The 2015 and 2016 grand finalists started the match full of energy after having last weekend off, while United coach Nathan Wade admitted his side were lacklustre.

“We had a feeling they (the Redbacks) would be a difficult team to beat,” he said.

“They’ve been in the grand final for the last two years so we knew they had some good players in there somewhere.

“They just all turned up on the same night.”

Wade said the short turnaround from their 2-0 win over Kempsey Saints on Saturday played a part.

“We played on the weekend so we were a little bit flat, but they just out-enthused us,” Wade said.

Both goalkeepers were rarely tested in a match that was played between the two 18-yard boxes.

“The grass was a bit long and spongy so that stifled our ball movement a bit,” Wade said.

United heads to Forster on Saturday for a rematch with the Tigers in an encounter which now has an added importance.

While the Green Bloods are level with Port Saints on 20 competition points in second position, their cross-town rivals have two games in hand.

Damien Cross will miss the clash with Matt Broderick expected to take over the captaincy duties.

“We rested a few on Tuesday night so we should have most of them back on deck,” Wade said.