MAN-MOUNTAIN Dan Kilian’s chances of a getting a second crack at an NRL career were given a lift as Tumut thrashed Brothers 50-6 at Equex Centre on Sunday.
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A former Gold Coast Titans under 20s player, Kilian, 21, absolutely monstered the Brethren as Tumut went on a nine tries to one rampage.
Creating havoc whenever he carried the ball or launched himself at a Brothers ball-carrier, Kilian made light work of a Wagga team in tatters.
Tumut coach Jarrod Teka later could only marvel at Kilian’s exploits.
“He’s a big lad as you can see,” Teka said. “He’s a hometown favourite, and the boys really get around him.
“He’s the type of bloke we really need.”
The Blues coach was adamant Kilian was downright unlucky to even land in the sin bin.
At the time Kilian was at the centre of a melee that fizzled out before any harm was done, but referee Toby Popple decided action was warranted.
Needless to say, Kilian made up for the lost time by pulling off a series of heavy hits and barnstorming his way through hapless defenders as the Blues made mincemeat of the Brethren.
As Tumut celebrated an unbeaten start to the season, Brothers were left to pick up the pieces of another loss.
Despite a lavish recruitment drive, the Brethren are languishing at 0-2.
Brothers captain-coach Ben Black could not hide his dismay and distress at the performance.
“It was embarrassing, totally embarrassing,” Black said.
“Like I said (to the players), we were beaten from the kick-off to the last siren.”
Amid the rubble, Black admitted he is struggling for answers to the team’s woeful opening to the premiership.
“At the moment I don’t know where we’re at,” Black said.
“It’s a tough place to be.
“With the team we’ve got on paper we shouldn’t be getting beaten like that.”
In contrast, Teka is thrilled at the Blues flying start to year and promising even better times are ahead.
“Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, we’re still not playing to our best,” he said.
“We’re still in third gear.
“We were able to answer everything they threw at us today.”
Taking advantage of a couple of lucky breaks, Tumut grabbed two tries in the first nine minutes to be up 12-0 before Will Merritt grabbed Brothers only try in the 13th minute.
However, two tries to Michael Clark and another to Mitch Ivill had Tumut bolting with a 28-6 lead at half-time.
Even without Kilian Ben Roddy strolled over for a try before tries to Ivill, Tamati Ioane and Dean Bristow sealed the rout.