Injury-hit Wests Tigers have bounced back from their thrashing at the hands of Canberra in emphatic style with a 30-22 NRL defeat of South Sydney, snapping a six-game losing streak.
The Tigers raced out to a 20-0 lead early and resisted a Rabbitohs fightback which narrowed their lead to two points by the 50th minute, before the visitors rallied again to claim a vital win.
Belted 60-6 by the Raiders last week, with captain Aaron Woods already sidelined, the Tigers lost his fellow prop Tim Grant in the lead up to Thursday’s nights round nine clash at ANZ Stadium.
Playmaker Mitchell Moses then pulled out late after suffering a quad strain in the warm-up.
The Tigers were further decimated when fullback James Tedesco didn’t return from the break after struggling with a shoulder injury in the first half.
But with his halves partner watching on, Luke Brooks piloted the Tigers to their most impressive win of the season over a flat Rabbitohs who crashed to their fourth straight loss.
A fourth minute touchdown to Tedesco from a Brooks kick, was followed by a Jordan Rankin try in the 11th minute.
When Brooks picked up his own kick that bounced cruelly past Souths fullback Greg Inglis, the Tigers surprisingly led 20-0 after 20 minutes before 11,229 fans.
Captain Inglis, who was Souths’ best, tried hard to spark his side and Kirisome Auva’a scored the home side’s first try four minutes before the break for a halftime score of 20-6.
Bryson Goodwin scored shortly after the interval and a subsequent Dane Nielsen try brought the Rabbitohs within two with half an hour to play.
Rankin scored his second try to wrest the ascendancy back the Tigers’ way in the 26-18 in the 54th minute.
David Nofoaluma pressed the Tigers further ahead when he scored off a clever short side play engineered by Robbie Farah in the 63rd minute.
Goodwin’s second try in the 73rd minute pegged the gap to eight points.
steveng
Roar Rookie
He should have got panelised for that (Nofaluma that is) and this is where the refs are inconsistent and allow these sorts of things to flourish and happen. In any other game that would have been either a yellow card a send off or a sin bin. I was astounded when the ref didn't do anything and just played on as if lets get this tantrum over with and continue on with the game.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Ref had called time off Mike, so the ruling was correct.
Mike from tari
Guest
How come no scrum when Nofaluma threw the ball into Burgess's face, he tried to milk a penalty & when it didn't work like a little kid throwing a tantrum he threw the ball & the ref says give it back to him to play the ball, just goes to show how bad the refs are going.
Heich
Guest
GO TIGERS, KILL THERM AND EAT THEM
MAX
Guest
In 2014 the Brothers Burgess and Souths were the talk of the town. In 2016 the brothers Burgess are a mere shadow of glories past. I doubt there will be a recovery. Souths have lost their bottle. This time, there will be no George Piggins to march them back.