The Tigers have beaten the Dragons 34-28 on the back of masterclasses from Jahream Bula and Jarome Luai, despite a promising display from Lyhkan King-Togia at Suncorp Stadium.
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MATCH CENTRE: Tigers vs Dragons teams, scores, videos, updates
New halfback King-Togia produced a brilliant no look pass to put Dylan Egan through a gaping hole as the Dragons took an early lead. But it was short-lived.
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Shortly after, Lachlan Galvin came up with a silky try assist to put recalled winger Charlie Staines over as the Tigers hit back to square the scores.
But Valentine Holmes then delivered a brilliant solo run to score a freak solo try and restore the Dragons’ advantage.
The seesawing nature of Saturday’s game continued as Sunia Turuva finished off a slick backline move from the Tigers with Alex Seyfarth coming up with the try assist.
After being a late call-up as an injury replacement, Staines brushed off Tyrell Sloan to extend the Tigers lead.
Jarome Luai then put a grubber on a platter for Samuela Fainu to dot down and push the Tigers lead out to 10 points.
In a late twist, Jaydn Su’A inexplicably dropped a ball over the try line in the act of scoring without being touched only for Bula to race away and score a coast to coast try.
“I’ve never seen that ever,” Greg Alexander said.
“That was a big moment and I don’t think the Dragons can fight back from that. If they score that, they have momentum,” added Cooper Cronk.
After the break, Jacob Liddle dived over to give the Dragons a sniff of a miracle comeback.
King-Togia then came up with another try assist to put Liddle over for his double, as the Dragons closed to within four of the Tigers.
Kyle Flanagan was later pinged for a ruck infringement allowing Adam Doueihi to slot a penalty goal and push the lead out to six, before Doueihi pounced on a mistake from a clever kick from himself to score a try that all but sealed the result with seven minutes to play.
Hamish Stewart dived over for a late consolation try for the Dragons but the Tigers held on for a memorable victory.
BIG HITS
JAHREAM THE DREAM SHINES FOR TIGERS
The Tigers have plenty of star recruits, but the man that gives them the X-factor and ability to beat any team on their day is Jahream Bula.
The Tigers’ fullback ran for 251 run metres, from 17 runs to go with two tackle busts, an offload, nine tackles and a 100-metre try to lead the Tigers to a big win.
Bula pounced on a massive blunder from Jaydn Su’A to race over 100 metres to score from his own in-goal in a 12-point turnaround for the Tigers that proved crucial.
Bula has a bit of Greg Inglis about him in that he can create tries out of nothing from long-range and that is helping the Tigers win close games they may have lost in recent years.
NEW DRAGONS HALF STARS IN BEATEN SIDE
Lyhkan King-Togia was called up to fill the No.7 hot seat after Lachlan Ilias was dropped and he didn’t disappoint in a starring display for the Dragons.
King-Togia set up the first try for the Dragons with a brilliant no look pass and finished with 51 run metres, one tackle bust, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, two try assists and 17 tackles.
He also formed a solid partnership with Kyle Flanagan, who had a linebreak, two linebreak assists and a try assist and he would have had another if Jaydn Su’A didn’t bomb his try.
Given he has recently re-signed with the club, King-Togia has a big future for the Dragons.
LUAI-GALVIN PARTNERSHIP SHOWS IT CAN WORK
Despite reports of friction off the field, there is no doubting Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin can forge a partnership to lead the Tigers back to the finals.
Luai has taken a back seat this season in a selfless display to bring out the best in not only Galvin, but all of his teammates.
However, there were signs against the Dragons he is starting to take more of a dominant role with two try assists and 29 run metres.
Galvin also had 37 run metres, a linebreak assist and try assist and underplayed his hand beautifully.
They may not be set for a long career as a partnership, but Luai and Galvin can still make a special combination while he is still at the club and it could get the Tigers back to the promised land.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Jahream Bula and the Wests Tigers host Clint Gutherson and the St George Illawarra Dragons in a blockbuster Magic Round clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Tigers centre Starford To’a may miss as many as two games after sustaining a neck injury in their golden point win over the Sharks on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval.
But in a promising sign, coach Benji Marshall said the 24-year-old may only be absent from their Magic Round game against the Dragons on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Charlie Staines will come into the team on the wing, and will play his first NRL game this season, with Brent Naden shifting from the wing into the centres.
“It’s not serious. Just had a scan off the back of last week’s game and the specialist said he probably needs one to two weeks,” Marshall said in his press conference on Friday.
“Hopefully one, but whatever is necessary to get him right we’ll do.
“That was a bit of a late curve ball for us, but Charlie Staines comes into the fold there, playing on the wing, so it’s a good experience for him coming in.”
Staines has just recovered from a hamstring injury, after starting the season with the Wests Magpies in the NSW Cup.
Shane Flanagan has swung the axe on halfback Lachlan Ilias as exciting young talent Lyhkan King-Togia comes in for his fifth NRL game. It will be the 19-year-old’s first start in the No. 7 jersey, with the development contract rookie having played five-eighth in his only other NRL start. King-Togia was off contract but signed a two-year extension on Tuesday that will move him into the top 30 side next season and keep him at the club until 2027. “He got a taste of first grade at the end of last year and has been playing good footy to start this season for our NSW Cup team,” Flanagan said. “He’s an exciting young half on the up and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to improve over the coming seasons.” Ilias has struggled for most of the season, with the former Rabbitohs halfback failing to deliver when the game was on the line in several tight losses. Flanagan’s men had been in every game this season before they were thumped by the Roosters on Anzac Day and Ilias is one of several casualties. Young winger Sione Finau has also been dropped as Corey Allan makes his long-awaited club debut. Allan will play his first NRL game since 2023 as he returns from a lengthy layoff after rupturing his ACL last January. Before this season, Blake Lawrie hadn’t been dropped to NSW Cup since 2018 but now it’s happened twice in a month. The veteran front-rower makes way for lock Hamish Stewart (concussion) who returns to the starting side as Jack de Belin shifts to the bench.
TEAMS
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 5. Brent Naden 23. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu. 18th man: 18. Tony Sukkar
Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lyhkan King-Togia 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Jack de Belin 16. Emre Guler 17. Luciano Leilua. 18th man: 19. Nathan Lawson
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