with five teenagers in the squad and their first three tries scored by players who had never crossed the line in the NRL before. Lachlan Galvin and Api Koroisau were particularly impressive, while Adam Doueihi’s return from an ACL tear provided the icing on the cake.
On the flip side, the Warriors endured a disastrous 66-6 thrashing at the hands of the Titans, despite both sides missing just a single player to Origin duties. Their defensive resolve, usually a strong point, crumbled as the Titans piled on the points, with Lofi Khan-Pereira scoring four tries. The Warriors’ struggles to convert field position into points have been a persistent issue in 2024, and they now find themselves just a point better off than the competition’s previous whipping boys, the Rabbitohs.
In the individual spotlight, Sam Walker’s standout performance for the Roosters against the Bulldogs in the driving rain highlighted his exceptional talent. The young halfback was the game’s most influential player, setting up all four of his side’s tries and kicking flawlessly. While he may have to bide his time for an Origin call-up with Daly Cherry-Evans firmly entrenched in the Queensland setup, the Roosters will be thrilled to have Walker as their long-term playmaker.
As the NRL prepares for Origin 2 in Melbourne and the Women’s Origin in Townsville, the focus will undoubtedly shift to the representative arena. However, the weekend’s action has provided plenty of talking points and storylines to keep rugby league fans engaged in the lead-up to the next round of fixtures.
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