BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

We have only had one round of the National Rugby League in 2022 but this weekend’s result between Newcastle and Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium could have season-altering ramifications for both clubs and their respective coaches.

But to understand it – we need to go back a week.

A few had the Knights tipped for the wooden spoon. Many more were putting their money on the Wests Tigers. It was an important opening weekend for both teams and they needed to make statements in their respective matches.

Easier said than done considering that opposition just happened to be the Sydney Roosters and the Melbourne Storm.

The difference between the two sides would soon become clear.

Newcastle played for 80 minutes and took their chances, shocking the highly-fancied Roosters in a major boilover, running out 20-6 winners.

Tricolours boss Trent Robinson couldn’t say much more than, “we got what we deserved.”

Wests Tigers spluttered and tripped and eventually fell to the injury-hit Storm in Parramatta hours later, 26-16.

But it all started so well.

Already without Harry Grant, Melbourne lost Brandon Smith in the opening moments of the match with a broken hand. That paved the way for Tyran Wishart to make his debut with his famous dad, Rod, watching on from the sidelines.

Wests Tigers couldn’t have begun any better and were roaring after Ken Maumalo cruised over after six minutes. George Jennings hit back five minutes later but Wests Tigers weren’t going to go away without a fight.

Maumalo scored again in the 42nd minute but that would be Wests Tigers’ last points of the evening. The Storm made it easier for their opponents when they lost Jennings (ACL) and skipper Christian Welch (Achilles) for the season during the contest.

It didn’t matter.

The Storm scored the last four tries and that was it.

“There’s no excuse for the second half… we’ll definitely wear that one,” Michael Maguire said post-match.

“We definitely found the way we wanted to play in the first half and second half we just made it hard for ourselves.”

The story of Wests Tigers in a nutshell.

But there was some light. It may not be the end of the tunnel, but there was something, teasing, flickering, about the statement they made in the opening stages of the game.

A week is a long time in rugby league and we know you’re only as good as your last performance.

That’s why this clash on Sunday is so important.

It isn’t the best game of the round and it won’t be the top-rating match of the weekend on television but it will prove a lot about the character of these two organisations.

A loss for either team and round one means nothing.

Victory is another step in the right direction.

@woodward_curtis