By Adam Sheldon

Easts made an emphatic statement to rival Hospital Cup sides after they dismantled Wests 38-17 at home in the opening round of the season – the Tigers’ win signalling that they will threaten again in 2026.

After finding themselves trailing at half-time following a Jacob Job try on the stroke of the break, Easts ran in six unanswered tries to Wests’ two in the second half to finish with a comprehensive victory.

Speaking to Rugby News, Easts captain Elijah Pilz attributed the second-half blitz to a tactical change from head coach Simon Craig at the interval.

“We were really pleased with our effort, but we just wanted to clean up our ruck area and pick up our ruck speeds,” Pilz said.

“We were just that one or two seconds behind in attack that whole first half. Once we got our breakdown sorted and picked up our ruck speed, and bodies started tiring, their defence started to open up.”

With a host of new names on the Tigers’ roster, one name singled out in preseason by Craig was winger Timoci Naivaluwaqa, formerly of the Brumbies.

Naivaluwaqa stood out on the day, scoring two tries in two minutes in the second half to put Easts firmly in front, and the side never looked back.

“Timmy – he’s a bit of a freak,” Pilz said.

“He’s a genuine winger who gets rugby. Over the trial games and on the weekend, he just finds himself in those positions. But we’re fast learning that’s not just by chance – he puts himself there, he’s pretty cluey, and he’s got the speed to back it up.”

Naivaluwaqa was one of five debutants in the Easts lineup, with Duane Aholelei, Gordy Lloyd, Ed Fidow and Will Nason all pulling on the Tigers jersey for the first time.

Pilz said the depth the new arrivals brought gave him confidence the club could go one better than last season’s second-place finish.

“Last year we had quite a good side in experience, but there wasn’t much behind it. There were a few key positions we were light on,” Easts’ captain said.

“We had four front rowers out come finals. This year, even looking across our second grade – the first grade caps there, the mix between youth and experience – there’s just serious competition for spots, which is super healthy.

“It’s something we’ve probably lacked since 2020 when we won it.”

While Wests coach Elwee Prinsloo will know nothing is won or lost on the opening day of the season, Saturday’s defeat to a direct premiership rival will sting.

 Pilz, however, was measured in his assessment of a Bulldogs side he expects to be competitive deep into the season.

“They’ve been there what, last four or five years now – consistently top four, if not top two,” he said.

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due. I think they’ll be about again this year.”

Around the Grounds

Elsewhere in Round 1, Brothers survived a late scare against Souths as they edged the Magpies 26–25 at home.

At Norths, last year’s cellar dwellers Sunnybank caused the early upset of the campaign, running over the hosts 52–36 in their first game under new coach Rex Tapuai.

Pilz said neither result caught him off guard.

“Last year we found out if we weren’t on, it didn’t matter who it was, you were in for an absolute dogfight for the full 80,” he said.

“The strength of the comp is in a really good spot. There’s going to be a lot of results that a lot of people don’t expect.”

In the final game of the round, reigning premiers Bond trounced UQ 48–29 in the Gold Coast.

GPS had the bye.