Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg side have secured their first win of the 2018 season with a thrilling 26-21 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval.
In what's been a tough season for the side's young guns, the win is a great reward for the constant improvement over the past month and hopefully paves the way for an improved back half of the year.
After leading 6-0 early thanks to a try from Curtis Wilson, Wests Tigers found themselves trailing by double digits just before the break as the Sea Eagles ran in three tries in the space of 12 minutes.
The 16-6 half-time for Manly didn't last long, however, with Heath Gibbs and Peter Pakoti both crossing out wide to level the match with 20 minutes remaining. Ben Seufale momentarily put the home side in front with his effort in the 66th minute, before a late try to Tom Kenny sensationally levelled the match once again — setting Leichhardt Oval up for what was to be an incredible final few minutes.
With just two minutes on the clock, Luke Metcalf looked to have stolen the win for Manly with a field goal putting the Sea Eagles in front, but this day was going to belong to Craig Wilson's side.
Looking to try and work the ball forward, it was promising Academy product James Tautaiolefua who was the hero for Wests Tigers — racing away to score out wide in the final play of the game — with Ben Stevanovic adding the extras after the siren to secure an incredible five-point win for Wests Tigers.
After their breakthrough win in Round 14, Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg will look to produce a similar result next Sunday when they take on the North Sydney Bears as part of a three-game program at Campbelltown Sports Stadium that will culminate in Wests Tigers' NRL side taking on the Canberra Raiders.
Wests Tigers 26 (Wilson, Gibbs, Paokti, Seufale, Tautaiolefua tries; Stevanovic 3/5 goals) def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 21 (Main, Titmuss, Nicholson, Kenny tries; Metcalf 2/4 goals; Metcalf field goal)
