Wests Tigers produced one of their most spirited performances of the season to shock the high-flying Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28-14 in sodden conditions at CommBank Stadium.
Match: Wests Tigers v Bulldogs
Round 22 -
home Team
Wests Tigers
12th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Jahream Bula’s return from injury sparked the Tigers, while Adam Doueihi, shifted to the halves, orchestrated a first-half blitz.
After repelling early pressure, the Tigers struck in the 13th minute when Doueihi shrugged off Viliame Kikau and linked with Bula to send Jeral Skelton sliding over in the corner.
Moments later, Doueihi burst from dummy half following a kick return and found Bula in support for a length-of-the-field counter-attacking try.
The floodgates opened when Api Koroisau’s deft grubber set up Skelton’s second, and soon after, Doueihi pounced on a Matt Burton spill to race the length and give Wests a remarkable 20-0 lead.
Jacob Preston’s late first-half try kept the Bulldogs in the contest, but they trailed 20-4 at the break.
Stephen Crichton’s creativity helped Jacob Kiraz score after halftime and reduced the deficit to 20-8, but the Tigers held firm despite Alex Seyfarth’s sin-bin and Taylan May leaving for a HIA following high contact from Crichton.
Jarome Luai then engineered the match-sealer, holding up a pass for Samuela Fainu to crash over in the 70th minute.
Josh Curran scored a consolation try in his 100th game, but by then the Tigers’ defensive grit and opportunistic attack had sealed a famous 28-14 victory, delighting the CommBank faithful and delivering Benji Marshall’s side a major morale boost.
Wests Tigers 28 (Skelton 2, Bula, Doueihi, Sa. Fainu tries; Doueihi 4/6 goals) defeated Bulldogs 14 (Preston, Kiraz, Curran tries; Crichton 1/3 goals) at CommBank Stadium.
