The Wests Tigers demonstrated that Leichhardt Oval still holds plenty of allure, stunning Cronulla 32-6 in their inaugural game at the venue this season. Amid concerns about the future of the historic ground, a crowd of 15,990 turned up to witness an outstanding performance, particularly highlighted by Apisai Koroisau’s exemplary display.
Despite an early misfire, Koroisau orchestrated two tries before exiting the field due to cramp, earning a standing ovation with 13 minutes remaining. Justin Olam showcased his prowess at left centre, notching a try and breaking six tackles in his debut game for the Tigers after his move from Melbourne.
The previously undefeated Sharks suffered one of their most disappointing outings under Craig Fitzgibbon, marked by a lackluster 68% completion rate and a string of errors from halfback Nicho Hynes.
The Sharks’ woes compounded as bench prop Royce Hunt sustained a calf injury during warm-up, while Dale Finucane and Toby Rudolf also succumbed to injuries, leaving Cronulla’s forward pack depleted for their upcoming match against Canberra.
In Benji Marshall’s first game as coach at Leichhardt Oval, the Tigers delivered a commanding performance, characterized by 14 offloads, 34 broken tackles, and Aidan Sezer’s precise kicking game near the try line.
After conceding an early try to Cronulla, the Tigers responded with a Solomona Faataape-assisted effort for Isaiah Papali’i and a close-range pass from Koroisau to Alex Seyfarth.
Cronulla’s errors continued to haunt them, with Koroisau capitalizing on a mistake just before halftime to set up Olam’s try. The Tigers capitalized on another Cronulla error early in the second half, with Jahream Bula capitalizing on a Braydon Trindall fumble to extend their lead.
The Tigers’ dominance at Leichhardt Oval was further highlighted by their comprehensive victory over Cronulla, continuing their strong record at the venue following a convincing win against North Queensland the previous year.