1 hour ago
3
For much of their recent history at Campbelltown Stadium, the Wests Tigers couldn’t make visiting teams feel more at home.
Their recent record – now just one win from their last eight matches in Leumeah – suggests they don’t just roll out the welcome mat, they practically tuck the opposition into bed and leave a mint on the pillow.
On this occasion, with spiritual home Leichhardt Oval offline and the Dolphins in town for the first time, the Tigers were slightly less hospitable. They put up a fight early, but faded when it mattered, going down 36-22.
Unless the Tigers can own south-west Sydney, the longest finals-less streak in the NRL will continue.
Already missing Adam Doueihi, Alex Twal, Samuela Fainu, Royce Hunt and Kai Pearce-Paul, they were joined in the casualty ward by halfback Jock Madden and centre Patrick Herbert before half-time.
Madden was ruled out with concussion after a collision with Morgan Knowles. The decision to allow Knowles to remain on the field when Madden was forced from it was a sore point for the Tigers. So too a try to Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu, courtesy of a Brad Schneider pass that looked suspiciously forward.
The Dolphins were missing plenty of firepower of their own. Maroons Max Plath, Thomas Flegler, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo were rested after their State of Origin heroics. Fringe Blue Isaiya Katoa was also missing with a knee injury.
Tigers stars Jarome Luai and Apisai Koroisau did their best to step up. On two occasions, Luai set up two tries with a grubber into the in-goal. The tally would have been higher still if another didn’t brush the posts. Luai also produced a try assist with a lovely spiral pass to Starford To’a, who powered past six defenders to find the line.
Fresh after warming the Blues bench for the entire 80 minutes, Koroisau was also a handful. Showing the creativity NSW was missing at dummy half, he was a constant threat to the Dolphins markers.
Yet no one had as much influence on the contest as Kodi Nikorima. How is the man still off contract?
Nikorima set up a try with a short pass. Then with a long one. Saved another. And then scored the one that put the result beyond doubt.
It marks the sixth time in succession that the Dolphins have scored 30 points or more. This is now a club record seventh straight win. At least one finals drought is about to break.
