The Wests Tigers have kept their season alive with a 42-24 win over the Brisbane Broncos.
The Broncos looked the better side for the first hour of the match, but poor errors and ill discipline gave the Tigers enough chances to stay close. When they clicked late in the game, the Broncos couldn’t respond.
The Broncos were full of intent early and were the first to score, after an errant Luke Brooks pass gave them field position. Brodie Croft went at the line before passing out the back to Tesi Niu. Quick passing from Niu and Herbie Farnworth allowed Corey Oates to score in the corner.
After a penalty goal for a time clock expiry for a scrum, the Broncos were up 8-0 after just ten minutes.
A Croft error in the play the ball and a couple of set restarts gave the Tigers the chance to hit back five minutes later. Stefano Utoikamanu got the offload away close to the line. Jacob Liddle put Adam Doueihi in space and he turned it inside to Luciano Leilua who crashed over.
However, in the set back straight after points, Luke Garner knocked on early in the count. Tyson Gamble took advantage via a grubber into the in goal, with Jordan Riki diving on the ball.
The Broncos were in control but a number of mistakes kept the Tigers close. Wests got the chance to hit back when Jamayne Isaako was taken over the sideline on a kick return, with ten minutes left in the half.
On the last tackle, the Tigers pushed play to their right and a Doueihi cut out ball put Nofoaluma over in the corner. Wests were back within two points.
The Broncos were to score last in the half. Kotoni Staggs broke the line and the ensuing play earned a set restart. Croft found Payne Haas on the charge. He got a classy offload away to Thomas Flegler who gave the Broncos an eight point lead at half time.
The Tigers kicked off the scoring just five minutes into the second half, after a high shot from Riki. Wests went to the Broncos left edge again. Doueihi held up the ball nicely for Dane Laurie who beat Farnworth to score.
From the next set, Laurie ran eighty metres from dummy half to get the Broncos defence backpedalling. They terrorised Brisbane’s left edge again with Luke Brooks and Doueihi combining to put Tommy Talau over. By the ten-minute mark of the second half, the Tigers were in front.
The Broncos regained the lead minutes later after marching down field. Gamble put Riki through a hole and he eventually found Staggs inside who put the Broncos back in front by four.
As we’ve seen so often this season, ill discipline from the Broncos, and the inability to defend their mistakes, finally brought them undone.
A Flegler high shot late in the count, with twenty minutes remaining, gave the Tigers the chance they needed. The Bronco’s left edge was again targeted and Talau crossed for his second.
With twelve minutes remaining, Isaako flew high above the pack but couldn’t hold on to a Brooks bomb. Camped on the Broncos line, a Doueihi grubber caused chaos in the Brisbane in goal and Nofoaluma claimed his second. The Tigers were a converted try in front.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
From there, it was a procession. Perhaps scarred by the last try, Isaako didn’t contest the next Brooks’ bomb. Ken Maumolo took the catch and passed to Junior Pauga who slid over the try line on debut.
With five minutes remaining, Utoikamanu made sure of the win by trampling Jake Turpin and slamming the ball down for the 40-24 win.
The Tigers find themselves just one win outside the eight. Michael Maguire was impressed with the fightback and felt the team camaraderie was evident.
Kevin Walters was disappointed in the Broncos performance, missing multiple chances to put the Tigers away in the first half. Lack of resilience in defence also concerned him.
3 points: In his return to the five eighth role, Adam Doueihi bagged five try assists in a man of the match performance. He menaced the Broncos goal line defence all afternoon and they couldn’t find any answers.
2 points: Payne Haas is the key man in the Broncos forward pack and he proved it again today, running for close to 200m in an impressive showing.
1 point: Stefano Utoikamanu has knocked Alex Twal back to the bench and he showed us why today. An offload leading to a try, a powerful try himself and 31 tackles himself would have impressed Maguire.
elvis
Roar Rookie
I wasn't sure what you were saying about Fifita, if I misconstrued it I am sorry. My worry about Staggs is he will be another Jack Wighton, hogging the ball when tries are on outside.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Not my solution mate. He's the one who wanted to play there (that's what I'm going off). It' s not about no one wanting to pass it to him.. that'll do , if you dont want to get it, you wont..
elvis
Roar Rookie
The solution to your centres not getting enough ball is not to make them a 5/8. What happens to the replacement centre who now gets no quality ball? Make him 5/8 too? I doubt Fifita's problems are because no-one wants to pass to him.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
What I was trying to focus on was running 6’s, not your Kikau’s or Turbos, but the lads I mentioned who are big, powerful and drag in defenses in red zones. Such a tackle busting line breaker as Staggs, sitting out wide depending on others with lesser ability for quality ball, it’s David Fifita all over again…there’s your prime example of the myth of quality over quantity on a league ground. Another under used marquis watching on and waiting for a quality moment as his side gets flogged week in week out.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Quality over quantity. I doubt Munster is in the top 5 of damaging runners at the Storm. He is good in traffic and can kick and pass but I don't see him running gaps or over the top of someone. I'd have JAC, Paps, new paps, Olam and Cheese as more damaging runners in space than Munster.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Here is a thought, maybe with the new rules there will become a thing called "Centre Money" as some of the most damaging players right now are centres. To be honest the threat is more spread out now, not just in the spine.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Last weeks games the most damaging runner of the football for the Storm, Munster had 58 receipts. Penriths most damaging runner with ball in hand (right now) Burton had 42 receipts and Souths’ Walker had 33. Brisbane’s most damaging runner Staggs touched the ball 10 times..only Hetherington had fewer.
elvis
Roar Rookie
I don't get putting Staggs into a play making role. He has shown almost zero in this department so far. Why put your most damaging runner closer to more defence?
elvis
Roar Rookie
It's not the fault of Oates he gets left marking 3 players. Or everyone keeps coming in because they don't trust their inside man to make a one on one tackle. He managed to shut down a few overlaps but he can't do all of them. But the real problem is the Broncos keep gifting the opposition field position, even Melbourne can't hold attack out forever. At least they have stopped giving up soft tried under the posts.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If Staggs is on 5/8 money Kevvie ought to put him there now, shift Gamble to 7 and spear Croft.. and Isaako..
andrew
Roar Rookie
It's a strange season BM when,after their woeful performance against Manly and their indifferent form all season, Saints are still in the 8.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey matth,agree. Glenn should have been dropped long ago. He misses tackles, hardly ever see him take the ball up and to me he’s not a leader. Walters should bite the bullet and drop under performing players. After the Cronulla win i thought the Broncos would turn it around. And i thought Saints had problems.
matth
Roar Guru
The whole of that edge were the problem. Half the time if Oates stays on his wing there will be two unmarked players inside of him. Glenn is not that mobile these days, Croft is poor defensively and Herbie can't resist coming in.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
David, the title of your piece should have read "Tigers keep 9th place hopes alive with big win over Broncos"
Nat
Roar Guru
Congrats Tigers fans, it was a good win. Some of Doueihi's touches were very special. That L - R cutout to Nofo is a very hard pass made easy. Still very disappointing from the Broncos. The left edge has forgotten how to talk and tackle. Croft will be in the reserves next week if Kelly is available. Constant mistakes, running for stats purposes and poor kicking doesn't make an NRL halfback. Gamble was solid but I'm sure the big oneon his to-do sheet was pass to Staggs. I don't think Staggs touched the ball in the first 20 mins. They blew multiple efforts that could have put the Tigers away before the rot started in the final 20mins.
andrew
Roar Rookie
As you said David, the Broncos left edge was terrible. Couldn't believe the Tigers try where no one was marking the winger, Oates was virtually marking the five eighth. Kevvie should drop Oates back to the Q Cup and bring back Mead. Does Kevvie do any defensive drills at all, it just seems the same old same old with the Broncos. Doueihi was brilliant at five eighth.