Wests Tigers bounce back from controversial loss with victory over the Broncos

Mark Molyneux

•
Wests Tigers bounce back from controversial loss with victory over the Broncos image

Getty Images

The Wests Tigers have put their disappointment from last week’s controversial loss against the Cowboys behind them, claiming a 32-18 upset victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

“The journey they’ve been on from last Sunday night when things went against us and they had all the reasons to probably fall into a heap…I’m really proud of these blokes,” interim coach Brett Kimmorley said post-match.

Wests Tigers record upset victory over highly-fancied Broncos 

The Tigers started the game with plenty of energy and caused the Broncos all sorts of issues with their line speed in defence.

Showing no signs of a hangover from last week’s result in Townsville, Brent Naden crossed in the corner to give his side the reward their efforts deserved.

The Broncos finally hit back through Tesi Nui who weaved his way through the defence to level the scores.

Adam Reynolds then shaped to put in a grubber kick, before stepping off his right foot and feeding Ezra Mam who managed to acrobatically plant the ball down to put Brisbane ahead for the first time in the match.

However, in a see-sawing contest the Tigers refused to go away and hit back on the stroke of half-time when Jock Madden – replacing the injured Luke Brooks in the line-up – managed to hold onto a Kelma Tuilagi pass to score.

In the second half, the Tigers snatched the lead when a tap back from a bomb was kept alive until Starford Toa touched down in the corner.  

To make matters worse for the Broncos, Reynolds was injured in the build-up to the try and had to leave the field for a HIA, which he eventually returned from. 

Sensing their opportunity to apply plenty of pressure on Brisbane, while they were without their leader in the halves, Tyrone Peachey isolated Cory Paix in defence which sent Zane Musgrove in under the posts to stretch their lead.

Jordan Riki got his side back in the game when he ran a perfect line to crash over and get the Broncos within one score with plenty of time left on the clock. 

Patrick Carrigan's hip-drop tackle comes under scrutiny 

The major talking point in the match occurred when Jackson Hastings made a standard hit-up with around 10 minutes remaining, only to go down clutching his leg.

Under review from the Bunker, Patrick Carrigan was penalised for a hip-drop tackle and Adam Doueihi stepped up to create an eight-point cushion heading into the final stages of the contest.

“I thought it was a pretty ordinary tackle,” Kimmorley said.

“It is something that has crept into the game a little bit and it needs to be looked after because it’s a horrendous tackle and the outcome can be really bad.”

While nerves would have been prevalent amongst those in the Tigers camp, Doueihi put the game to bed when he accelerated off the back of a scrum base to score.

“This has been coming,” Kimmorley stated.

“We were great against Parramatta, Penrith and then obviously the Cowboys last week. So, I’d like to think people don’t think this is a fluke.

“We’ve beaten the Broncos tonight and it’s been a process of what we’ve achieved and how we’ve got better as a football club.”

The interim coach praised his player’s ability to bounce back and put on a performance which ended a rotten recent losing streak in impressive style against the high-flying Broncos.

“The emotion that got ripped apart from us at the end of the game [against the Cowboys],” the coach said.

“We flew home Monday and were back on a plane Friday. We had a member’s night last night…and then it was about ‘okay, how do we get a performance’ because that’s the biggest part of the week.

“I’m extremely proud of these boys for what they’ve done.

“This is only what rugby league can give you. It’s the happiness, the enjoyment, the journey, the life-changing moments or the memories you’ll have for a long, long time that this game gives us who are lucky enough to be involved in it.”

Mark Molyneux

Mark Molyneux Photo

Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world.