The second coming of Tim Sheens at the Wests Tigers is off to a slow start, with a fired-up Warriors running rampant in the first NRL trial of 2023.
The Warriors scored twice in the opening 13 minutes as Marcelo Montoya and Jackson Ford both crossed for soft tries at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
Tigers fullback Charlie Staines stopped it from becoming three as he made a try-saving tackle on a barnstorming Michael Sio at close range in the 25th minute.
But the fullback couldn’t make it two in two minutes, with Montoya taking a cut-out at full pace and bulldozing Staines to score his second.
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“Look at this, whack, Charlie Staines welcome to 2023,” Mick Ennis said on Fox League.
“He enjoyed that Marcelo Montoya. He was tremendous last year, six tries and always averaging around 150 metres, but he’s an underrated finisher.
“Take your hat off to Charlie Stainese putting his body on the line but Montoya too strong running over the top of him.”
The Warriors lead 14-0 at halftime.
“This left edge has been dangerous,” Greg Alexander said.
“Montoya could have scored three tries in that first half. Not many run harder than him, he’s like a piece of granite and Charlie Staines just found that out.”
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TEAMS
Tigers: 1. Charlie Staines 2. Junior Tupou 3. Asu Kepaoa 4. Tommy Talau 5. Liam Scolari 6. Triston Reilly 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Aistasi James 11. Brandon Tumeth 12. Fonua Pole 13. Justin Matamua 14. Jahream Bula 15. Jordan Hill 16. Trey Peni 17. Josh Feledy 18. Christopher Faagutu 19. Sione Vaihu 20. Zane Camroux 21. Sione Fainu 22. Rua Ngatikaura 23. Alex Seyfarth 24. Tanous Sukkar
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Edward Kosi 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Tom Ale 11. Jackson Ford 12. Demitric Sifakula 13. Michael Sio 14. Maiu’u Zyon 15. Sanele Aukusitino 16. Ali Leiataua 17. Jacob Laban 18. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Kalani Going 21. Eiden Ackland 22. Ben Farr 23. Isaiah Vagana 24. Solomon Vasuvulagi 25. Paul Roache
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MATCH PREVIEW
The NRL’s pre-season is set to kick off with a number of new faces lining up for both the Warriors and Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium.
Premiership winner Charlie Staines gets a chance to audition at fullback under Tim Sheens, while fellow recruit Brandon Wakeham lines up in the halves.
Rising stars Fonua Pole and Justin Matamua also line up in an exciting forward pack for the merger club, with Jake Simpkin taking over dummy-half duties.
Meanwhile, a number of big-name Warriors recruits get their first chance to impress new coach Andrew Webster.
The former Panthers assistant has picked Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin in the halves, with Freddy Lussick at hooker and Burleigh Bears fullback Taine Tuaupiki in the No.1 jersey.
Brayden Williame also makes an NRL return after being released by the Dragons in 2021.
Webster has also named a strong forward pack, with Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale and Jackson Ford all starting.
