The Wests Tigers have brought their 8 month winning drought to an end with a magnificent victory against defending Premiers Penrith in very wet conditions in Bathurst.
The Tigers dominated field position, had better ball control and made more metres than their more fancied opponents, laying the platform for a much needed victory.
The Tigers spine linked well and looked far more comfortable in the atrocious conditions. From the very start of the game, halfback Luke Brooks kicked a 40/20 in the very first set of the game. The Tigers then got a set restart in the next set which was followed by Api Koroisau very nearly scores, but on the very next play, Brooks put in a grubber which Dylan Edwards fails to clean up and Brandon Wakeham got the ball down for a try. Wakeham then converted his own try.
It took ten minutes for the Penathers to finally get into the Tigers 20 metres, but on just their second tackle there, Nathan Cleary grubbered through the line, the ball bounced perfectly for Tyrone Peachey who scored. Stephen Crichton converted to level the scores.
Both sides traded sets, playing rather restricted football due to the conditions. Both sides tried to use their defence to get the advantage but more often than not, they gave away penalties, but still managed to force errors as well. In the 29th minute, Crichton landed a penalty goal to give Penrith the lead, but the Panthers gave away a penalty right on halftime and Wakeham's penalty goal meant the score was tied at 8 all at the break.
Just as they did in the first half, the Tigers were first to score in the second half, when a passing movement to the right side saw David Nofoaluma dive over to score in the corner for his 100th try in the NRL. Wakeham failed to convert from touch and the Tigers regained the lead 12-8 with 30 minutes remaining in the game.
In the 56th minute, Cleary got through the Tigers line and raced for the tryline, but Jahreem Bula's try saw Cleary drop the ball.
In the 65th minute, a Tigers drop out failed to go 10 metres and the Panthers got a penalty, but on the very first tackle, Mitch Kenny dropped the ball.
Klemmer barged over the line in the 74th minute but he was held up. Penrith looked like they possibly scored with just 150 seconds left in the match, but the Bunker found that Tyrone Peachey had pushed Bula off-the-ball and the Tigers received a penalty and the Panthers didn't get another chance with the ball.