Wests Tigers rookie Faaletino Tavana has laid claim to one of the best tries in 2026 during a preseason trial against the Sydney Roosters.
The Tigers came from 0-16 down on Saturday to claim a 42-26 win in a trial match of mostly second-string players.
Heamasi Makasini bagged a hat-trick for Wests, but it was Tiger teammate Tavana who produced the moment of the match.
Tavana jumped out of the field to avoid defender Enzo Griffier, then contorted himself to place the ball on the line late in the match.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall had plenty to smile about on Saturday, with the hat-trick performance by Makasini showing the teenager is ready for a big year in 2026.
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Makasini’s sparkling display comes at the perfect time for the Tigers, who are preparing to shuffle their backline around as Adam Doueihi begins the season in the halves.
Makasini has mostly trained on the left wing this pre-season, so is competing with Jeral Skelton for chances, but could also fill in at centre should Starford To’a or Taylan May go down while Doueihi is in the halves.
“I can cover both spots. I like both positions,” Makasini said.
“I’ve been on the left a bit, left wing. But there’s a couple of good wingers in our team. We’re all fighting for the spot.”
Injury puts star Bulldog in doubt for Las Vegas opener
Matt Burton is backing himself to overcome a hamstring injury in time for Canterbury’s Las Vegas season opener after limping off during the Bulldogs’s 28-0 pre-season thrashing of Newcastle.
Matt Burton limped off the field on Saturday against the Knights. (AAP: Darren Pateman)
Dylan Brown had a quiet first hit-out in Knights colours but the multi-million-dollar recruit’s underwhelming showing was overshadowed by the poorly timed injury to his rival No.6.
Burton scored an early try but pulled up sore following a tackle from Phoenix Crossland and Brown midway through Saturday’s first half.
He managed to complete a tackle on Knights winger Dom Young during the next set before leaving the field for medical assessment.
“We saw him grabbing at it, and we told the trainers to get him off,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo told reporters at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle.
“He had to make that tackle [on Young], so he couldn’t have been too bad.”
Burton was walking freely in the Bulldogs shed after full-time, albeit with a brace on his hamstring, and told club staff his injury felt minor.
“He said it’s not too bad, it feels all right,” Ciraldo said.
“He just felt a little something and just thought with it being a trial that he’d come get it checked.”
Burton will nevertheless be racing the fitness clock to board Thursday’s flight to the US, where the Bulldogs face St George Illawarra for their season opener at Allegiant Stadium.
AAP/ABC