Huge Origin call after Koroisau’s ‘perfect’ statement as Tigers’ stars of future announce themselves
The Tigers have delivered a performance for the ages, battering the Cowboys to record a 66-18 win at Leichhardt Oval.
Tim Sheens’ side cracked the half century for the first time in eight years and their 66-points became the club’s highest ever total, including the original merger organisations.
According to the Fox League lab, Balmain scored 60 points for the last time in 1944 and Wests did it in 1974.
The performance came at the perfect time, with the Tigers celebrating Luke Brooks’ 200th NRL game.
Sheens’ side flew out of the gates, scoring from a smart play from Apisai Koroisau to find Stefano Utoikamanu within five minutes of the whistle.
Winger Junior Tupou was the next to score before David Nofoaluma finished off a Jahream Bula break moments later.
Kyle Feldt stemmed the flow of points for the Cowboys but the Tigers wouldn’t sit down.
Jahream Bula recorded his first NRL try on the stroke of halftime, pouncing on a horror Feldt blunder off the back of a Brooks chip kick.
In the second half North Queensland were able to cross twice through Luciano Leilua and Reuben Cotter – but it one way traffic otherwise.
The Tigers scored a staggering five tries in the second half, with Fonua Pole crossing, Tupou scoring his second as well as a Starford To’a double.
Joe Ofahengaue, who could be playing his last game for the merger club, also scored the last of three tries within the 60th and 70th minute period.
The Tigers then continued their flurry of points, with Nofoaluma scoring his 99th try in the corner in the 72nd minute as the crowd watched on as the scoreboard attendant raised an unlikely six and zero.
Rugby league legend Michael Ennis labelled the Cowboys’ performance “horrendous” but heaped praise on their opponent’s “excellent” performance.
But once again, with only minutes left on the clock Bula broke through the line finding John Bateman on the inside to score the Tigers’ 11th try of the night.
North Queensland missed a staggering 56 tackles and conceded the most points in the club’s history.
Read below for the big talking points from the Tigers’ record-breaking rout!
