Sharks off to a great start

Round One
Rockingham Sharks 48 Joondalup Giants 6

It took only two minutes for the  Sharks to open their account for the NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play 2025 season after the kickoff was spilled by a Joondalup defender that set up centre George Hough to score the first of his double for the day in a game that saw 35 degree temperatures before the game.
Seven minutes later another kick, this time from new halfback David Quinlin, hung in the wind before landing between two Joondalup defenders, allowing another first grade debutant, Weylan Antonelli to race in to score.
Skipper Ben Bolth was next to cross, causing a lot of problems running through a large hole on the left edge and before we knew it, Hough had scored again, on that same left edge, to give the home side a commanding early lead.
The Giants, who had little possession in that first 40 minutes, regrouped and found the try line six minutes from halftime through centre JoJo Ranger.

The Sharks, with 11 players making their first grade debuts didn’t let up in the second half, as debutant fullback Keiron Lawton raced through the defensive line 40 metres out to quickly add to the score.Lawton added five two-pointers to his tally as the Sharks saw Antonelli score again, before young half Crockett Henry, forward Terrence Rameka and Fijian winger Danny Tabuakuru all found the whitewash in what was a very satisfying day for new coach Peter Worth.
“It was a great start but we have bigger tests ahead,” a modest Worth said after the game.
“We completed well in the first half and put them under pressure. We recovered from our own errors and then forced errors on them.
“Our kick chase was good and we took advantage of the opportunities that came our way. Nothing flash and there’s still room for improvement.”
Worth singled out both the youngsters in the side who have stepped up from Under-17s and the old heads in the team.
“I didn’t want to over complicate it for them, but they stuck to their tasks very well,” he said.
“For their first senior game they played very well and with people like Bolthy (captain Ben Bolth) and Siddo (Chris Siddons), Davie (Quinlin) and hooker Jarrad Whitty around them they worked well.
“Our centre George (Hough) also had a solid game on debut with two tries.”
The Giants lost influential halfback Gus Marshall midway through the second half with a rolled ankle, something coach Darren Smith said didn’t help.
“But to be honest, it just wasn’t our day,” Smith said.
“We had no ball and when we did we couldn’t  control it. 20 errors and only 50 per cent set completion says it all.
“Gus’ injury and a couple of head knocks, so we will regroup and I will look at tweaking a few things, but fair play to Rocky, they played well, did the simple things well and deserved the win.”

ROUND TWO
Saturday, April 5.
North Beach Sea Eagles v Rockingham SharksFremantle Roosters v South Perth LionsJoondalup Giants v Willagee Bears

Photos: Libby McMillan