A commanding performance by the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles saw them cruise to a 40-6 victory over the Wests Tigers to keep their slim chance of making the finals alive.
Jackson Hastings steered the ship with pure class, and he also brought his goal-kicking boots with him, slotting seven conversions from eight attempts.
Brian Kelly showed why he has 19 games at NRL level this year as he had three try involvements for the afternoon, while Pita Godinet also had a massive involvement at fullback.
Wests Tigers were their own worst enemy to begin the game, giving away three early penalties to bring Blacktown right into the contest. Cameron Cullen – as he has done all season – took advantage of the field position when he ferociously took the line on and scored a great try under the posts.
An offside penalty off the back of a positive set frustrated Wests Tigers once again, and the classy Blacktown outfit capitalised through Brian Kelly, who scored in the left corner.
A highlight for Wests Tigers came 25 minutes into the half, when Blacktown looked to begin a left-side raid, before an incredible one-on-one tackle by Luke Garner not only shut down the play, but forced the ball free.
The lead was extended on that same side soon after, however, when Peter Schuster showed his explosive speed to score a long-range try before Hastings calmly slotted another conversion from the sideline to make the score 18-0.
A desperate front-on tackle just before half-time by Jeremy Marshall-King saved a try, but Blacktown were able to increase the margin on the next play when Kelly dazzled his opponent to create an overlap for Schuster to score in the corner.
Wwets Tigers responded straight away to a more-than-disappointing first half when Joel Edwards crashed over under the posts in the 43rd minute, but Blacktown his straight back through Jarrad Kennedy, who finished off a polished set to strolled over untouched.
A classy long-range effort increased the Sea Eagles’ lead even further, when Pita Godinet made a line-break and had options either side of him, opting for Hastings on his inside to run the ball around behind the posts.
A nice piece of play by Dean Parata ensured Blacktown would hit 40 points when he picked the ball up from the scrum, and danced through the Wests Tigers' defence to score before Hastings continued his almost flawless afternoon with the boot.
The scoreline turned even uglier when Nathan Milone was unable to get a handle on a towering bomb that Hastings re-gathered and passed off his hip for Kennedy to score his double.
Milone made amends by scoring a consolation try with five minutes remaining, but it was well and truly Blacktown’s afternoon with a commanding victory.
ISP FULL TIME — Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 46 (P Schuster 2, J Kennedy 2, C Cullen, B Kelly, J Hastings, D Parata tries; J Hastings 7/8 goals) def/ Wests Tigers 12 (J Edwards, N Milone tries; L Garner 2/2 goals) at H.E. Laybutt Sports Field
Wests Tigers Round 23 Team — 1. Nathan Milone 16. Christian Yassmin 3. Ash Nisbet 4. Jackson Williams 5. Luke Garner 6. Bayley Sironen 14. William Kitt 8. JJ Felise 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Ava Seumanufagai 11. Junior Tatola 12. Joel Edwards 7. Jerry Key (Interchange: 13. Jordan Grant 15. Wesley Lolo 17. Darcy Cox 18. Pio Sokobalavau).
