Tigers too good for ailing Rabbitohs

v BYE

The Wests Tigers have opened their account for 2017 with a solid 34-18 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, in front of 16976 at a wet ANZ Stadium tonight.

While all talk leading in to the match revolved around the fued between Robbie Farah and the Wests Tigers, it was an injury to Greg Inglis that took centre stage once the game was under way.

After injuring his knee early in the first half, Inglis remained on the field and was clearly a passenger throughout the game. At several points he was rendered completely unable to contest in content, instead opting to stand and take the tackle rather that risk further injury.

It was in no small part due to this that the Tigers had such an entertaining first half, skipping out to a 18-8 half time lead.

While the Rabbitohs scored first through Bryson Goodwin, first half tries to Ava Seumanufagai, James Tedesco and Chris Lawrence saw the Tigers take the lead.

Many will choose to focus on Robbie Farah's performance, however it was the South Sydney forwards that were severely beaten, not just by their opposition numbers, but also by the Wests Tigers outside backs. David Nofoaluma broke the line almost at will, powering over the Rabbitohs forwards, while Tedesco's speed and footwork proved a continual headache for the defence.

The Rabbitohs' only other points in the first half came on the back of some ineffective scrum defence, as a kick over the top of a rushing Tigers scrum base defensive line was gathered by limping Inglis to score.

Trailing 18-8 at the break, and already down Hymel Hunt, who failed a concussion test, the Rabbitohs would have been forgiven, and indeed expected, to leave Inglis on the sideline. But instead he came out in the second half with his knee heavily strapped, before finally succumbing to his injury late in the second half.

The Tigers added further points after half time, with tries to Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks and debutant Moses Suli, taking their tally out to 34.

The introduction of Damien Cook late in the game, combined with moving Robbie Farah to dummy half, sparked the Rabbitohs, but it was too little, much too late. Bryson Goodwin crossed for two late tries, but the Wests Tigers finished the game clearly the more impressive side, 34-18.

Talk this week will likely focus around the Inglis injury - how long will he be out for? And was that injury impacted by him having stayed on the field?