Cayden Winter's North Wagga kick off title defence with big win on horror day for Temora

The Saints were far too good for the Kangaroos, charging to a 123-point victory at Nixon Park after holding the home side goal-less after quarter-time.

North Wagga led by six points at the first break. But from then on it was one-way traffic as they racked up a remarkable 21.20 (146) to 3.5 (23) score.

Returning forward Daniel Jordan (five goals) got amongst it, along with Nathan Dennis (four goals, three of them before half-time) after he missed 2019 due to a knee injury.

Winter kicked three and was rapt with his new-look team's opening effort.

"It was good. Temora put it to us in the first quarter as we thought they would," Winter said, after his side recovered from a seven-point deficit after three unanswered Temora goals.

"To the boys' credit we stuck tough over the next few quarters, got over them and slowly broke them down. We stuck to our structure, we didn't lapse at all and that's why we got the result."

New ruckman Drew Mitchell impressed the coach, as did debutants Luke Mauger and Lachlan Hart, who kicked five goals between them, and backed up their strong pre-season efforts.

"They definitely earnt their spots and they played well today," Winter said.

The Saints had only eight premiership players in. The last time the club kicked 20 goals in a game was June 2018.

"I knew that we had a good side but we've just got to gel. I know it's only round one and Temora have lost a few players but we're just trying to get better each week," Winter said.

New defender Riley Hubbard and ultra-consistent backman Liam Pattison were among the home side's best on a brutal day out for the Kangaroos.

Less than 48 hours after the club withdrew their under 17.5 team from the league, their seriously-undermanned reserved grade side was hammered 34.18 (222) to 0.2 (2) by North Wagga.

Full-time

North Wagga 3.6, 6.9, 13.13, 21.20 (146)

Temora 3.0, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5 (23)

Goals: (North Wagga) Daniel Jordan 5, Nathan Dennis 4, Cayden Winter 3, Luke Mauger 3, Dylan McDermott 2, Lachlan Hart 2, Ben Keith, Kirk Hamblin; (Temora) Jake Wooden, Brad Moye, Joe Morton.

Best: (North Wagga) Nathan Dennis, Jack Flood, Ben Keith, Dylan McDermott, Cayden Winter, Drew Mitchell; (Temora) Riley Hubbard, Liam Pattison, Grant Haigh, Tyler Moye, Rob Krause, Jason Reid.

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