One down, 24 to go.
The first eight games of the 2021 NRL season didn't just provide us with our initial set of winners and losers, it raised another series of questions.
With each of the league's 16 teams set to do battle again this weekend, we attempted to answer the major issues facing their playing lists and coaches alike.
Wests Tigers
How would the scoreboard have looked if they had held on to the ball?
In a game that Michael Maguire's Tigers fell short by 18-points, Wests were not without their opportunities against the Raiders in Round 1.
โMadge's' men finished the game ahead on possession, completion percentage, runs, offloads, kick return metres, passes and receipts, yet still left the nation's capital having conceded five tries to two.
The boss says it straight. ๐ฅ๐
— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) March 14, 2021
For the vast majority of the game, Wests were unable to break Canberra's line, and on the rare occasions they were able to penetrate, they seemed committed to turning the ball over.
Although the question posed is completely speculative, there is no doubting that had the Tigers been cleaner, the scoreboard would have been closer.
These errors occurred due to their youth, impatience and string of new combinations, however, if they are looking to rectify swiftly, they will have to do so against the charcoal hot Chooks.
Despite the solid performance from their backs in Canberra, the Tigers will need to climb several rungs to compete with Trent Robinson's men.
