The stage was set in Cairns on Saturday night for playmaker Thurston to return from an eight-month shoulder injury while Test prop Scott (knee) had not played since round two 2017.

But a power outage throughout the city caused by a thunderstorm minutes before kick off ensured the star pair had to sweat it out a little longer on the sideline. Kick off was delayed for 45 minutes.

When Thurston finally came on, the Test half looked like a mere mortal.

A rusty Thurston at one stage kicked the ball out on the full and also threw a loose pass that was snapped up by Malakai Watene-Zelezniak who scored to give the Tigers an 8-0 jump.

Thurston finally found his range and showed a glimpse of his old magic to set up backrower Coen Hess.

Thurston created something out of nothing, kicking ahead a loose ball to send Hess over the tryline and cut the deficit to 10-4 by halftime.

Thurston emerged unscathed from his 40-minute stint as did Scott who was given a 20-minute first half hit-out.

The Tigers ran in six tries to three with winger Corey Thompson grabbing a double.

There were promising signs for new Tigers half Josh Reynolds in his first game alongside Luke Brooks.

Reynolds' only blemish it seemed was being surprisingly pinged for an obstruction, denying forward Thomas Mikaele a first half try.

Tigers winger Mahe Fonua was sent to the sin bin for the final 10 minutes of the match for dissent as the game ended in another tropical downpour.

Australian Associated Press