Api Koroisau gets a hero’s reception as he leaves the field.

Api Koroisau gets a hero’s reception as he leaves the field.Credit:Getty Images

There will be plenty of wins to come for Marshall if Bula,22,Koroisau,and 18-year-old Galvin continue to trouble opposition teams with their slick passing and off-the-cuff approach.

Did we mention Jarome Luai heads to Tiger Town next year to complete an impressive spine?

Cronulla were poor,ill disciplined,lacked urgency,failed to stop the Tigers’ offloads,and Nicho Hynes had an off night with the boot. Two of his kicks sailed out on the full.

The Tigers celebrate a try on Saturday night.

The Tigers celebrate a try on Saturday night.Credit:Getty Images

Dale Finucane was split open twice and failed an HIA,Toby Rudolf was in a moon boot,Royce Hunt did not even make it onto the field after straining a calf warming up on the sideline,and Cam McInnes was placed on report for a high shot on John Bateman.

“We got out-enthused,they[the Tigers] were great and we were not,” Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

Justin Olam made his debut for the Tigers and won over the faithful with some brutal shots. Fellow Sharks centre Sifa Talakai was just as much a handful.

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KEY POINTS:Tigers v Sharks

TIGERS SPIN.Jahream Bula,Api Koroisau and Lachie Galvin are only two games into their combination,but they are going to win plenty of matches together. And to think Jarome Luai completes that Tigers spine from next season. Koroisau is excellent,Bula an excitement machine,and Galvin is just happy to play what he sees. They were in everything against the Sharks.

OLAM MAGIC. Justin Olam quickly won over the Tigers’ faithful with his club debut. He smashed Teig Wilton with his first tackle,was harshly penalised for a similar brutal whack on Sione Katoa,and ran with purpose. It was the Olam Melbourne fans knew in 2020,not 2023. The Tigers needed a bit of mongrel,pace and class out wide,and Olam is their answer.

INJURED SHARKS.Dale Finucane failed his HIA after being split open a couple of times,while Royce Hunt injured his calf while warming up on the sideline during the early exchanges and did not even make it onto the field. The Shire boys were also really disappointing. They lacked urgency,failed to stop the Tigers’ offloads,and Nicho Hynes had a rare stinker,including a couple of kicks that sailed out on the full.

Game Over

Benji Marshall is about to notch his first win as NRL head coach.

Jahream Bula has bagged a second try to make it 32-6.

They have thoroughly deserved this win.

The Tigers’ Next Generation have officially arrived.

Onya,Benj.

Standing ovation for skipper

Api Koroisau has come from the field with cramp with 10 minutes remaining and has been given a standing ovation.

Bud Sullivan,who has been standing up and warming up for the entire game,is finally into the action.

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Almost a full house

The crowd has just come through over the microphone at Leichhardt Oval – 15,990 fans. That’s about 1000 short of an official sellout.

Do you reckon the Tigers are feeling the love with a similar attendance at CommBank Stadium,or any other major stadium?

God bless you,Eighth Wonder

Bula Bula

Jahream Bula has been rewarded for his hustle with a try.

The Tigers went close a couple of times,but Bula got the all-important four-pointer.

Unstoppable:Jahream Bula

Unstoppable:Jahream BulaCredit:Getty Images

Aidan Sezer put through a messy grubber,which was knocked down by Cronulla,Braydon Trindall failed to ground the ball,and Bula was on the spot to mop up the mess.

The Tigers faithful are rocking. They sense a win.

Cronulla have been ill disciplined,and failed to stop the Tigers’ offloads.

Tigers lead 26-6.

Faataape denied first try

Solomona Faataape thought he had his first try in just his second NRL game,only for the bunker to pick up a knock-on by Jahream Bula.

Faataape,a right centre,also debuted last week in the same game fellow first-gamer Lachie Galvin generated all the headlines.

The Tigers slotted a penalty goal a couple of plays later to lead 20-6.

Dale Finucane was opened up a second time and failed his HIA.

Dale Finucane was opened up a second time and failed his HIA.Credit:Getty Images

Cronulla have lost Dale Finucane to the blood bin after a nasty facial cut re-opened.

The commentators spotted the blood and said Finucane was hard to look at,and he was about to be replaced by Cam McInnes,who was “no oil painting”.

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HALF-TIME:TIGERS LEAD 18-6

That man Api Koroisau helped the Tigers stretch their lead before half-time.

Koroisau showed plenty of urgency to jump on a loose ball,then ducked under a couple of Sharks from dummy-half a few plays later before passing for Justin Olam to score.

The Tigers are playing with more energy. They look a confident bunch.

Reports on the TV just confirmed Cronulla prop Royce Hunt is out of the game after tweaking his calf in the warm-up.

Seyfarth puts Tigers ahead

After bombing a try himself,Api Koroisau has thrown a lovely short ball for Alex Seyfarth to score before half-time.

Koroisau looked and shaped to throw it long but went short.

The skipper is such a good player. These Tigers have been enjoyable to watch. Hopefully the thrills continue in the second half.

A penalty late in the tackle count again gifted the Tigers easy field position.

Tigers are up 12-6 with a few minutes remaining before the break.

Api bombs try

Api Koroisau spilled the ball before thee tryline. He scooted out of dummy-half and looked ready to score,only to drop it.

The Tigers went on the attack after Nicho Hynes sprayed a second kick into row K in the main grandstand

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