SPORT sundayterritorian.com.au No backward steps from both sets of forwards CANBERRA co-captain David David Fa’alogo, Jeremy Knights and Joel Thompson catching skills of attacking George Illawarra 30-17 at Can- ‘‘They could come out fir- Shillington says today’s clash Smith and Kade Snowden. for the Raiders. dynamo Akuila Uate with a berra Stadium for their first ing. They could not turn up.’’ with Newcastle shapes as an ‘‘That Fa’alogo, he’s pretty In the backs, Timanu Tahu few well-placed bombs. win of the season. However, Raiders coach old-fashioned battle ‘‘up the hard to handle,’’ Shillington is set to return to the Knights The two sides go into this The Knights destroyed David Furner said there were middle’’ as both sides attempt said. ‘‘Then you’ve got some- off the bench, while the evening’s match at Hunter Wests Tigers in round 1, things you could always ex- to string together their first one like (Danny) Buderus at Raiders’ Reece Robinson will Stadium on the back of incon- capitulated against Manly in pect from playing a Bennett- back-to-back wins of the No. 9 and he’s pretty creative look to follow up on last sistent form and will hope to round 2 before dominating coached side, including disci- season. too, so it’s a huge job in the week’s man of the match per- start building momentum for North Queensland on Mon- pline, a high completion rate Both packs carry plenty of middle.’’ formance after staking his the long season ahead. day night. and a clinical attack. firepower, with Shillington, The two sides are also claim on the fullback role The Raiders, who have had ‘‘Wayne Bennett himself ‘‘They’re playing his style Brett White, Josh Papalii and sweating over the fitness of made vacant by the sacked more than their share of has said he doesn’t know and they’ve had some really Tom Learoyd-Lahrs leading key players, with Willie Josh Dugan. early-season drama, looked to which team is going to play good wins over some impress- the way for the Raiders, while Mason and Kurt Gidley still Canberra have also hinted have turned a corner last when they get off the bus,’’ ive sides, so that probably the aggressive Knights boast in the selection frame for the they are looking to target the week when they defeated St Shillington said. says it all,’’ Furner said. James real deal as ace PUB: in pack DYNAMIC Gold Coast forward Ryan James doesn’t NT NEWS need to look far for inspi- ration in his pursuit of a shock State of Origin call-up for NSW. The Titans pack is already chockfull of representative talent, and with James be- DATE: ing widely tipped as a Blues bolter in 2013, he could soon join some of his teammates on the big stage. 31-MAR-2013 Gold Coast have made a promising start to the year, the highlight last week’s de- feat of Manly, and can make it three straight if they con- quer Penrith today. James starred for the Indi- genous All Stars in the pre- season and his powerful PAGE: running game has been a feature so far for the Titans. The versatile James be- lieves it’s the Titans pack 62 dominated with Origin and Jason Nightingale takes off to score one of two miracle tries the Dragons’ Kiwi winger nailed in their win over the Sharks last night Picture: MARK EVANS international stars that will COLOR: prove the difference at Centrebet Stadium. ‘‘We’ve really got a classy pack. A lot of players that have played Origin, still play Origin,’’ James said. C Nightingale shows he’s ‘‘Just running out there with guys like Nate Myles, M Greg Bird, Dave Taylor, Luke Bailey, Luke Douglas, Y they’re all class players and K you hope to play like them one day.’’ Dragons’ magic winger Queensland forward Ash- ley Harrison won’t be there after failing to recover suf- SHARKS V DRAGONS DRAGONS 25 Proving far more adventur- ficiently from the con- ous with the ball, a Trent cussion which ended his in- ST GEORGE Illawarra shock- SHARKS 12 Merrin offload sent Fien un- volvement against the Sea ed Cronulla 25-12 to open ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA: J der the posts and five min- Eagles, while former cap- their 2013 account last night, Nightingale 2 N Fien J utes later Luke Lewis was tain Bailey is battling a calf- with the Sharks’ night made Soward tries; J Soward 4 made to pay for a dropped strain. worse with star playmaker goals, J Soward field goal ball when Soward picked up Despite those worries, CRONULLA: A Fifita J Robson Todd Carney helped from the tries; M Gordon 2 goals the dregs and ran 85m to and the likely absence of field with a foot injury. Crowd: 20,130 at Sharks double the lead. centre Brad Takairangi due Without a win from the Stadium But then the Sharks’ Ben to a hamstring injury, opening three games, the Referees: Phil Haines, Pomeroy came up with his James believes the Titans Dragons were given little Ashley Klein own magic trick, tapping have the depth to keep their chance of breaking their back a ball heading over the winning run going. duck before a bumper 20,130 dead ball line for Jeff Robson ‘‘We’ve got people who fans at Sharks Stadium, but but it was the acrobatic to halve the deficit. can pretty much walk into they bucked the trend with genius of Jason Nightingale There was no let-up from positions and know what their most enterprising effort that had everybody talking. the Dragons after the break they’re doing straight of the campaign. The Kiwi winger contorted as Nightingale took the visit- away,’’ he said. ‘‘In years The Sharks will be keeping his body sensationally to nab ors back out by two converted past we haven’t had that . their fingers crossed the loss two second half tries, the first tries — Sharks fans revealing (it’s) just going to be good to isn’t compounded by a seri- with his entire body over the an ugly side as some threw see the boys step up on the ous injury to Carney, who sideline and the second only tennis balls on to the field weekend and have a shot.’’ had to be carried from the millimetres inside the dead as Soward lined up the side- The clash between Gold field late in the first half with ball line as he chased down a line conversion. Coast and Penrith looms as what was diagnosed as a Nathan Fien kick to secure He nailed it to rub further a classic battle between at- sprained foot. the win. salt into the wounds — as he tack and defence. Much-maligned five-eighth Having scored 11 first half did again when Nightingale Ivan Cleary’s Panthers Jamie Soward was brilliant points in total in their open- scored his second out wide on have won only one of their for the Dragons, scoring one ing three games, the Dragons 64 minutes after Andrew three fixtures this year but try, nailing a couple of had 12 on the board inside the Fifita had dragged the Sharks they’ve displayed a free- pressure-cooker sideline con- first 16 minutes to stun the back into the contest with a scoring style on their way to versions and a late field goal, full house. short-range four-pointer. Shark Todd Carney is helped from the field Picture: GETTY IMAGES 82 points in those matches. 62 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, March 31, 2013. www.sundayterritorian.com.au.