Magpies start fast to post big Round 1 win

Author: Caitlyn Grant
Timestamp: Sun 15 Mar 2020, 05:32 PM

Western Suburbs Magpies have produced a strong Round 1 performance to down the St. George-Illawarra Dragons in their season opener today at WIN Stadium.

Under the guidance of new Coach Wayne Collins, the Magpies scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes of the match and never looked back with Tommy Talau grabbing a double amongst a number of impressive performances.

Jock Madden was again strong in the halves alongside Brendan O'Hagan, while NRL squad members Matt Eisenhuth and Sam McIntyre also laid a solid platform in the opening half an hour of the game to see the Magpies home.

It was Madden and Eisenhuth who crossed for the opening two tries of the game, before Talau showed his class with a speedy effort out wide.

A momentary lapse just before the half-time break saw the Dragons score their first of the match with Treigh Stewart picking up a loose ball to streak away and cut the Magpies lead to 16-6 after Tristan Sailor's conversion.

Post-Match: Tommy Talau

Wests hit back soon after the interval with O'Hagan laying on a lovely set move for Matheson Johns to score his first try for the club, before Talau put the icing on the cake with his second try of the day off a deft grubber from Madden.

Jason Saab crossed late to give the Dragons some hope but it was all in vain, as Dylan Smith crashed over in the final minutes to secure a 32-12 win.

Western Suburbs will look to keep their winning start to the year alive when they take on the Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval as a curtain-raiser to the NRL contest between the two sides.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 15 Mar

Full Time

Dragons

Magpies

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Treigh Stewart

Fullback for Magpies is number 1 Dylan Smith
Winger for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai

Winger for Magpies is number 2 William Kei
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Charly Runciman

Centre for Magpies is number 3 Tommy Talau
Centre for Dragons is number 20 Euan Aitken

Centre for Magpies is number 4 Matheson Johns
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Jason Saab

Winger for Magpies is number 5 Kane Bradley
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Tyran Wishart

Five-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Brendan O'Hagan
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Tristan Sailor

Halfback for Magpies is number 7 Jock Madden

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Eddie Blacker

Prop for Magpies is number 8 Matthew Eisenhuth
Hooker for Dragons is number 13 Hayden Lomax

Hooker for Magpies is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jayden Morgan

Prop for Magpies is number 10 Oliver Clark
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luke Gale

2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Chris McQueen
2nd Row for Dragons is number 17 Matt Delbanco

2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Alex Seyfarth
Lock for Dragons is number 15 Nathan Leatigaga

Lock for Magpies is number 13 Sam McIntyre

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 2 Jason Gillard

Interchange for Magpies is number 14 Jordin Leiu
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Blake BARBUTO

Interchange for Magpies is number 15 Terrell May
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Matthew Nicholson

Interchange for Magpies is number 16 Lachlan Talau
Interchange for Dragons is number 19 Luke Chalker

Interchange for Magpies is number 17 Austin Dias