Wests Tigers hosted the North Queensland Cowboys with Luke Brooks playing his 200th career game.
Result
Wests Tigers 66
Tries: (11) Stefano Utoikamanu 5th; Junior Tupou 9th, 47th; David Nofoaluma 17th, 72nd; Jahream Bula 39th; Fonua Pole 44th; Starford To’a 63rd, 66th; Joe Ofahengaue 69th; John Bateman 77th
Goals: (11) Brandon Wakeham 7th, 10th, 18th, 40th, 46th, 49th, 65th, 67th; Luke Brooks 71st; Apisai Koroisau 74th, 77th
North Queensland Cowboys 18
Tries: (3) Kyle Feldt 23rd; Luciano Leilua 54th; Reuben Cotter 61st
Goals: (3) Valentine Holmes 25th, 56th, 61st
Report
Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks made his 200th appearance in the National Rugby League when they hosted the North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval. It also coincided with Joe Ofahengaue’s likely last game for the club with his switch to the Parramatta Eels set to be confirmed this week. For the Cowboys, Luciano Leilua was cleared to return after being stood down under the no-fault stand down condition.
With Brooks leading from the front, the Tigers jumped out to lead 18-0 at a point a minute before Kyle Feldt went over for the Cowboys in the 23rd minute.
On half-time, Jahream Bula scored his first career try chasing through Brooks’ kick which was fumbled at the back by Feldt and grounded by the rookie fullback. The Tigers were in total command leading 24-6 at the break.
The Tigers continued to dominate until the Cowboys scored two tries in seven minutes to bring back the margin to 36-18.
From there the Tigers crossed five times in fourteen minutes and along the way scoring 50 points for the first time since 2015 (vs New Zealand Warriors, 30 August), and then breaking the joint venture’s highest score record (56 vs Souths in 2004, 56 vs Bulldogs in 2008, 56 vs Sharks in 2009).
The result for the Cowboys was the equal highest loss in their history (66 vs Bulldogs in 1995, 66 vs Canberra in 1996) and is in stark contrast to their 2022 defence where they conceded only 361 points in 24 games. So far in 2023 they’ve let in 307 points in half as many games. Their game was riddled with 12 errors and 54 missed tackles.
Api Koroisau staked his claims for New South Wales Origin selection with an eighty-minute game with 3 try assists, 3 line break assists and 34 tackles.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Luke Brooks (Tigers)
2 – Api Koroisau (Tigers)
1 – Jahream Bula (Team)
