Report: NRL Round 9 vs Dragons

After leading 26-10 at half-time, Wests Tigers had to hold off the Red V late on, as St. George Illawarra stormed home in the second period.

Charlie Staines scored a double on the night, in a strong performance for the 24-year-old in his first NRL match of the season.

The Dragons were the first to score at Suncorp Stadium, as young half Lyhkan King-Togia put Dylan Egan through a hole after just five minutes.

Wests Tigers’ first try of the match came via Staines, with Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin’s slick play putting the winger over in the left corner.

An outstanding Valentine Holmes solo try put the Dragons ahead momentarily, before Sunia Turuva crossed for his ninth try of the season.

Adam Doueihi and Samuela Fainu then combined to set up Staines for a second, and just three minutes later, Fainu pounced on a clinical Luai grubber kick for Wests Tigers’ fourth try of the night.

On the stroke of half-time though, Wests Tigers produced one of the more remarkable four-pointers you’ll ever see. Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’a dove over the line attempting to score a try, however lost the ball cold over the line. From there, Jahream Bula picked the ball up and ran 105 m to finish off a truly incredible play.

With Wests Tigers taking a 16-point lead into the break, the Red V had to be first to score in the second half, and a quick-fire double to Jacob Liddle put them right back into the contest.

A scrappy try in which Adam Doueihi collected his own deflected grubber kick gave Wests Tigers some breathing room, however a grandstand finish was still to come.

Hamish Stewart scored with three minutes to go to bring St. George Illawarra within six points, but Wests Tigers just managed to survive a nervous last few sets of the match to score a memorable 34-28 victory.

Wests Tigers 34 (Staines 2, Turuva, Sa. Fainu, Bula, Doueihi tries; Doueihi 5/7 goals) defeated Dragons 28 (Liddle 2, Egan, Holmes, Stewart tries; Holmes 4/5 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.