The Wests Tigers got their first win of the 2022 NRL season with a 21-20 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Despite a solid showing against the Melbourne Storm in round one, five consecutive losses saw their players and coach Michael Maguire put under increasing scrutiny.
There was an obvious sense of relief on Maguire's face after the game, but he made sure to put the focus directly on his team's effort.
"I'm really pleased for my players," Maguire said.
"It's really nice to see a smile in the changeroom.
"We've obviously had to face a bit over the last five weeks ... just the togetherness that they have ... it's pretty special."
#NRLEelsTigers Match Highlights 🎥
— NRL (@NRL) April 18, 2022
An outrageous, last-ditch field goal by Jackson Hastings hands the @WestsTigers their first win of 2022! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ibrH0l2Eee
As for how the team dealt with pressure from the media, Maguire explained that any external opinion was largely ignored heading into this week.
"Well, we don't actually pay too much attention [to the headlines], to be honest. We know what we're building here," he said.
"The players spoke about it last week ... about what we're building and what we need to do to progress forward.
"Our team showed exactly what they're capable of. We showed that in round one [against the Storm].
"To come down to the wire like that [against the Eels], it was good to see that one went our way. You take your belief and confidence off the back of that.
"But we also know we've got to roll back up in four days' time, and we're doing it all again."
Their dramatic win at Commbank Stadium was sealed by a long-distance Jackson Hastings field goal, with the 26-year-old an unlikely star of the match.
It has been a rocky journey for the Wollongong-born player, who had mixed spells at the Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles before heading to the United Kingdom to revitalise his career.
Hastings was able to mark his 50th appearance in the NRL on Sunday afternoon with a stunning display at halfback that saw an under-fire Luke Brooks move to five-eighth.
The pair worked in tandem effectively, with Maguire confirming post-match that he is unlikely to change the team selection for next week's clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Tigers coach then went on to not only praise Hastings' performance but also his ability to battle through adversity.
"He's had a fair journey ... it's nice to see [him succeed]," he said.
"He's really matured as a player ... to be able to come up in the big moments like that, and be able to achieve what he did, it was nice for him.
"You know, he's obviously been through a bit, but those are the things that you want your players to stand up and take, and he did that for us today.
"He probably could have got it two or three sets earlier, but he waited for the last moment."
