Wests Tigers have avoided a club record-equalling losing streak with a 26-10 win over Cronulla to end forgettable seasons for the NRL clubs.
On a wet and gloomy afternoon at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, the Tigers scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to end a six-match losing run – one shy of their worst streak.
Embattled Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter had earlier told Triple M that some within the club “haven’t been rowing in the same direction” this year, and they certainly started the final-round clash that way.
After young halfback Mitchell Moses scored the opening try from a stabbed-through kick from his skipper, Robbie Farah, the Tigers fumbled, bumbled and generally looked uninterested.
The Sharks, whose woes have surpassed even those at the Tigers, capitalised with two tries from winger Valentine Holmes to steer them to a 10-4 lead at halftime – only the fifth time this season the Sharks had led at the break.
However, the Tigers came to life in the second half. Fullback Blake Austin played a big part in their revival before leaving the field with an ankle injury and 20 minutes remaining.
Bodene Thompson darted over from dummy-half in the 45th minute and Curtis Sironen bulldozed his way over either side of Austin’s 90-metre intercept try to open up a 20-10 advantage.
The Sharks had pushed the in-form North Queensland to golden point on Monday night but they ran out of steam, and Thompson’s second four-pointer in the 67th minute sealed the comfortable victory.
The result meant Cronulla capped their wooden-spoon season with their sixth consecutive defeat.
The match marked the first time a woman had officiated in an NRL game when Belinda Sleeman ran out as one of the touch judges.
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