Wests Tigers have won for the first time since April, shedding a nine-game losing run with an 18-10 victory over the Gold Coast at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
A healthy gallery at the soon to be renovated “Eighth Wonder of the World” braved the miserable Sydney weather, taking in a pre-game ceremony honouring the career of Balmain legend Keith Barnes and were rewarded with a much-needed victory for Benji Marshall’s side with Justin Olam notching a double.
In injured rookie Lachlan Galvin’s absence Aidan Sezer shifted to the six jersey, with Api Koroisau deputising at halfback despite the chance to audition for the hooker spot in the NSW Blues team for Origin game two.
Koroisau impressed defensively and despite a mixed game with the ball, he converted Olam’s 59th-minute try from the sideline and set up Fonua Pole’s late four-pointer to seal the two competition points after Marshall switched him back to hooker late in the contest.
An early Jayden Campbell 40-20 gave the Titans promising field position and they capitalised immediately, Jojo Fifita crossing for the first try of the afternoon.
The Tigers managed to hit back through Olam, taking advantage of some disjointed Gold Coast defence to energise the fans on the Leichhardt hill but Campbell had the Titans back in the lead in the 19th minute after Foran broke the line, drew Jahream Bula and passed to his halves partner for a simple four-pointer.
Despite being the busier defence the Tigers were able to repel further Titans raids, a 10-6 deficit at half-time could have looked a lot worse if not for some solid try-line defending.
A seesawing, scoreless start to the second half was broken by Olam, scoring his second try after a string of Gold Coast errors invited the Tigers back into the game. Olam almost had his hat-trick soon after but a desperate effort from Keano Kini on the much bigger PNG international prevented the Titans from going further behind.
With pressure building on the Titans defence Koroisau moved into dummy-half and put in a grubber that ricocheted off some legs as Pole dived on the loose ball to finish off Des Hasler’s team.