‘Simply brilliant’: Wests Tigers pull off huge upset against Brisbane Broncos

The Wests Tigers have pulled off arguably the biggest upset victory of the season, toppling the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Adam Doueihi of the Tigers celebrates. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Wests Tigers have pulled off arguably the biggest upset victory of the season, toppling the Brisbane Broncos by 14 points at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.

Reeling at the bottom of the NRL ladder, nobody was tipping the Tigers to defeat the red-hot Broncos, who were coming off three consecutive wins and fighting for a top four finish.

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But Brett Kimmorley’s men stunned the 32,909-strong Brisbane crowd to snap an agonising seven-game losing streak and give their interim coach his first victory.

It was also the club’s fourth consecutive win over the Broncos.

The Tigers were far from their best in the first half, completing just 14 of 21 sets at 66 per cent — but the visitors did enough to return to the sheds at halftime with scores level at 12-12.

The men in orange then dominated the second half, running in three tries to secure their first victory since Round 11.

“Our execution and discipline let us down,” Broncos captain Adam Reynolds confessed after the 32-18 defeat.

“Our ball-handling was pretty poor and the Tigers played really well. They made it tough for us.”

Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi set up a try and nailed all six of his goal attempts, while halfback Jock Madden scored a four-pointer and set up two others.

“(Madden) has played well when he’s had his chances this year,” former Cronulla Sharks star Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“The players love him and they love playing with him. You could see their reaction when he scored that try, they came from everywhere.”

Adam Doueihi of the Tigers with his teammates. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Now that was brilliant @WestsTigers#nrlBroncosTigers Simply brilliant... Congratulations to everyone especially after a very hard week 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/sY8u5mJAIo

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 30, 2022

Broncos prop Payne Haas gained 147 metres from 13 runs in 50 minutes on the field, while debutant Deine Mariner contributed 143 run metres and three tackle breaks.

“I don’t know whether I’d put the Broncos in as premiership contenders but I thought before the game, they’re certainly in the mix,” Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander said.

“I think the Broncos have shown over the last three months that they are together as a side. They’ve got a lot of strike, both in the pack, out wide and Reynolds has pulled it all together this year to make them a genuine team and a genuine threat.

“What do I take out of this game? I don’t think I put a line through Brisbane … they can be great because they’ve got a lot of good players. There’s no doubt they can do something, I’m not going to write them off just because of tonight’s performance.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters told reporters in the post-match press conference: “There was plenty of effort, but in crucial moments, they were better than us.

“There were a few moments where they won the battle ... and they won the war.”

The Tigers will next face the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday, August 7, with kick-off scheduled for 4.05pm AEST.