Wingham Tigers defeat Port Macquarie Sharks 44-6 at Wingham Sporting Complex

The freewheeling Tigers were at their scintillating attacking best, scoring eight tries to one to make it five wins on the trot.

Sharks coach Ben Kirkland declared Wingham were now rightly the premiership favourites after his side trailed 28-0 at the break.

"They're the best team we've played so far this year," he said.

"They do all the little things right and everybody has a role to play.

"It got away from us in the first half and we lost a bit of patience because we just couldn't score. They defended really well."

It left the Sharks licking their wounds with five-eighth Joel Antilla suffering a broken hand to add to an ever-growing casualty ward.

Sullivan almost played in a dinner suit with the defending premiers unable to put regularly pressure on him legally.

"We couldn't get near him and the only time we did, we hit him late and were penalised for it," Kirkland said.

"We've got to find a way to nullify him because he just steers them around; you can tell he's a former NRL player.

"Their backline is the best in the comp."

Kirkland couldn't fault the effort from his side and said it was much-improved on what they dished up last week in a defeat to Forster.

They just simply weren't good enough at Wingham although teenage pairing Oli Nosworthy and Josh Dwyer were shining lights on a disappointing day.

"We were much better this week than we were against Forster, but we came up against a red-hot side that taught us a bit of a lesson in footy," he said.

"We had a lot of luck at the end of last year and that's what Wingham have got now."

The Sharks now have to prepare for a local derby clash with Port City on Saturday.

"You could tell the boys were down in the sheds after the game, but the only way you can get confidence is by winning," Kirkland said.

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