Wests Tigers fans erupt at Leichhardt Oval during Sharks clash

One of the rarest scenes in the NRL has broken out at Leichhardt Oval during the Tigers’ clash with the Sharks on Saturday.

West Tigers cheered from the ground at Leichhardt Oval and scoring another try. Photos: Fox Sports/Getty Images

One of the rarest scenes in rugby league broke out at Leichhardt Oval during the Tigers’ home clash with Cronulla on Saturday night.

As even casual NRL fans know, the poor old Tigers have been a basket case for almost every season of the joint-venture club’s existence outside that distant 2005 premiership.

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They did manage third and fourth in 2010 and 2011 respectively, but have not tasted finals football since in a terrible 12-year slog for their long-suffering fans.

The Tigers haven’t even managed a home-ground advantage, winning just 37 of 91 games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and a marginally better 51 wins from 93 clashes at Leichhardt Oval, widely considered their “spiritual home”.

The Tigers celebrate a try by Alex Seyfarth against the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

But the latter has been a graveyard for the home team in recent years, often booed from the ground, most notably after a 28-6 halftime deficit to a winless Cowboys side back in 2021 when they were trying to honour the passing of club legend Tommy Raudonikis.

The Tigers were also coming off a 32-12 hammering at the hands of the Raiders last time out.

So that made Saturday night’s scenes all the more remarkable.

Heading into the match against the fourth-placed Sharks, the Tigers were heavy underdogs and even the most optimistic fan would have feared the worst.

But Benji Marshall’s troops put all that to one side and marched to an 18-6 lead at the break, with captain Api Koroisau in imperious form.

It had the 15,990-strong crowd and the commentators in raptures when Aidan Sezer slotted a conversion after the halftime siren.

West Tigers cheered from the ground at Leichhardt Oval and scoring another try. Photos: Fox Sports/Getty Images

“Through it goes, stand by for a standing ovation at Leichhardt!” Andrew Voss screamed on Fox League.

“They’re up in the crowd, have a look and a listen to this.

“The joint is jumping, 18-6, Koroisau has been the conduit to all things good.

“Just a fantastic leaders performance.”

Journalist and sideline commentator James Hooper was even more effusive.

“The power of Leichhardt Oval is alive and well,” Hooper said in front of the famous hill.

“Black and gold, never fold as the late, great Laurie Nichols said.

“And right here, right now, they’ve almost got the sold out sign up here at Leichhardt Oval.

API DAYS: Can’t wait for Api, Bula, Galvin and Romy to carve up for @WestsTigers next year — skipper killing it tonight. Close to best on ground last week🐅🐅🐅

— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) March 23, 2024

“If the Tigers get home tonight, it’s going to be these supporters that will get them over the line.

“Who said suburban rugby league was dead and buried?”

Co-commentator Corey Parker added simply: “They were off their chops whoever said that.”

While Tigers fans accustomed to disappointment may have feared a second-half Cronulla comeback, it failed to materialise.

Instead the Tigers kept piling on the points, adding another converted try and a penalty to extend the lead to 26-6.

“The future of this place as an NRL venue is under question, but it’s still got a lot to love,” Voss said.

Cronulla opened the scoring through a Tom Hazelton try in the 13th minute, converted by Nicho Hynes, but didn’t score again.

The Tigers are putting on a show tonight at Leichhardt Oval, - 32 to 6.
Congratulations on terrific victory at the home of the Tigers.
3 suburban games on today, this was the best of the weekend! pic.twitter.com/DIf6ctVAIA

— Garry Jack (@jimmyjack244) March 23, 2024

Another try to Jahream Bula with 10 minutes to go had the fans erupting once again as the Tigers ran out emphatic 32-6 victors.

“The Benji Marshall era starts a week late,” said Voss.

“The Wests Tigers not just winning, they’re putting on a show tonight.”

After consecutive wooden spoons the last two years, it was a breakthrough moment for the club and first-year head coach Marshall.

“We were quite disappointed with how we started last week and we spoke about it all week,” Koroisau said afterwards on Fox League.

“This is how we trained through the pre-season so it’s good to see it come to light.

“It was a long time coming for us.

“It’s incredible, it’s hard to put into words the atmosphere and the energy you get from the roar of the crowd.

“Everytime we got to that 10-metre line we heard them going off and going crazy. Just makes us feel so much better.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers fans erupt at Leichhardt Oval during Sharks clash