Tensions spilled over after the full-time whistle as the Wests Tigers continued their strong start to the season with a 33-14 win over the Canberra Raiders on Thursday night.
There was a fiery conclusion to the contest at Leichhardt Oval when Wests Tigers winger Sunia Turuva and Raiders hooker Tom Starling exchanged words.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Players from both teams were shaking hands when things suddenly got heated — Turuva and Starling yanked at each other’s jerseys before getting separated by teammates. Starling did not look particularly pleased.
“After the match a bit of a scuffle took place on the field. Bit of a drama, bit of brouhaha,” Matty Johns said on Fox League’s Late Show with Matty Johns.
“As we know, Turuva likes to chirp.”
Watch the post-game scuffle in the video above
Former Queensland Origin player Billy Moore added: “They had a few pushies and shovies earlier in the game actually, so that was a square up.”
In the first half, the Tigers were awarded a penalty when Starling was ruled to have made a high tackle on Turuva, even though replays showed Turuva may have exaggerated the contact.
After referee Ashley Klein awarded the penalty, Turuva had words for Starling before Tigers centre Taylan May came in and rubbed Starling’s head as tensions started to bubble.
“Some anger from the man who is usually so joyous, Sunia Turuva,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane said in commentary.
“It slipped up high but then it dropped around the chest. Turuva kept running and made it look spectacular,” Greg Alexander said.
After a fairly even first half, the Tigers scored four tries to none in the second half to claim a dominant victory, with Luke Laulilii and Adam Doueihi both scoring a double.
But it may have come at a significant price with Jahream Bula injured and Api Koroisau placed on report during their 33-14 victory over the Raiders.
Benji Marshall’s side may have thrilled the 17,153-strong Leichhardt Crowd by battling back from a 14-10 halftime deficit to claim their fifth win of the season.
However, this elation will be short-lived with Koroisau potentially facing suspension and Bula set for scans on an injured shoulder.
Koroisau was dispatched to the bin by referee Ashley Klein in the 28th minute after an alleged hip drop tackle on Noah Martin. The Raiders rookie managed to stay on for the rest of the first half, but succumbed to injury and didn’t return after the break.
Koroisau was in hot water once again in the 52nd minute, placed on report for a second time due to a lifting tackle.
As for Bula, he came from the field in the 67th minute after aggravating a left shoulder injury sustained during last weekend’s loss to Brisbane.
It was a bittersweet evening for the Tigers, who moved to second on the ladder on 12 points, but also lost boom forward Kai Pearce-Paul to a failed HIA.
– With NewsWire
