And as a result, an absorbing contest quickly morphed into a bloodbath, with Gunnedah running riot in the second half to record a 48-16 win over Werris Creek in a season opener.

When Bulldogs No 1 Dylan O'Brien applied the afterburners to score a sharp try in the 41st minute and hand the home side a 18-16 lead, it was the start of a try rush.

The five unanswered touchdowns Gunnedah scored has provided them with an ideal launchpad for the season, after a disappointing 2021, while Werris Creek's capitulation would have had the opposite effect for a side who also struggled in 2021.

Read also:

Gunnedah winger Jared Heinrich and halfback Dylan Lake - dangerous on the wing for the Greater Northern Tigers this year and dangerous again on Saturday - both posted try doubles.

"Good to see the boys start gelling," O'Brien said. "Obviously, they're [Gunnedah] a young team. But we've got something to prove, and they're doing really well."

Gunnedah opened the scoring in the fifth minute when centre Zak Turnbull split the defence deep in his own half, then released Heinrich to score. O'Brien converted from in front: 6-0.

In the 14th minute, Heinrich was sent on his way down the left edge by No 6 Aiden Davis, who created something from nothing about 30m out from Werris Creek's tryline. O'Brien missed the conversion: 10-0.

Three minutes later, Magpies lock Riley Leonard scored a close-range try. Cody Tickle missed the conversion: 10-4.

In the 25th minute, Magpies No 3 Nathanael Slater charged on to a pass close to the Bulldogs' tryline. Tickle added the extras: 10-10.

In the 34th minute, Gunnedah centre Jono Crowe pounced on a bomb in the in-goal area after Werris Creek failed to defuse it. Unconverted: 14-10 to the home side.

Just before the break, Slater backed himself close to Gunnedah's tryline and scored. Tickle converted: 16-14 to Werris Creek at half-time.

Gunnedah's onslaught included Lake delivering a bit of elusive magic inside Werris Creek's 10m zone in the 49th minute, and big KC Edmonds - the Dogs' co-captain - splitting the defence three minutes later and finding lock Liam Ireland in support.

Shortly after that, second-rower Trent Hilton - back in the red, white and blue after a long absence - scored a strong solo try down the right edge.

In the 63rd minute, Ireland carved up Werris Creek down the middle and found Lake in support.

The rout was concluded when Edmonds crashed over in the 71st minute.

BULLDOGS 46 (Jared Heinrich 2, Dylan Lake 2, Jono Crowe, Dylan O'Brien, Liam Ireland, Trent Hilton, KC Edmonds tries; O'Brien 6 goals).

MAGPIES 16 (Nathanael Slater 2, Riley Leonard tries; Cody Tickle 2 goals).

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: