Both sides tried their utmost to score a much-needed win at CommBank Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the Wests Tigers and Dolphins also did everything possible to throw the match away.
After 70 minutes of momentum swings and lead changes, the scores were locked at 22-22 and each side looked just as likely to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory, and vice versa.
It looked like the Dolphins would win when Jamayne Isaako booted a field goal in the 75th minute to break the deadlock but the Tigers regained possession from a short kick-off and were awarded a penalty for dragging a tackled player over the sideline.
And Api Koroisau teed the ball up a metre from the sideline, more than 30 metres out, and the stand-in goal-kicker nailed the conversion which just had enough oomph to be helped over the black and gold dot by bouncing off the crossbar for a 24-23 triumph.
Although he is still officially the assistant until next year, incoming head coach Benji Marshall was calling the shots for the Tigers and their long-suffering fans hope this win can be the start of a new era under their premiership-winning star.
With the departing and disgruntled Tim Sheens officially still head coach until season’s end, Marshall won’t be credited with his maiden win as an NRL head coach.
“It’s not about me, to be honest,” Marshall said after only being thrust into the hot seat for the final three rounds on Thursday.
“I’m still the assistant coach. The bosses sent me to get practice for next year, to see what it’s like and owning these duties.
“This three weeks is about us finishing off as a club how we want to finish and today we just needed it, as a result.
“We’ve been there or thereabouts for a few weeks now but we just couldn’t get over the line.
“So to have the skipper step up from the sideline, 30 out and knock it over with a bit of drama and get the end result, we needed it.
“It was a crazy finish and to see the boys get rewarded – and being amongst it – after only three wins, we needed it.”
Koroisau revealed he’d had a bet with teammate Brandon Wakeham only two days ago that he’d kick a goal from the “exact spot”.
“So, yeah, I knew when the call came down to back myself so I thought I’d take the kick,” he said.
“As soon as it came off the boot, my head was down straight away because I was praying. I knew it wasn’t the best strike so thankfully it went over.”
Incredibly, the hapless joint venture side hadn’t tasted success since romping to a record 66-18 win over North Queensland in round 12.
The victory, which sent the near-10,000 home fans at CommBank Stadium into raptures, also offers the Tigers a glimmer of hope of avoiding a second straight wooden spoon.
They still must beat the Sydney Roosters and Manly in their remaining two games and sweat on St George Illawarra losing to Melbourne, the Warriors and Newcastle to avert another last-place finish.
But with Marshall taking the reins a year earlier than had been planned, suddenly the Tigers faithful have reason to believe.
For the injury-hit Dolphins, it was a bitterly disappointing defeat.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the 13th minute through a converted try to young forward Fonua Pole but the Dolphins equalised when Isaako continued his season of career revival.
It was 12-6 to Wests midway through the first half when Asu Kepaoa touched down but their lead was cut to two a few minutes later when second-rower Euan Aitken crossed the stripe.
Tesi Niu is tackled. (Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)
The Dolphins went 14-12 up early in the second half when rookie centre Jack Bostock soared high to collect a bomb but the Tigers responded when Alex Seyfarth barged over for a rare try from close range.
When the hosts went 22-14 ahead after hooker Jake Simpkin darted over, they were in prime pouncing position for a win after 10 straight losses.
But they were unable to get their claws on debutant fullback Trai Fuller, who jinked past a few defenders for the 26-year-old journeyman to celebrate his maiden NRL appearance with a highlight play.
And when the Tigers gave away a penalty in possession with a needless obstruction infraction, Isaako levelled up the scores with a penalty goal.
Then the drama and excitement really unfolded in a showdown otherwise featuring two bottom-eight sides long out of the finals race.
The Dolphins went into the clash without suspended forward Ray Stone while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connelly Lemuelu and Kenny Bromwich were ruled out after they copped head knocks in the loss to the Roosters last week while Jeremy Marshall-King is again unavailable due to his nagging shoulder problem.
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