Wests Tigers have held off a St George Illawarra comeback to record their first win after 14 consecutive NRLW losses.
It was a wild, wet and windy Thursday night at Leichhardt Oval when bottom-of-the ladder Wests Tigers, with nothing to lose, took on the ninth-placed Dragons.
The Tigers came out firing and led 14-0 at halftime, but the Dragons scored the first two tries of the second half to make the scores 14-10.
St George Illawarra scored another try to make things even more tense, before a Pauline Piliae-Rasabale penalty goal ensured the home side held on for a 16-14 win.
Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley said it was fantastic the side finally notched a win to snap a 14-match losing streak.
"Tonight they get to celebrate what winning a game of footy feels like," he said.
"There is a huge connection in this playing group, lots of positives the last few days, and that was probably showing out there on the field when it was time to work hard."
The Tigers dominated the first half despite tough weather conditions, with winger Rebecca Pollard crossing the line within the opening 10 minutes after a penalty against Dragons prop Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.
It was another 11 minutes before the Tigers scored their next try, with both sides going error for error in the tough conditions, with seven errors made in the five minutes after Pollard's try.
Leianne Tufuga was next to score off her own line-break, with halfback Piliae-Rasable successfully converting.
Just before halftime Pollard went under the sticks for her second try of the night.
St George Illawarra hit the ground running in the second half, with Maatuleio Fotu-Moala scoring first and Madison Mulhall following up as the Dragons clawed their way back.
The Dragons had plenty of opportunities to score, but it was the Tigers' tireless goal-line defence that received the most praise from Kimmorley, who said it was some of the best defence he had seen all year.
"I thought the second half they were outstanding, they had to defend and they had to work hard," he said.
"The Dragons had plenty of opportunities, and the ability for them (the Tigers) to just stay in the fight and turn up, I thought it was an amazing effort."
It was winger Fotu-Moala's second try for the night at the 68- minute mark that nearly led to the Tigers blowing their chance to break a 14-game losing streak.
However, with a conversion missed by Raecene McGregor and a hospital pass out wide to Teagan Berry, the Tigers were able to cling on and notch their first win in 410 days.
Playing in just her second NRLW game, 18-year-old Evie McGrath said it was wonderful to win, especially on their home ground.
"There is not a better place to win at then Leichhardt Oval," she said.
"It is an honour to play here."
The Tigers' win will not change the ladder, with Wests remaining favourites to "win" the wooden spoon, and St George Illawarra to remain in ninth place.
There is a chance the Tigers can escape the dreaded wooden spoon, if they beat top-of-the table Cronulla, and the Dragons lose to the Broncos in Townsville.
If the Tigers do end up winning the wooden spoon, it will be the first time a club has finished last in both the NRL and the NRLW.
