Tigers Tamed by Beast of the Knights



Newcastle Knights 42-10 Wests Tigers 
NRL Round 1
Hunter Stadium
Attendance: 21,935

Round one of this season’s NRL was completed in emphatic fashion by Newcastle Knights who arguably saved the best performance of the eight games with the heaviest defeat of the weekend in a 42-10 rout over Wests Tigers.

Tigers coach Mick Potter, who departed English Super League crisis club Bradford in the winter, seemingly has his work cut out as his side slumped to the foot of the ladder after an error-strewn performance.
Between the sixth and eightieth minutes – where Adam Blair and Tim Moltzen grounded – the visitors offered nothing but help for their hosts, who had enough about them to win regardless.

Just three players shared the seven tries which Newcastle notched. James McManus and Dane Gagai both poached impressive doubles, but the evening belonged to Akuila Uate (above) who barged his way to a hat-trick of tries. 

If McManus’ first, which included a forward roll, was impressive then the man they call ‘The Thriller’ outdid him swiftly on 22 minutes after he finished a move he started 70 metres previously with a barnstorming 20 metre rampage.

Gagai won’t get easier scores as he first strolled to the line, before pouncing on a loose ball and outrunning Marika Koroibete – who is quick. However not as quick as his fellow Fijian Uate who, as well as running 100 metres in 10 seconds, can bulldoze his way through defences twice in three second half minutes. He did so, and in the process wrapped up his hat-trick and the game.

McManus plucked a Jarrod Mullen high kick for his second try as they dominated with nearly 70% possession of a one-sided affair. Coach Wayne Bennett will harbour ambitions of achieving a top eight finish with the Knights if they can maintain this predatory level.

If Bennett can too keep Uate, who was the third player of the weekend to score a hat-trick (after Steve Merritt – Souths and Jarryd Hayne – Parramatta), fit, it could be a very profitable season for the earliest of pacesetters.

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