GREATER Northern Tigers started their Laurie Daley Cup under-18 CRL Country Championship with an eight point loss to Central Coast Roosters at Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong on Saturday.
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While 34-26 losers the Tigers had plenty of chances and can only improve, said their coach Peter Stevens.
“We trailed 18-4 at halftime but had a chance to score just before the bell,” he said.
“Then we got back to trail 18-16 in the second half and also levelled up later in the half too. But every time we did we’d make a mistake and hand them back the ball.
“Hopefully it’s a learning curve for the boys.”
He said a string of second half penalties didn’t help his side which also lost fullback Trent Taylor midway through the first half to a knee injury.
“Losing Trent did throw a bit of a spanner in the works but the boys did re-shuffle well. Hopefully Trent will be right but I don’t think he’ll play against Newcastle Knights at scone next Saturday,” Stevens said.
He said his “middle group” of players did well against a bigger pack “giving away a lot of weight”.
“Daniel Kelly came off the bench and won our players player award and the hooker, Clay Frendin, was very good too,” he said.
“We just need to eliminate a few of those mistakes for next week against the Knights.”
The Greater Northern Tiger Under 16’s and 18s play at 12 noon and 1.20pm on Saturday.
