LUKE Brooks stood up when it counted following a month of turmoil for the Wests Tigers, setting up the matchwinning try in an 18-12 NRL victory over Canterbury on Sunday.
With scored locked at 12-12 and four minutes to play at ANZ Stadium, Brooks found space on the left edge before he grubbered for winger Kevin Naiqama to score thanks to a lucky deflection off Josh Jackson.
Brooks, the only of the Tigers’ so-called big four to have re-signed for next year, starred in his return from a hamstring injury.
But he wasn’t alone, as each of the big names put a turbulent period behind them to claim only their third win of the season.
Against his likely future club, captain Aaron Woods was booed before kick-off but clocked up 172 metres in a monster effort.
“Every club has got fans that would boo their grandmother on their birthday,” Triple M’s Bill Harrigan said.
It was a win, but it was far from pleasant for Tigers captain Aaron Woods.Source:News Corp Australia
He was given the Anzac Medal as man of the match, but was still jeered by Tigers fans.
James Tedesco set up their other try for the re-signed David Nofoaluma and regularly looked threatening in attack.
Mitchell Moses also kicked four from four, and provided the pass to Brooks in the matchwinning play just as he shaped for a second field-goal attempt. Leading 10-6 at the break, the Tigers looked as if they had let the match slip until late in the game.
After Marcelo Montoya scored the Bulldogs’ only first-half try, they levelled the scores at 10-10 early in the second when Kerrod Holland crossed to complete a 12-pass movement.
Canterbury then had the lead when Holland slotted over a penalty goal after Tigers forward Tim Grant was penalised for crowding in the 54th minute. But the match swung when Chris Lawrence was denied a chance to chase down a Tedesco grubber in the 68th minute.
The Tigers were awarded a penalty and Moses levelled the scores on his boot, while Brenko Lee was sent for 10 minutes in the sin bin for the obstruction. And it was on his edge that Brooks found the Bulldogs short for the match- winning try.
The Bulldogs could come under the microscope from the NRL over the use of the concussion protocol.
After forward Greg Eastwood’s head collected the knee of Tedesco, he appeared to be told to leave the field by the club’s trainer, who was tapping his head to symbolise a concussion check.
But Eastwood remained in the defensive line before he eventually left the field and passed the test.
The Tigers put drama aside to take home a thrilling win over the Bulldogs.Source:Getty Images
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