Heavy loss and injuries mar final game of season for Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers have closed their 2021 season with a 38-0 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe.

The Bulldogs scored seven unanswered tries to snap a 10-game losing streak and inflict Michael Maguire’s men with their third-consecutive loss.

The defeat was compounded by centre Tommy Talau suffering a suspected ACL injury but will require scans to determine the extent of the injury, while hooker Jake Simpkin injured his shoulder in the second half.

It was a disappointing end to the season for Wests Tigers, who finished the campaign in 13th position on the ladder with eight wins and 16 losses.  

The Bulldogs turned it on in the early stages of the game as they held out multiple Wests Tigers raids before going up the other end to score back-to-back tries.

Nick Meaney split through the defence for the game’s first four-pointer, before Jake Averillo scored on the ensuing set to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead following 13 minutes.

Trent Barrett’s men nearly had another six points when Aaron Scoupp claimed a try when he raced through on a grubber kick, however the Bunker intervened to rule the centre had dropped the ball in attempting the ground the ball.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 12-0 after 27 minutes through a Meaney penalty goal after David Nofoaluma was penalised for an illegal steal.

Meaney was involved in everything throughout the first half, securing his second try to give the blue and whites a 16-0 lead at the break.

The scoreline worsened to 22-0 in the first set of the second half when Jack Hetherington scored a rare try after the Bulldogs cleaned up the scraps from a Nofoaluma and Zac Cini mix-up at the back.

Soon after it was 26-0 when Meaney and Will Hopoate linked with winger Jayden Okunbor, who crossed for his fourth try in as many games.

The match was going from bad to worse for Wests Tigers, and after multiple infringements, Luciano Leilua was sent to the sin bin — and Corey Allan scored on the ensuing set for a 32-point advantage.

Wests Tigers were down to 11 men when Shawn Blore was marched for 10 minutes and placed on report for a late shot on former Penrith teammate Sione Katoa.

Averillo scored his second try of the afternoon as the Bulldogs sealed the result.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 38 (Meaney 2, Averillo 2, Hetherington, Okunbor, Allan tries; 4/6 Meaney, Hopoate 1/1 goals) def. Wests Tigers 0 at Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe.