Tom Burgess was the unlikely hero as South Sydney claimed an unbelievable golden-point victory over the Tigers at Stadium Australia.
The Englishman crossed for a try in the opening set of the extra period but it took a nail-biting bunker review to confirm the victory for the Rabbitohs.
Referee Gerard Sutton initially thought Burgess had knocked on, calling play on when Tigers halfback Luke Brooks took off down the other end with the footy.
Brooks grounded the ball and Sutton awarded a try to the Tigers, though replays revealed Burgess had just done enough to hang on and score the try, handing the Bunnies a 18-14 victory.
Tom Burgess with the match-winner! #TelstraPremiership #NRLSouthsTigers pic.twitter.com/6k49XU2jpe
— NRL (@NRL) April 17, 2021
It capped off one of the most dramatic matches of the season and improves Souths' record to 5-1, while the heartbroken Tigers slip to 1-5.
For much of the second half, it looked as if Michael Maguire's side would bounce back from their round five captilulation to the Cowboys with an upset win over one of the premiership fancies.
Down by eight points with 15 minutes on the clock in a tight affair, Dane Gagai crossed and Adam Reynolds converted to bring the Bunnies within touching distance.
Reynolds then kicked a two-point field goal to level the scores and had a chance to put his side ahead but missed a goal he'd normally kick with his eyes closed.
That sent the the match to golden point and Souths were able to march down the field with the first set.
Aware of the field goal threat, the Tigers defence rushed up, leaving Burgess a gaping hole to run through and only fullback Daine Laurie in front of him.
"They tell me to just run straight and there was a bit of a gap through the middle and I wasn't passing when I got to the fullback," Burgess said post-match.
"We were trying to get good field position for the drop goal and I saw daylight in front of me.
"We don't get in that position too many times as a front-rower just got to get the head down and go running. I've had a few slam dunks in my time so I'm glad I got that one.
"You never know with the bunker nowadays but I felt the downward pressure there so I was a bit surprised when I saw them run away and he gave the try to them, I was like 'sh*t'."
Burgess' coach Wayne Bennett was less certain he'd successfull grounded the football.
"I don't think any of us thought he'd scored the try because he's done that about four times to us in the last two years and every time they've been no tries and (he's) carrying on like they were tries, so we didn't have a lot of faith, but we're believers now," the coach said post-match.
