Wests Tigers' "old stagers" ensured the National Rugby League club started the premiership on a successful note against Cronulla - but only after 80 minutes riddled with mistakes and schoolboy errors at Telstra Stadium.

After Friday night's exhilarating start to the season at Penrith Stadium - where Newcastle knocked off the defending premier - the NRL came back to earth with a thud in the opening game of Saturday night's double-header.

In the end it took a moment of inspiration from Darren Senter to seal victory for the Tigers, the 31-year-old charging out of dummy half in the 69th minute and burrowing over in the tackle of Ryan McGoldrick and David Peachey to lead his side to a 12-6 win.

While Wests' crew of new faces and young stars have hogged the limelight in the off-season, Sheens paid tribute to his grizzled veterans following their victory.

"I thought it was the old stagers, blokes like (Senter) and Johnny Skandalis," Sheens said when asked who had played well for his side.

"Brett Hodgson gives us another dimension. Overall, I thought the new guys were alright but the old school led."

In a sub-standard first half, Wests managed the only ray of sunshine when centre Shane Elford scored in the 16th minute, cleaning up a Scott Prince kick which was fumbled by Peachey.

Peachey had saved a try less than a minute before that, getting between Brett Hodgson and Elford when it looked like the Tigers were certain to score.

"We came in at halftime after playing pretty ordinary and we were still in the game," Cronulla captain Brett Kimmorley said.

"It's disappointing for the game to come here and put on a game like that."

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