Was this the biggest bombed try of the season? Tigers win after Su’A howler

St George Illawarra’s Jaydn Su’A produced the biggest howler at Magic Round – and possibly this year – when somehow spilling the ball over the tryline with nobody around him on Saturday night.

Su’A thought he was about to help himself to a simple four-pointer right on half-time against the Wests Tigers on Saturday night.

Jaydn Su’a bombs one of the easiest tries of the season.Credit: Fox Sports

The try would have got the Dragons back to 20-16. But the ball came free from his hands, Tigers fullback Jahream Bula picked up the loose ball and sprinted 100m to gift his side a big lead.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said of Su’A’s botched effort: “What happened just before half-time ended up being the turning point.

“We [could have] gone into half-time 20-16, we only had a few play-the-balls in their 20m zone. But it wasn’t to be.

“I loved that in the second half we showed some grit, and we were coming back to get them. We had opportunities to nail it in the back end, we just didn’t do it.”

Jahream Bula scores for Wests Tigers against the Dragons.Credit: Getty Images

Tigers coach Benji Marshall did not know what to think when he spotted Su’A cross and then Bula run the length of the field.

“I was a little bit angry and happy at the same time,” Marshall said.

“He [Su’A] should have scored. For Jahream to pick it up and keep playing, you need to make your own luck sometimes.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m negative about winning, but there are so many things we can do better.”

The Dragons did well to get back in the game in the second half, with former Tiger Jacob Liddle bagging a double within four minutes.

An Alex Seyfarth knock-on with 30 seconds remaining gifted the Dragons one last chance to try and force the game into golden point.

The Tigers’ 34-28 win was their second in a row, but the Dragons – and especially Su’A – will hate sitting through the review of a game they could have easily won.

Marshall was aware his players were playing their third game in 13 days. They played nearly 90 minutes last weekend in a golden-point thriller that took its toll, physically and emotionally.

Charlie Staines celebrates a try against the Dragons.Credit: Getty Images

It has been seven years since the Tigers have won three in a row, and they will have their work cut out getting it done against the Storm in Melbourne.

But who really cares. The Tigers of old would have blown the lead against the Dragons. They were still guilty of trying to defend a lead. But they are heading in the right direction.

Dragons’ back-rower Dylan Egan opened the scoring on the night after some lovely lead-up work by Moses Suli.

Recalled winger Charlie Staines, playing his first NRl game for the year –and the best player for the Tigers, according to Marshall – hit back for the Tigers courtesy of a lovely tip-on from Lachie Galvin.

Bula hobbled for a few minutes when his ankle was trapped in a tackle, but the No.1 was able to keep moving and remain in the game.

Api Koroisau attempted a couple of 40/20 attempts, and thought he had one on the second occasion. Clint Gutherson was ruled to have put a foot into touch, but the Dragons successfully challenged the call after they were bizarrely given the luxury of watching replays of the passage of play on the big screen shown inside the ground.

Dragons forward Emre Guler failed to finish the game because of a dislocated shoulder, while Tigers’ centre Brent Naden was also given an early shower because of a knee complaint.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now

Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.