Tigers' teen sensation bags hat-trick in stunning comeback win
Updated . First published at
The Wests Tigers have overrun the Sydney Roosters 42-26 in their Pre-season Challenge clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After a sluggish start saw them trailing 16-nil, the Tigers roared back with four unanswered tries to flip the script and turn the deficit into a dominant lead.
Tigers standout Heamasi Makasini lived up to the hype, bagging a hat-trick to cement his status as one of the club's top prospects.
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Beyond his scoring prowess, the 18-year-old also finished the match with 108 run metres and five tackle breaks in a powerhouse performance.
Heamasi Makasini in action for the Wests Tigers. NRL Imagery
The Roosters struck first in the seventh minute through Junior Pauga after Hugo Savala produced a brilliant cut-out pass down the left edge.
Dominating possession early, Savala continued to press his case for a regular spot in the first-grade side.
The Tricolours soon went back-to-back when Tom Rodwell scrambled over the line after combining with Rex Bassingthwaighte, who looked comfortable starting in the No.1 jersey after completing a pre-season apprenticeship under James Tedesco.
The Tigers went close to their opening try, but Rodwell pounced on a loose ball and sprinted down the field, only to be run down short of the line.
Capitalising on the resulting field position, Benaiah Ioelu then darted from dummy-half to crash over for the Roosters' third try.
Pauga was denied a second four-pointer shortly after, when the Bunker caught him offside following a fumble by Tigers fullback Jack Attard.
The Tigers finally got on the board in the 32nd minute through Makasini, with the highly-touted prospect skipping past three defenders to barge over.
Jared Haywood celebrates with teammates after scoring a try. NRL Imagery
"In one play, we've just seen what this kid's potential could be," Cooper Cronk said in commentary for Fox League.
"This is all you wanna see.
"You just want to see a little bit of athleticism, something that you can work with.
"Makasini looks like a threat with the ball in hand close to the line."
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Fighting back in the shadows of half time, the Tigers went back-to-back as Jared Haywood struck from dummy-half to cut the margin to just four points.
The momentum carried into the second half as the Tigers found their spark through halfback Jock Madden.
The halfback produced a special play, drifting down the left edge to find Makasini, who punched through the defensive line for his second of the match.
Two quickly became three just five minutes later as Makasini completed his hat-trick, crossing off a crisp double-pump pass from Javon Andrews.
Egan Butcher dragged the Roosters back into the contest, crossing for a four-pointer that stood despite a Bunker review for a potential obstruction.
Subbing in for Attard, Logan Brookes made an immediate impact, slicing through for a try on the back of a terrific set-piece.
The Tigers then went back-to-back as Madden dished to Charlie Murray, who crossed under the posts.
Kit Laulilii added a third consecutive four-pointer before Tino Tavana produced one of the tries of the year in February.
Known for his aerial threat, Tavana climbed high to reel in the bomb, miraculously staying within the chalk to plant the ball in the left corner for a spectacular finish.
Jackson Stewart added his name to the scoresheet for the Roosters, though the four-pointer was merely a consolation as the clock wound down.
