A last-gasp act of defensive desire has seen the Wests Tigers defeat the St George Illawarra Dragons 18-16 to claim their second win of the season.
Leading by two with little more than a minute remaining, a streak of Tigers, led by fullback Jahream Bula, denied Mikaele Ravalawa a match-clinching try to the delight of supporters in attendance on the final day of Magic Round.
In a contest that finished three tries apiece, the kicking game of Brandon Wakeham proved decisive with three conversions, a 40/20 and a game-defining short drop out late in the match.
Overcoming the late withdrawal of John Bateman due to a strained hamstring sustained in the warm-up, the Tigers posted first points with Wakeham slotting a penalty goal.
The Dragons responded moments later with Ravalawa (9th minute) finishing off an opportunity gifted to the returning winger after Junior Tupou failed to hold onto a bomb from Ben Hunt.
Buoyed by the confidence gained from their first win of the season, a cross-field kick from Luke Brooks allowed Starford To'a (14th minute) to touch down for his third try of the season.
Undeterred by a bunker ruling that denied To'a his second four-pointer due to a knock on from Bula contesting a bomb, the rookie fullback atoned by palming the ball into the arms of David Nofoaluma (22nd minute) to extend the score out to 14-4.
The Tigers failed to capitalise on a 40/20 from Wakeham midway through the half and paid a heavy price for failing to find touch from a penalty; interchange halfback Jayden Sullivan (32nd minute) exploded into space created by a show-and-go to reduce the margin to four points.
A well-placed grubber from Wakeham nearly resulted in a try to Apisai Koroisau with seconds left in the half, leaving the Tigers to take a 14-10 advantage to the sheds.
Coming out after the break determined to make the most of their attacking chances, the Dragons hit the front with Sullivan (53rd minute) dazzling the Tigers defence with footwork close to the line to snare his first career double.
Having produced rocks and diamonds with his kicking game earlier in the match, Wakeham nailed a short drop-out which allowed the Tigers to go the length of the field and regain the lead through Tupou (64th minute).
Holding off a last-gasp attacking raid which saw Hunt find space with a kick and get the ball out to Moses Suli on the right edge, the Tigers repelled a rampaging effort from Ravalawa to prevail 18-16.
Next week, the Tigers will face the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon, while the Dragons will head to Townsville to take on the Cowboys later that evening.