Michael Chee Kam stunner sinks broken Broncos at Suncorp
He took his job – but couldn’t take his two points. Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire extracted revenge over Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold with a stunning late 22-16 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
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He took his job – but couldn’t take his two points.
Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire extracted sweet revenge over Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold with a stunning late 22-16 victory at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
With the game seemingly headed for golden point, Maguire jumped for joy in a jubilant Tigers coaching box as utility Michael Chee Kam ran a dazzling line on the last tackle to score a matchwinning try with 77 seconds left on the clock.
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As the Tigers botched setting up a field goal, Chee Kam drifted across the field and went past five players to drag Anthony Milford over the line and break the 16-all deadlock.
“When I got the ball I didn’t know what to do,” Chee Kam said. “I saw a little gap open up and thought I’d take it.”
Under-pressure Brisbane had no answers as they collapsed to their fourth defeat in five weeks.
“We should have stopped that try,” Broncos halfback Kodi Nikorima said. “Good teams stop that.”
Victory was special for Maguire, who was sacked as South Sydney coach after the 2017 season.
Privately, Maguire questioned the role Seibold played in the change of coach. Maguire then applied for the Broncos’ coaching role that ultimately went to Seibold.
Which is why Maguire almost leapt out of the coaching box when Chee Kam scored Thursday night’s miracle try.
The Tigers were made to work for it as the Broncos had all the early running. Forward Alex Twal was forced to complete an extraordinary 48 tackles as part of a hardworking and enthusiastic Tigers pack.
PRESSURE BUILDS ON SEIBOLD
He coached all week under pressure. And that will only increase now with a 1-4 record.
Already some cracks are starting to appear in Seibold’s persona.
Brisbane hung in there but simply aren’t playing like a premiership force.
LISTEN! Matty Johns is back with his latest podcast and with Paul Kent and James Hooper runs the rule over struggling team, takes a look at what makes a great halfback and has his say on the modern coaching problem. Plenty of laughs to be had as well.
BOUNCE BACK
Thursday night was crucial following last week’s heartbreaking loss to Penrith.
It gives Tigers three wins from five games.
“All the resilience we showed, especially in the first half,” said Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah. “We believe we had the fitness to win it late.”
Typical of a Maguire team, the Tigers built pressure and kicked well through Luke Brooks and Josh Reynolds.
Behind 8-0, Wests Tigers scored 16 unanswered points to shock Brisbane.
Wests Tigers centre Robert Jennings came off with concussion in the 21st minute and did not return. Chee Kam was shifted to left centre.
Behind 8-0, Wests Tigers roared back into the game right on halftime when Chee Kam caught a bomb before offloading to teammate Luke Garner, who scored. It reduced Brisbane’s halftime lead to just two points.
“The boys showed quite a bit of resilience there,” Wests Tigers skipper Moses Mbye told Nine at halftime.
A try to forward Matt Eisenhuth pushed Wests Tigers ahead for the first time 11 minutes into the second half.
The Tigers and Broncos each bombed two first half tries. There were 15 errors from both side in the first half.
BUSTED BRONCOS
Their attack was clunky yet again.
Many believe a side that sits 1-4 cannot reach the final four. If that’s true, Brisbane’s season is in ruins.
“It’s not just clicking at all,” said Immortal Andrew Johns
Brisbane sustained a blow at halftime when Gillett failed an HIA test and did not return. Broncos prop Matt Lodge dropped three balls in the opening 32 minutes.
WESTS TIGERS 22 (M Chee Kam M Eisenhuth L Garner tries E Marsters 5 goals) bt BRISBANE 16 (M GillettK Nikorima tries J Isaako 4 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd: 24,398
Originally published as Michael Chee Kam stunner sinks broken Broncos at Suncorp
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