Illawarra recorded a convincing 36-8 victory over the Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium last Friday night to jump to third on the Intrust Super Premiership competition ladder.
Illawarra’s Shaun Nona wound back the clock, finding the form which saw him lead his side to premiership and State Championship glory in 2016, playing a hand in four of the side's seven tries.
Illawarra were first to score through Izaac Thompson after he received a classy cut-out-pass from fullback Matt Dufty.
Illawarra centre Pat Herbert dived on a loose ball in the in-goal to extend Illawarra’s lead to 12-0 after just ten minutes.
The Tigers found their way back into the game midway through the first half thanks to centre Lalotoa Mata’afa.
But Thompson would quickly score the game's next two tries, to complete a first half hat-trick.
Prop Jacob Hind scored on the half-time buzzer, courtesy of a deceiving lead run from skipper Tyrone McCarthy, to help extend Illawarra's lead to 26-4 at the break.
Hind continued his try-scoring ways immediately after the intermission, steaming over Tigers defenders to collect his double.
Illawarra drifted in and out of the contest momentarily before Nona linked up with Dufty, who raced in for a four-pointer.
The visitors would round out the scoring with a late try to Nathan Milone, but it was Illawarra's night following their 28-point win.
Illawarra 36 (Izaac Thompson 3, Jacob Hind 2, Patrick Herbert, Matt Dufty tries; Shaun Nona 4 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 8 (Lalotoa Mata'afa, Nathan Milone tries) at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Half-time: Illawarra 26-4.
