Tigers secure sensational 44-16 victory in season opener at Leichhardt Oval

Wests Tigers buried their reputation for a serially slow start to the season with a sensational 44-16 victory over the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers, who haven’t won their season opener since 2020 and haven’t played finals football since 2011, not only showed promise in front of a sold-out crowd, but also showed the ingenuity and talent of a team ready to break the dreadful record that has haunted them for more than a decade.

It was the biggest win to start a campaign in the club’s 27-year history.

Whether it was Jarome Luai escaping the slow Cowboys defense, recruit Kai Pearce-Paul scoring a double, or Jahream Bula breaking the line, the Tigers’ offense had it all.

However, the team suffered a defensive error in the second half and the visitors managed to come back strongly, despite being 32 points behind in the first three tries after the break.

But the Cowboys’ hopes of victory were all but dashed, even with 17 minutes remaining, when winger Luke Laulilii grabbed Scott Drinkwater’s ball and raced just over 70 meters to score his second try of the afternoon.

For the most part, North Queensland was terrible. This was never more evident than when Adam Doueihi crossed the line under the posts for the softest of tries, with Scott Drinkwater watching.

But Benji Marshall’s men deserved every point and proved the club is ready to usher in a new era.