There’s not much you can take out of the first match of a new footy season.
While Wests Tigers managed to eventually overpower North Queensland Cowboys last Saturday at Leichhardt and go on to win 44-16, there were plenty of things coach Benji Marshall would not have been too happy about.
On the other hand, there were just as many things about his team’s first performance in 2026 that he would have been pleased with.
One of them was his second row combination of new recruit Kai Pearce-Paul and Samuela Fainu, who look like they will, over time, form a deadly pairing.
“There’s a lot to like about the way we played a lot of our game today, but there’s also a lot that we can learn and take away. It’s round one for us, so we’ve got to be happy with two points and realise we’ve still got a lot to work on,’’ Marshall said after the game.
Kai Pearce-Paul and Samuela Fainu didn’t just score three tries between them, they menaced the Cowboys defence the entire game, and were a big factor in the Tigers victory.
But the biggest reason was that the team leaders and halves, Jarome Luai (pictured above) and Adam Doueihi, stood up in both attack and defence, both having big games, which augurs well for the rest of the season
An honourable mention must go to another forward, Alex Twal, who also put in an exemplary effort.
Now the Tigers will travel to Gosford to take on South Sydney, who suffered a narrow loss to the Roosters last weekend.
Marshall will be looking to see a repeat of the Cowboys effort – and some improvements on top of that.
The coach has named a largely unchanged lineup round one, with Taylan May (shoulder) the major omission, set to be replaced at right centre by Jeral Skelton.
Patrick Herbert joins the bench following a strong performance for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, while Tino Tavana and new recruit, Bunty Afoa, have been named in the reserves.
The Wests Tigers will be wearing a Multicultural Round Jersey in Round 3, celebrating the many diverse cultures that make up the game of rugby league.
The match this Saturday, March 21, will kick off at 7.30pm.
WESTS TIGERS TEAM LIST:
1. Jahream Bula
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Jeral Skelton
4. Heamasi Makasini
5. Luke Laulilii
6. Jarome Luai (c)
7. Adam Doueihi
8. Terrell May
9. Api Koroisau (c)
10. Fonua Pole
11. Samuela Fainu
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Alex Twal
INTERCHANGE:
14. Jock Madden
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Alex Seyfarth
18. Tristan Hope
19. Patrick Herbert
RESERVES:
20. Bunty Afoa
21. Tino Tavana
22. Tony Sukkar