Brothers rewrite NRL record books as Wests Tigers produce upset

The Wests Tigers produced an upset for the ages with history being made in the process by a trio of brothers on Sunday.

The Tigers have broken a six-game losing streak, pulling off a massive upset to defeat the Roosters 30-28 in an entertaining game at Allianz Stadium.

The Roosters were without five Origin stars and centre Billy Smith, so a lot of youth was on display for the Tricolours, but the Tigers were also missing three key players in Jahream Bula, Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau.

The Tigers led 30-22 with two minutes left after a Tigers penalty goal but the Roosters stayed in it with a James Tedesco try in the final minute.

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Unfortunately for the home side, they only had one play to attempt and score a miraculous try from the kick off but the Tigers shut it down.

It was a historic afternoon, with Fainu brothers Samuela, Latu and Sione becoming the first trio of brothers in NRL history to all score tries for the same team in the same game.

Latu spoke to Fox League after the game, telling Matt Russell the win was for coach Benji Marshall after a few turbulent weeks amid the losing streak.

“This win means a lot not just for us but the fans and our coach. He’s been through a lot. We did it for him,” Fainu said.

A brilliant offload from Starford To’a despite three defenders being draped over him set up the Tigers’ first try to Charlie Staines.

Promising young half Latu Fainu would score the team’s second, pouncing on a Roosters error before racing 50 metres the other way to put the ball down under the posts. His brother Sione would crash over minutes later to give the Tigers a 20-0 lead.

The Tigers made history and pulled off the stunning upset. Credit: Fox League

“They’re exercising a few demons here the Tigers,” Andrew Voss said in commentary referencing the club’s current six-game losing streak.

The Roosters would turn things around though with two tries in five minutes, which included a sensational acrobatic effort from veteran Daniel Tupou.

Tupou leapt high over his opposite winger to catch it over his head before bringing it down to ground to score. Perfect kick from Hugo Savala as well.

‘That is special,” Michael Ennis said.

Samuela Fainu scored soon after the half time break, running a terrific line to crash over to complete the Fainu hat-trick.

Roosters centre Mark Nawaqanitawase was terrific for the Roosters, scoring two impressive solo tries.

His second trimmed the margin to six in the second half, but the Tigers more or less extinguished the Roosters’ hopes with a Adam Doueihi penalty goal in the 79th minute.

Originally published as Brothers rewrite NRL record books as Wests Tigers produce upset