Tigers thrash Raiders in U-20s grand final

Wests Tigers claimed their maiden Toyota Cup premiership on Sunday with a dominant 46-6 thrashing of Canberra.

Impressive five-eighth Matt Mulcahy spearheaded the win, laying on two tries to go with a brace of his own, while Marika Koroibete and Kurtis Rowe also scored doubles in the eight-tries-to-one belting.

The victory in the under-20s competition gave coach Todd Payten his maiden title as a coach, and added to his 2005 NRL triumph as a player with the joint-venture club.

Slight favourites before the match, Canberra started stronger, crossing through skipper Mitchell Cornish in the eighth minute for a 6-0 lead.

The rest of the half was all the Tigers, with two tries in the following in six minutes, both set up by Mulcahy, to fullback Rowe and winger David Nofoaluma to claim a 12-6 lead.

The explosive Koroibete gave the Tigers a 12-point advantage at halftime when he scored his first moments before the siren.

Nothing changed after the break with Mulcahy and Koroibete both scoring brilliant solo tries, the latter a special 60-metre effort that turned into a foot race with Raiders speedster Jonathon Reuben – a race Koroibete was never going to lose.

That broke Canberra’s spirit before tries to Mosese Fotuaika, Mulcahy and Rowe padded out the scoreline.

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