Report: Pre-Season Challenge vs Bulldogs

Solomona Faataape, Kit Laulilii, and Tino Tavana were among the strongest performers in the Sunday evening clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Both sides maintained a conservative approach to begin the match before a Bulldogs error presented the first real chance to Wests Tigers.

Josh Feledy went awfully close to scoring out of dummy half in the 13th minute but was stopped just short of the line.

Lachlan Galvin did his best to create points for Wests Tigers in the opening stages of the contest but couldn’t conjure up an early try.

Jack Todd ultimately opened the scoring for Canterbury after 23 minutes, with the forward powering over shortly after entering the match from the interchange bench.

Galvin’s playmaking efforts were rewarded when he helped set up an outstanding team try for Wests Tigers in the 32nd minute.

The 2024 Wests Tigers Rookie of the Year combined with Faataape and Alex Lobb down the right touchline, with the winger kicking back on the inside for a supporting Heath Mason, to level the scores at 6-6.

Bulldogs winger, Ratu Rinakama, then finished off a nicely worked play to score in the left corner, putting Canterbury ahead by four at the break.

Just two minutes into the second half, Tino Tavana set up Faataape for a well-worked try, with the fullback delivering a sweet pass to send his right centre on his way to the line.

Faataape furthered his impressive performance when hooker, Tristan Hope, went down the short side and delivered a neat no-look pass to set the outside back up for his second try in just three minutes.

Rinakama collected his second four-pointer for the Bulldogs in the 57th minute to level proceedings at 14-14 and they took the lead not long after when fellow winger, Jonathan Sua, scored down the short side.

Wests Tigers were unable to post a late try despite their best efforts, as they fell to a 20-14 defeat in their opening Pre-Season Challenge match of the new campaign.

Wests Tigers will take on the Eels at Leichhardt Oval next Friday night in their final hit-out before the season proper.