Freakish Walsh stars as Warriors pip Tigers in thriller

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Warriors v Wests Tigers

Reece Walsh has lit up Central Coast Stadium with a scintillating individual performance that stunned the Tigers in a 30-26 thriller.

Nathan Brown told media earlier in the week he was happy to look a ‘dumbo' if it meant doing what was best by teen sensation Reece Walsh. 

His time will come, Brown said. 

Well, his time has well and truly come after the fearless rookie played a starring role with one try, three try assists and four linebreak assists in a 30-26 win over the Wests Tigers.

He had thrown so many cutout passes and yet every time Walsh did it, he made the expected unexpected. 

Walsh though was taught an early lesson when he failed to take a Joseph Leilua kick dead with Luke Garner pouncing. 

Garner would go on to score the Tigers' second of the night too and impressed for the away side while Luke Brooks' kicking game was on song. 

It was all about Walsh though who put Marcelo Montoya over for the Warriors' first.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - the man who selflessly moved to the wing to make room for Walsh - then burst through and popped a late pass to put Jack Murchie through for their second. 

The next two tries were all Walsh - the first a looping ball for Tuivasa-Sheck only minutes after a similar attempt almost led to a Tigers intercept. 

Then Kodi Nikorima gave him early ball and the fullback burned the Tigers to dive over in the corner.

Going back to Brooks' kicking game though - he made another statement in the second half as Montoya fumbled his grubber with David Nofoaluma scoring in his 150th game.

The Warriors' ill-discipline proved costly with both Ben Murdoch-Masila  and Eliesa Katoa binned in the second half.

The Tigers though only added two penalty goals before the home side responded with two tries while down a man.

The first saw Nikorima kick through for Egan who showed great determination to get to the ball first. 

Then Walsh again turned magician to pop a beautiful pass through for Montoya.

The Tigers threatened to cause a late boilover when James Tamou reached over to score but they left it too late, ruing the conservative calls to opt for penalty goals against the undermanned opposition. 

Next week the Tigers host the Dragons while the Warriors travel to play the Cowboys.