The roar from the 15,221 fans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium when they stood and applauded Wests Tigers said it all. And that was only at half-time.
The Tigers are suddenly equal first on the NRL premiership ladder with Penrith after they thumped Newcastle 42-22 on Sunday.
It was the first time the Tigers had won three games on the trot in eight years. On that occasion, coach Benji Marshall was the Tigers’ five-eighth. It was also the club’s first win at Campbelltown in more than 600 days.
Sunia Turuva bagged a hat-trick of tries, while Jahream Bula scored a double, and regularly earned praise from Phil Gould, the Bulldogs general manager working in the commentary box for Channel Nine.
Arguably the best feel-good story was Patrick Herbert, a late call-up to start in the centres in his first NRL game since 2022.
Herbert was driving an excavator in Wollongong late last year when Marshall called him about a potential comeback. The 29-year-old former Titans player was due to head to the Super League in 2023, but knee and Achilles injuries torpedoed the move.
Herbert set up Turuva’s second try and scored one himself when Bula put him into space, and he dummied past the last line of Newcastle defence.
“We gave them a lot of ball, and soft penalties, they’re a good footy side, especially in attack; we made it way too hard on ourselves – we weren’t good enough,” Knights coach Justin Holbrook said.
There is plenty to like about this Tigers’ team. They play with flair, they are resilient and they are growing in confidence every week.
Adam Doueihi looks comfortable calling the shots, prop Terrell May keeps running and running, Api Koroisau deserves to be back in the Origin conversation, while Royce Hunt lifts the energy levels every time he is injected off the bench.
And thy still have Jarome Luai and possibly Taylan May to return from injury for next Saturday’s clash against an injury-ravaged Broncos.
When Brisbane played in Campbelltown a couple of years ago, the home fans applauded visiting halfback Adam Reynolds when he saved a try while battling cramp, and waited around more than an hour after full-time to catch a glimpse of Reece Walsh.
The locals are now just as excited, proud and optimistic about what their own team might do.
Marshall was happy with the win but disappointed in the flurry of late tries the Tigers conceded.
“The two points is what you come for, and to give our fans [the chance] to go to work on a Monday, with something to celebrate, which is really important to us,″ Marshall said.
“I’m happy in that respects, but unhappy at the same time. We’ve worked so hard to change our standards around what’s acceptable. The last 15 minutes was unacceptable.”
The Knights came into the clash in top form, but with their casualty ward at standing room only. Bradman Best went down last week, joining superstars Kalyn Ponga and playmaker Dylan Brown. Tyson Frizell failed to finish the game with a rib injury.
Their hopes of winning took a big hit when they lost the toss, and Koroisau elected to run with the huge southerly at their backs in the first half.
The Tigers had a clear game plan to keep attacking down their right, and terrorising the Knights’ left edge.
Turuva could have finished with five or six tries.
Newcastle’s only try in the first half came via Dominic Young, who did a tremendous job to evade two Tigers’ defenders to plant the ball down.
He also ‘saved’ a try a few minutes later when the back of his hand clung to the back of Heamasi Makasini, which was deemed a tackle, and denied the young centre his own four-pointer.
The weight of possession was always going to make any fightback very diffcult, even with the gale-force wind at their backs. Newcastle must dust themselves off for next Sunday’s clash with the Roosters. Holbrook confirmed Brown was a chance to return for that match.
