In the space of 80 minutes, Wests Tigers fans went from booing their own coach to giving his team a standing ovation, after the joint venture club stunned the reigning champions to close in on a top-eight finish.Â
It was always going to take something special for the Tigers coach to win back the trust of his fans after the bitter fallout with star Robbie Farah, and Jason Taylor may just about have done that by overseeing one of their most disciplined performances of the season. Four tries and an incredible defensive performance led the Tigers to a 26-14 win that puts them just four games away from a first finals appearance in five seasons.
After a furious opening stanza, the Tigers looked to continue their 16-year domination of North Queensland in the inner-west of Sydney. A delicate short kick form Mitchell Moses forced a costly error from Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote. His botched control gave Kevin Naiqama a chance to score the first points of the match.Â
This Tigers team is still adjusting to the successful life, and it showed through signs of immaturity. The Cowboys gave up a penalty to save a try but the Tigers let their opponents off the hook by opting for a penalty goal, before committing a careless error in possession immediately after the restart. From that set, the Cowboys came to life when a trademark Johnathan Thurston kick in the 23rd minute found Kane Linnett, whose try drew his side level. It all happened with such ease that the Tigers of old might have have capitulated.Â
However, a side with newfound confidence didn't lay down so easily. A crunching Dene Halatau tackle forced another error from Thurston before David Nofoaluma burst through four tacklers to score in the corner, making it 10-6 after the half-hour mark.Â
The Cowboys were stunned, bruised and battered. Michael Morgan passed into touch, Jake Granville fumbled from dummy-half and a penalty in front of the posts for not being square ensured the Tigers went into the break with a six-point lead that perhaps flattered the Cowboys.
Thurston's winless record against the Tigers in Sydney didn't look like changing after the restart as uncharacteristic errors continued to riddle his game. It was reflective of a team rattled by the hosts and the Cowboys couldn't get a grip on the contest.
Their defence, however, remained intact and despite being overrun and outplayed, the Cowboys held out raid after raid of attack.
The Tigers' moment finally arrived on the back of a try-saving tackle and penalty for lying in the ruck, giving Mitchell Moses the chance to provide an eight-point buffer with a goal in front of the posts.Â
The Cowboys refused to let Wests get comfortable and a Thurston penalty goal reduced their lead to a converted a try, ensuring the final stanza was one riddled with nerves for the 14,246 fans. That was until a moment of inspiration from Sauaso Sue sealed the result. With the Cowboys' defensive line focused on Moses and a possible field goal, they ignored the powerful forward's angled run and Sue burst through to score.
A late four-pointer from Ethan Lowe ensured brief tension at Leichhardt before a dazzling run by James Tedesco sealed the 12-point win. Â
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