Adam Doueihi has kicked the Wests Tigers to a stunning golden-point victory over the Sharks in chaotic scenes at a packed Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers fans turned out in force for their first game at the venue this season and the players did not disappoint.
With the scores tied at 18-18,Cronulla had multiple opportunities to hit the front but they were repeatedly denied by a desperate Tigers side.
The drama continued as the match entered golden point, with both teams missing field goal attempts.
The match eventually came down to Doueihi's boot after the hosts were awarded a penalty goal for a strip. Kicking into a howling wind, the centre did not disappoint and he sent the Leichhardt faithful into raptures as the ball soared through the posts.
The Tigers were dealt a blow midway through golden point with Api Koroisau limping from the field with a knee injury. Cronulla lost centre Mawene Hiroti in the first half to a medial ligament injury.
Earlier in the day, the Raiders produced a comeback for the ages to claim a stunning victory over the Dolphins in the nation's capital.
Canberra trailed 28-10 at half-time before halfback Jamal Fogarty orchestrated a shocking second-half turnaround.
The Raiders ran in five tries to score 30 unanswered points and secure a 40-28 victory over the Dolphins.
The visitors lost Daniel Saifitiy to a shoulder injury late in the first half and his absence saw the side lacking punch up front after the break.
There's no better place to be than Leichhardt Oval on a Sunday afternoon and the famous hill is sure to be overflowing with passionate fans as Benji's boys look to hit back after a tough loss to the Eels.
Follow all of the Round 8 action in the 2025 Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
- NRL Casualty Ward
- Latest judiciary news
Wests Tigers v Sharks at Leichhardt Oval
Press conferences:There's much to discuss after a dramatic afternoon at Leichhardt Oval so be sure to tune into the post-game press conferences to hear what both coaches made of the match.
Full-time: Adam Doueihi has delivered the Tigers a stunning golden-point victory. The Tigers were handed a penalty for a strip, with the centre stepping up to take the shot from 30-metres out, directly in front of the sticks. With the wind howling, it was not an easy kick but Doueihi stood up and delivered in the big moment.Wests Tigers 20 - Sharks 18.
Half-time:We are off to a second period of extra-time after another frantic minute of play. Braydon Trindall's field goal attempt went wide and the Tigers kept the ball alive as the half-time siren sounded. Benji Marhsall's side came desperately close to breaking free, however the Sharks scrambled to hold firm.
In the madness, Api Koroisau injured his ankle and he has been replaced by Tallyn Da Silva to start the second period of extra-time. The wind is now behind the Sharks' backs.Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
84th minute:It's now the Tigers chance to take a field goal attempt and Adam Doueihi's shot has drifted just wide of the posts.Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
83rd minute:Another Hynes field goal attempt has been charged down, with both teams scrambling for the loose ball. The referee initially ruled Sharks ball but the Tigers have challenged. The hosts have come up trumps, with the captain's challenge successful. Tigers ball on their own 40m line. Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
81st minute: Big chance coming up for the Sharks. Wests Tigers prop Terrell May has spilled the ball in the first set of extra time, handing Cronulla a prime attacking opportunity.Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
Golden point: Somehow this game is going to golden point. The Sharks have thrown everything they've got at the Tigers but they just won't lay down. Another Nicho Hynes field goal attempt was charged down, only for Cronulla to regather the ball and have one final set of six in attacking territory. Tom Hazelton came desperately close on one play, before the Sharks had a numbers advantage on the left edge. Daniel Atkinson looked destined to score, but he too was denied by a try-saving tackle and spilled the ball. And with that, we are off to extra time. The Tigers have won the toss and will run with the wind in the first period of golden point. Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
78th minute:The Sharks have come within a whisker of taking the lead. Nicho Hynes produced a booming field goal from halfway, with the ball clattering into the goal post. Jesse Ramien was charging through and nearly gathered it, only to spill it in a contest for possession.Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18
72nd minute:We're into the final 10 minutes of this contest and the Tigers are doing everything they can to deny their opponents. Cronulla have had another attacking set and Sam Stonestreet had a chance in the corner but he was denied by a desperate Brent Naden tackle. Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18.
65th minute:The Sharks are back to 13 men and full of running and now they have a one-man advantage of their own. Tigers forward Fonua Pole has been sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Tom Hazelton.
Up Next
/
Billy Burns Try
The hosts have scrambled superbly in defence, repelling multiple attacking raids in the past five minutes however the weight of possession and the extra man eventually proved too great, with Billy Burns crashing through and we are all locked up. Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 18
58th minute:This match has really opened up, with the Tigers making the most of the extra man and throwing the ball around. The hosts went the length of the field in consecutive sets, however Cronulla desperately held firm.
The Sharks then hit back through a long-range effort of their own, attacking down a skinny short side. A grubber back in field allowed Billy Burns to race away before he drew the fullback and sent Will Kennedy over for the try.
In positive news for the Tigers, Jarome Luai has passed his HIA and is preparing to return to the field. Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 12
52nd minute:Let the ball bounce at your peril. Lachlan Galvin put up a bomb that got caught in the wind, with the Sharks simply watching it bounce rather than attempt to catch it. The ball bounced into Tallyn Da Silva's hand, who sprinted 20 metres to the try line.Wests Tigers 18 - Sharks 6.
50th minute:The hosts have extended their lead to six in a double blow for Cronulla. Briton Nikora collected Jarome Luai high and was promptly sent to the sin bin, with the Tigers taking the two points on offer.
Luai was also required to leave the field for an HIA after the tackle.
The next 10 minutes could define this match. Benji Marshall's men have the chance to capitalise on the extra man and kick even further clear, while the Sharks will be desperate to mitigate the damage.Wests Tigers 12 - Sharks 6
43rd minute:Cronulla will have a stiff breeze behind their backs as they attempt to run over the top of the Wests Tigers in the second half. Their task, however, has been made tougher with centre Mawene Hiroti to miss the rest of the match with a medial ligament injury in his knee.Wests Tigers 10 - Sharks 6.
Half-time:The Wests Tigers had taken control of the contest following Turuva's try and were pressing to extend their lead at the break. Instead, a momentary lapse in concentration has allowed Cronulla to strike back on the stroke of half-time.
Little was happening before Will Kennedy kept the ball alive with an offload, with Nicho Hynes identifying the space and Ronaldo Mulitalo breaking through for his first try since Round 2.
The Sharks were dealt a blow shortly before the break, with Mawene Hiroti limping from the field. The centre was replaced by utility Daniel Atkinson who faces the daunting task of marking Starford To'a.Wests Tigers 10 - Sharks 6
27th minute:It's now the Sharks turn to defend their own line, with the Tigers building plenty of pressure through multiple attacking sets of six. Cronulla initially held their line but they eventually cracked, with Sunia Turuva going over in the corner. Starford To'a set the platform for the try, outmuscling his opposite man to create the space for his winger. Wests Tigers 10 - Sharks 0.
24th minute: The Sharks have looked the more dangerous side with ball in hand, however they have lacked polish in the attacking 20-metre zone. A penalty and a set restart provided the side with another prime attacking opportunity, but the Tigers again held firm to maintain their clean sheet.Wests Tigers 4 - Sharks 0.
9th minute:Lachlan Galvin has been the most talked about player in the NRL for the past fortnight and it hasn't taken the young five-eighth long to make an impact in his return to first grade. The teenager ran off Jarome Luai, poked his head through the defensive line and offloaded to Samuela Fainu for the opening points of the match. Wests Tigers 4 - Sharks 0.
Kick-off: We are underway at a wet and windy Leichhardt Oval, with fans packing into the venue's famed hill. The hosts claimed a stunning victory over Cronulla when the two sides played at the ground last year and the Sharks have spoken about avenging that result this afternoon.Wests Tigers 0 - Sharks 0.
Late mail:Lachlan Galvin's return is locked in, with the Wests Tigers to line up 1-17 in their first match at Leichhardt for the year. There was one change for Cronulla in Saturday's 24-hour update, Billy Burns replacing Teig Wilton, who succumbed to a shoulder injury.
Raiders v Dolphins at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Round 8
Full-time:Jamal Fogarty has sealed a comeback for the ages, throwing a dummy and stepping his way through the line before kicking a long-range penalty goal in the final play of the game to finish off a stunning 30-point half.
The hosts trailed 28-10 at the break but they had all the running from the moment Kaeo Weekes broke through the defensive line and raced downfield off the second-half kick-off.
Canberra have now won four on the trot and will have the chance to make a premiership statement with next week's Magic Round clash with the Storm. From there, they host the Bulldogs in Round 10 in a vital fortnight for the Raiders.
The Dolphins will be left to lick their wounds after they conceded five second-half tries in a calamitous period of football. Kristian Woolf's men will take on the Roosters in Magic Round.Raiders 40 - Dolphins 28.
73rd minute: Ricky Stuart is up and about on the sideline and he has every reason to be with his side reeling off four-straight tries to hit the front with less than seven minutes to play at GIO Stadium. Another outstanding set of six saw the hosts banging on the door of the try line, before Owen Pattie produced a miracle offload to keep the ball alive on the last tackle. The ball eventually made its way to Jamal Fogarty, who produced a grubber to the in-goal. Jamayne Isaako was unable to ground it, with Seb Kris pouncing to score the go-ahead try. Fogarty missed the conversion in a moment that could prove pivotal in the final minutes of this one.Raiders 32 - Dolphins 28.
66th minute:We are set for a grandstand finish at GIO Stadium, with the Raiders crossing for their third try of the second half to level the scores.
Centre Matt Timoko stepped off the right foot and burst through the Dolphins line before drawing the last defender and sending Matty Nicholson over for his fifth try of the season. Suddenly, we're all locked up and the hosts have all the momentum. Raiders 28 - Dolphins 28
62nd minute:Watch out Dolphins fans, the Raiders are coming. The visitors have come off the boil in the second half and a number of errors and poor last-tackle plays have opened the door for Canberra to work their way back into the contest.
A seven-tackle set provided the Raiders with a platform to attack, with Corey Horsburgh producing a big carry to put his side on the front foot. A few tackles later Joe Tapine poked his head through the defensive line and offloaded to Ethan Strange who did the rest. It's a one-possession game with less than 20 minutes to play.Raiders 22 - Dolphins 28.
51st minute:The Raiders had to be the first to score and they've ticked that box, with Zac Hosking producing a sharp piece of footwork close to the defensive line to crash over from short range. It was an effort play from Hosking who ran an offload line the previous play for Jamal Fogarty who came close to breaking through himself.Raiders 16 - Dolphins 28.
42nd minute:It's been a frantic start to the second half. Ricky Stuart called for a response from his team and they delivered immediately. Kaeo Weekes broke through from the kickoff before eventually being fragged down by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Multiple attacking sets followed, however the momentum came to a halt when Hudson Young spilled the ball while reaching out and attempting to ground it on the line.Raiders 10 - Dolphins 28.
Half-time:The Dolphins have put an exclamation mark on a stunning opening 40 minutes in Canberra. The visitors opted to attack the short-side with less than a minute remaining in the half, with Jamayne Isaako kicking in-field to Kodi Nikorima, who then grubbered towards the in goal. Centre Jake Averillo won the race to the ball to finish off a dominant half of football.
The Raiders overcame a 16-point deficit last week but history is against them this afternoon. The Dolphins have never lost when leading at the break after scoring 20 points in a first half.
The visitors have copped a blow, however, with Daniel Saifiti ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a shoulder injury. The prop left the field shortly after scoring a try and while he attempted to return, ultimately succumbed to the issue.Raiders 10 - Dolphins 28
36th minute:The points are flowing in Canberra. Just as the Raiders looked to have worked their way back into the match, the Dolphins have struck again. The visitors have been lethal in the attacking 20-metre zone, this time Jamayne Isaako winning the race to a grubber to extend his side's lead.
Ricky Stuart will be disappointed with his team's defensive issues, the Raiders struggling to defend their own line and hold out a dangerous Dolphins attack.Raiders 10 - Dolphins 24
32nd minute:The Raiders reeled in a 16-point deficit last week and they've just shown they won't go down easily this afternoon. A Sean O'Sullivan error provided the hosts a sniff beforeJamal Fogarty linked up with a charging Ata Mariota, who offloaded for Kaeo Weekes. The fullback then spun his way past Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score a much-needed try.Raiders 10 - Dolphins 18
28th minute:The Dolphins are rolling and they have another one in a first-half onslaught. A seven-tackle allowed the visitors to work their way down the field and Daniel Saifiti has finished off a perfect set by charging over from short-range.
The referee initially ruled no-try as Saifiti bobbled the ball as he crashed into the defensive line before regathering and grounding it. The Bunker, however, determined the loose ball did not touch a Raiders player and the Dolphins are working their way towards a fourth-straight victory. Raiders 4 - Dolphins 18.
21st minute:The Dolphins attack is on song this afternoon, with halves Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima combining to pick apart the Raiders right edge and put Herbie Farnworth over for their second try of the match.
The play was very similar to Tabuai-Fidow's try less than 10 minutes earlier and you can expect the visitors to continue targeting that side of the field as the game progresses.Raiders 4 - Dolphins 12
14th minute:The Dolphins haven't just contained the damage, they've hit the front while down a man. A Raiders error off the kick-off handed the visitors the chance to attack and they built a mountain of pressure by forcing multiple repeat sets.
The Raiders eventually cracked, with Hamiso Tabui-Fidow slicing through to put his team up two midway through the first half. Raiders 4 - Dolphins 6.
9th minute: The Raiders have been handed an early chance to strike after Kodi Nikorima was sent to the sin bin for a high shot and they quickly capitalised. Savelio Tamale caught a cross-field bomb before offloading to Seb Kris who somehow throws the ball back inside before being bundled into touch, with Tamale catching it and grounding the ball in the corner.
The try came on the back of an impressive attacking set, with Canberra threatening the Dolphins line and coming close to scoring on multiple occasions. Down four, this is a big period coming up for the visitors as they look to minimise the damage while reduced to 12 men.Raiders 4 - Dolphins 0
Kick-off:A big crowd is on hand at GIO Stadium in Canberra for a solemn service to commemorate ANZAC Day. Today's game is the Dolphins' first trip to the nation's capital and history suggests it will be a close one, with the Raiders claiming the past two matches against the Dolphins by one point.Ricky Stuart has taken up his usual position on the sidelines and we are underway.
Late mail: The Raiders will line up 1-17, with Josh Papalii taking his place on the interchange and Morgan Smithies starting the match at lock. There are no further changes to the Raiders on gameday, after a slight reshuffle in Saturday's team update. Hooker Max Plath succumbed to the foot injury he suffered last weekend, with Ray Stone taking his place at dummy half. Sean O'Sullivan and Kenny Bromwich joined the bench as a result. Francis Molo will make his club debut and start the match at prop.
