In a result that perhaps no one saw coming, the Wests Tigers have beaten the Cronulla Sharks in NRLW despite their different positions on the ladder.
With the Sharks in the top four but on a losing streak and the Tigers resigned to winning the wooden spoon, many tipped the Sharks to take it out in, a foregone conclusion.
It was anything but, however, as the Tigers dug deep, performed well and came out 12-10 victors which surprisingly does leave the Sharks hopes hanging in the balance.
Should the Parramatta Eels beat the high-flying Sydney Roosters convincingly, the Sharks will be knocked out of the finals despite going 7-0 to begin the season.
In a game that was tight, hard-fought and full of tenacity and determination, it came down to who wanted it more and it was the Tigers who held the ball, defended well and did all the little things right.
Their cause was not helped early on when Holli Wheeler was sin-binned for ten minutes for a high tackle – one that she has since been hit with a one week suspension for.
The Tigers would capitalise as some quick hands down the left hand side saw Claudia Nielsen power her way out of a couple of tackles before spinning over the line to score.
The Sharks were next to score when Quincy Dodd dummied, bamboozled defenders and burrowed over from dummy half to score.
Ill-discipline continued to hurt the Sharks as they had a second player sin-binned, this time Talei Holmes for a hip drop – she has since been fined for the offence.
Despite being a player down, it was a bullocking run from Tiana Penitani that saw the Sharks take the lead.
The conversion was missed, putting the Sharks up by just four points.
As the game wagered on, it would be Brooke Talataina to score the winning try as she burrowed over from dummy half to level it up.
The conversion was then a good one and it put the Tigers up 12-10.
That would be all she wrote as the Sharks shot themselves in the foot and the Tigers held on to win.
Ricky’s Player of the Game
3. Christian Pio (WST)
2. Quincy Dodd (CRO)
1. Leianne Tufuga (WST)