BY GREG DAVIS

POWERHOUSE no.8 Nuku Swerling returned to his bullocking, bone-crunching and
blockbusting best as the Stara Easts Tigers completed a clean sweep of home games in 2025
with the 36-21 victory over Sunnybank in Round 17 of the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.

Eight times this year, the Tigers crossed the white line onto David Wilson Field and eight
times, they emerged triumphant.

Defending the hallowed home turf at Bottomley Park has been a major focus for the Tigers
players and coaching staff throughout the campaign and they successfully repelled their
eighth visitor with Swerling terrorising the Dragons at regular intervals.

After a blistering start to 2025 that made him an instant cult hero to the Tigers faithful,
Swerling suffered a hamstring injury mid-season that impacted on his trademark
destructive, damaging and dynamic style of play from the back of the scrum.

But the big fella is back. Fit, firing and striking fear into opposition sides in both defence and
attack.

He crossed for two tries, made significant metres with every carry and belted any Dragon
attacker that came his way as the Tigers kicked away in the second half to claim their 12 th
win of the season.

The sides were locked together at 14-all at halftime after a see-sawing opening 40 minutes.
The scoreboard attendant had nothing to do for the first 28 minutes until Easts were
awarded a penalty try when Sunnybank brought down a rolling maul in the carpark corner.

The Dragons hit back quickly to level the scores but Tigers co-captains Eli Pilz and Will
Sankey combined beautifully in a short side raid that finished with Pilz crossing in the
corner.

Sunnybank then produced a length-of-the-field effort to level the scores again after
lightning-quick winger Netani Volitiviti streeted the Tiger defence.

After playing an expansive brand of rugby in the first half, the tried, tested and trusted
Tiger-ball method put the Dragons to the sword as the Easts pack took control, kept it tight
and shut the opposition out of the contest with three rapid-fire tries.

Swerling claimed his first five-pointer after sustained Tiger pressure and a quick tap near the
tryline saw him crash over after prop Jethro Felemi put a serious dent in the Sunnybank
defensive line.

Hooker Andrew Ready scored soon after from a trademark rolling maul from the Tigers and
Swerling completed his double with a steamrolling run that left Dragons defenders in his
wake.

He spiked the Gilbert with serious intent in the in-goal area after claiming his second try in a
display of raw emotion.

Volitiviti grabbed his second try of the day with a clever chip-and-chase and dazzling
footwork in the final moments to give the Dragons some joy in the second half when the
gulf between a finals-bound side and a team at the foot of the ladder was laid bare.

Pilz completed the scoring for the day – and an outstanding individual display – with a 42
metre penalty goal on the final bell.

Colts flyhalf and Premier Grade debutant Sam McGahan (right) with his dad and former Tiger Tony.

The Tigers handed Colts flyhalf Sam McGahan his first-grade debut and the playmaker made
his presence felt with a pinpoint 50-22 kick in the dying minutes before taking his place in
the middle of a rousing rendition of the club song in the middle of David Wilson Field.

Easts will travel to Yoku Road to take on GPS in Round 18 to finish the home-and-away
season before turning their attention to the finals.