Tigers win golden point thriller as Doueihi nails late penalty

A golden point penalty goal has delivered one of the most dramatic wins in Wests Tigers history as Adam Doueihi nervelessly sealed a thrilling 20-18 win over Cronulla at a sold-out Leichhardt Oval.

In wantaway teen Lachlan Galvin’s first NRL game since his contract saga engulfed the joint-venture, the Tigers prodigy starred and then celebrated with his teammates while 14,812 punters went berserk.

After all the drama of the past two weeks at Concord, to compound a decade of failings, fights and stuff-ups, this felt written in the stars.

Golden point field goal shots by Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and Doueihi - taken from out wide when Jarome Luai was under pressure - were charged down and sailed agonisingly wide at 18-all.

Not until Tom Hazleton roughed up Fonua Pole and forced the ball free in a two-man, 87th minute tackle, could the two sides be separated.

Doueihi calmly stepped up and nailed the 30-metre shot.

The final few tackles of regulation time said it all about the newfound resolve in Tiger Town though, with one try-saving effort after the other somehow keeping the game alive.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai on Sunday. Credit: Steven Siewert

Galvin was right there in the middle of it too with a spectacular stop of Hazleton as he sniffed a match-winning try.

That it came after the 18th sin bin of the weekend, and one that threatened to break the Tigers for good, made it all the sweeter.

When referee Grant Atkins, following the intervention of the bunker, sat Pole down for collecting Hazleton high in an upright collision between the pair, well the Tigers had seen this one before.

From 18-12 when Pole trudged off, the Sharks levelled up through back-rower Billy Burns. Then with just a few minutes remaining, Hynes hammered a 50-metre field goal straight into the goalpost.

Still the Tigers clung on to have a sold-out Leichhardt Oval crowd in full voice.

Take nothing away from Cronulla’s fightback from two double-figure deficits. But Benji Marshall’s side deserved nothing less.

Fans at Leichhardt Oval. Credit: Steven Siewert

Barely a boo was bothered with by the masses anyway as Galvin – the joint-venture’s future who will walk the door, leaving date TBC – played his first NRL game since the whole sorry contract saga broke.

Despite the threats delivered on social media last week, the locals reserved most of their jeers for the officials and the visitors.

They were really never going to be directed at Galvin aside from one or two during the warm-up. Not once Luai jinked on the run to find Galvin just eight minutes in, with Galvin in turn popping an offload through two defenders for Samuela Fainu to crash over and open the scoring.

The 19-year-old shared a brief celebratory cuddle with Api Koroisau before flying into his teammates, fists and blood pumping after playing his part to a tee.

Galvin takes a carry. Credit: Steven Siewert

At the 27th minute with Luai and Galvin on song, Starford To’a was shoving Mawene Hiroti to the deck and setting up Sunia Turuva in the other corner.

Given the Tigers were playing with the wind at their back, Ronaldo Mulitalo’s scything try right on half-time could have been pivotal for Cronulla.

But at 10-6 Nikora and Luai both left the fray, one thanks to the other, and the Tigers helped themselves to a penalty goal.

When Galvin hoisted a bomb into the breeze, Tallyn Da Silva grubbered the bouncing ball for four more points and a critical 12-point lead.

Cronulla trimmed it back with a long-range Will Kennedy try that benefited from a fortunate bounce as well.

Luai and Nikora both returned and so did the Tigers’ resolve. Terrell May saved a try as Nikora shot onto a beautiful line that had four points written all over it. Turuva and Jahreem Bula somehow denied Mulitalo a moment later out wide.

And as has rarely been the way for the Tigers for so long, they kept knocking them back.

Thanks for joining.

What a ripper of a game.

Make sure you keep an eye on our mastheads for all the latest news and analysis from a remarkable afternoon at Leichhardt Oval.

See you next time. Cheers!

Lachlan Galvin in action for the Tigers. Credit: Steven Siewert

“When you’ve got players like [Sunia] Turuva and Jarome [Luai] in your team, the way they heckle me when I do my goal-kicking at training, it’s probably worse than what I get in a game,” Doueihi said on Fox. “I practise for scenarios like that. I’m glad it came off in the game.”

Doueihi is also asked about Galvin’s return to first grade after an eventful fortnight.

“He’s a kid that’s probably been a bit rattled over the past few weeks,” Doueihi said. “I do feel for him, the way he’s sort of been bombarded [by] the media and all the outside noise. But inside our four walls, we really still have high respect for the kid, and I get on really well with him.

“He’s a really down to earth kid that just loves playing footy. So you can see that tonight, the way he came out and just owned the game … it’s a credit to the kid. I’m glad he was on our team today.”

Doueihi, who manages himself, is asked by Brian Fletcher if he’d be keen to look after Galvin.

“When I hear the figures getting thrown around, I told him we’ll have a chat and a coffee,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll only take two per cent. That’s enough for me to do my job for him. We’ll see if he jumps on board. Come on Lachie.”

The Tigers attempt a short kick-off and Tallyn Da Silva knocks on. He would have probably been over there had he taken it cleanly!

Wild finish brewing here. Braydon Trindall’s field goal attempt goes right. No one can nail one.

Oh dear. Sharks reserve Thomas Hazelton has his hand in a ruck there. Penalty Tigers. They have a chance to win it here.

From about 18 metres out, basically in front, Adam Doueihi boots a match-winning penalty. Never looked like missing.

The Tigers’ faithful go wild. What a yarn.

Heartache for the Sharks, who had a crack at four field goals attempts there.

The Tigers win 20-18.

Tigers fullback Jahream Bula is caught high. Penalty.

The home side march down the field before Adam Doueihi goes for a one-pointer.

It’s not a great attempt as it misses to the right. Tense scenes at Leichhardt Oval.

The Tigers try to go the length of the field after the hooter but it’s not to be.

That’s the first five minutes of golden point done.

Meanwhile, Api Koroisau is coming from the field with an injury of some description.

Terrell May in action. Credit: Getty Images

We’ve put the mock on May there. His 29th carry of the night is a knock-on.

Scenes! Hynes’ third field goal attempt is charged down, this time by Jahream Bula.

Tigers are now pinned for a knock-on. The drama continues.

Wait a second ... it was Will Kennedy who knocked on. Tigers feed.

18-18

With 52 seconds remaining, Hynes lines up for another field goal - a little closer this time - but it’s charged down by Terrell May. He’s been brilliant today on all fronts. One of the great performances by a prop.

Great desperation there from the Tigers.

However, the Sharks retain possession. Two plays later, Daniel Atkinson knocks on with the tryline in sight, a couple of metres out.

What a game we have here.

Locked at 18-18 after 80 minutes

Scenes.

Nicho Hynes almost nails one of the great field goals to put the Sharks ahead by two.

From about 48 metres out, his attempt hits the left post and bounces away.

Fine margins.

18-18 with two minutes remaining

Tigers winger Brent Naden pulls off a cracking tackle to stop his opposite man, Samuel Stonestreet, scoring a potential try down the Sharks’ right edge.

Will Kennedy has been superb today. Makes another long-range break but can’t find his way to the tryline. He’s made 154 metres from 11 runs.

It’s getting tense at Leichhardt as the Sharks continue to enjoy the majority of possession and field position in the dying minutes of this great game.

18-18 with six minutes remaining