Daniel Tupou scored twice and produced a try-saver in the dying minutes to help Sydney Roosters earn a 16-14 victory over Wests Tigers.
After a very tense and even first half, it was the Tigers that took a slim lead through an Esan Marsters penalty.
But they found themselves six points behind at the break when Daniel Tupou, on his return to the side after a pec injury, grounded a Cooper Cronk kick that wasn’t dealt with by Mahe Fonua. Blake Ferguson converted and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
The Roosters’ lead was extended to eight when Sio Siua Taukeiaho slotted a penalty from right in front.
The Chooks were hitting their stride. Ferguson set up Tupou’s second with a lovely offload around the back of his tackler.
But Wests weren’t done. Josh Reynolds kicked into the in-goal from dummy half to find the on-rushing Tim Grant. The lead was now only 14-8.
But Taukeiaho added a further two points for the Roosters taking their advantage back out to eight.
When Josh Reynolds burrowed over from dummy half, and Marsters converted, the game was well and truly on with five minutes to play.
Only a miracle try-saver from Tupou on Corey Thompson saved the Roosters and earned them the two points.
Roosters: Ferguson, Tupou, Manu, Aubusson, Ikuvalu, Keary, Cronk, Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend, Taukeiaho, Radley, Butcher, Lui; Interchanges: Tetevano, Nuuausala, Baptiste, Collins
Tries: Tupou 2; Goals: Ferguson 2, Taukeiaho 2
Tigers: Lolohea, Nofoaluma, Marsters, Fonua, Thompson, Marshall, Brooks, Packers, Taylor, Matulino, Lawrence, Chee-Kam, Grant; Interchanges: Eisenhuth, Twal, Reynolds, Aloiai
Tries: Grant, Reynolds; Goals: Marsters 3
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
