| Wanderers | 42 |
| Hornbills | 34 |
The Wanderers Tigers marked a historic debut in the SGNRL Championship, edging out the Eastern Hornbills 42–34 in a high-scoring thriller at TRC Kampong Java Fields on Saturday.
In sweltering conditions, both teams traded blow for blow with seven tries apiece, but goal-kicking accuracy proved the ultimate difference after 80 minutes.
Tigers five-eighth Jonathan Cox pulled the strings masterfully to earn Outback Butchery Player of the Match honours. Wanderers displayed incredible attacking balance across the park with seven individual try scorers: Dika Azmir, Ricky Nurdin, Henry Aisi, Corentin Balmet, Luca Mori, Thomas Chen, and Kieran Price.
Off the tee, Balmet slotted four conversions while Liam Yau added three to finish a perfect 7-for-7 night on goal-kicking duties.
For the Hornbills, Central Vipers loan player Dane Gilmore produced another stunning performance off the bench, bagging a hat-trick to follow his four-try haul in Round 1 and cement his spot as the league’s top try scorer.
Hornbills playmaker Nicholas Rimmer added a try and three conversions, alongside four-pointers from Liantsoa Rakotoanosy, Takahito Saigo, and Martin Cesbert.
Despite the setback, the Hornbills hold onto top spot on the SGNRL Championship ladder thanks to a superior points differential. The Wanderers Tigers now turn their attention to Round 3, where they take on the Central Vipers next week.
