The Queanbeyan Blues have got their Canberra Raiders Cup title defence under way with a strong 34-16 win against the Gungahlin Bulls at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
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New recruit Eko Malu gave opposition players a glimpse of what's to come, playing a starring role at hooker and five-eighth and scoring three tries.
The former New Zealand Warriors under-20s star joined the Blues in the off-season and has wasted little time settling in to Canberra rugby league.
Blues coach Simon Woolford said he was pleased with Malu's effort in his Raiders Cup debut.
"We've got a player manager in New Zealand who recommended him to us," Woolford said. "He played a couple of Toyota Cup grand finals with the Warriors in 2011 and 2013, so he obviously knows a bit about footy. He's quick and has good skill - it was very good to see him score three tries today."
Woolford said there was plenty of improvement to come from his side.
"It was a normal first game of the season, we were made to do a lot of defence and they scored a couple of dive-over tries from dummy half which was frustrating, but it's always tough with that first game.
"You always like to hit the ground running but it's never the case, we've had three trials but you're never going to be at your best in the early rounds.
"We've got quite a new team with new combinations which are always going to take some time, but the pleasing thing was the boys' effort - we put ourselves under a lot of pressure with dropped ball but our defence shone through which was very good."
In other round one matches, West Belconnen welcomed the Belconnen Sharks back to first grade with a 38-4 thumping, while Woden Rams did likewise to the Yass Magpies. Yass were making their return after three years in Canberra Raiders Cup wilderness.
In the final match of the round, Goulburn beat Tuggeranong 24-16 at Workers Arena.
SATURDAY
Canberra Raiders Cup: Queanbeyan Blues 34 (E Malu 3, J Wheeler 2, M Cullen tries; C Wilkinson 5 goals) bt Gungahlin Bulls 16 (D Cooper-Shields, C O'Shannessy, H Van Dartel tries; J Scholes 2 goals) at Seiffert Oval; West Belconnen 38 (R Phillip 2, A Greenwood, R McQueen, R Roberts, C Scott, R Thomas tries; R Roberts 5 goals) bt Belconnen Sharks 4 (S Lomax try) at O'Connor; Woden Valley Rams 36 (G House 2, J Pheeney 2, G Crapp, A Lucas, D Roberts tries; G Pohahau 4 goals) bt Yass Magpies 18 (S Davis, G Sherratt, K Robinson, J Smith tries; S Davis goal) at Walker Park; Goulburn 24 (L Gray, C Hart, T Greenwood, M Joseph tries; B Picker 4 goals) bt Tuggeranong Bushrangers 16 (C Faaee 2, J Pouono tries; J Russell 2 goals) at Workers Arena.
Reserve Grade: Queanbeyan Blues 52 bt Gungahlin Bulls 30. West Belconnen 34 bt Belconnen Sharks 4. Yass Magpies 20 drew with Woden Rams 20. Tuggeranong 28 bt Goulburn 10.
Under 18: Gungahlin Bulls 28 bt Queanbeyan Blues 12. Woden Rams 40 bt Yass Magpies 24. Tuggeranong 22 bt Goulburn 16.
Youth League: Bungendore Tigers 36 bt Gungahlin Bulls 34.
George Tooke Shield: Bungendore Tigers 36 bt Braidwood Bears 18. Boomanulla 44 bt ADFA 34.
Ladies League Tag: Boomanulla 34 bt ADFA 4.
