'Forgot what winning feels like': Inside Wests Tigers first win in 273 days

“I sort of forgot what winning feels like”.

Api Koroisau has won three grand finals, including back-to-back triumphs with Penrith in 2021 and 2022, but the Wests Tigers captain admitted the first victory with his new club was almost as good after what they had been through.

Koroisau, David Klemmer, John Bateman, Isaiah Papali’i and Brandon Wakeham were among the players who belted out the Wests Tigers victory song for the first time after downing the Panthers 12-8 in wet conditions at Bathurst.

Those who had been at the club longer hadn’t sung it for 273 days, including halfback Luke Brooks, whose 40:20 kicks – one in each half – led to the Tigers two tries.

“We spoke about kicking early and Brooksy just took control,” Koroisau said. “I think all of his kicks were pinpoint, he was just getting them in the right spot, and two 40:20s … I couldn’t’ be happier for him.

Team-mates also spoke about their happiness for Brooks, who has worn much of the criticism for Wests Tigers’ disappointing start to the season.

“I was so pumped, especially for Brooksy,” Klemmer said. “He was unreal and he has been unreal the last couple of weeks.

"Brooksy had the ball on a string, a couple of 40:20s and he kicked well. I am just so proud of him, he deserves it.”

Wakeham added: “I am rapt for him. He probably won us the game with his kicking game, with those two 40:20s, so he just set the tone for the game. I am really happy for him.”

Asked how the win compared to other achievements in his career, Koroisau said: “At the moment, it’s probably up there. Coming up against an incredible side like Penrith … we played tough footy”.

Despite being cold and wet, Tigers players stayed on the field to perform interviews with Fox Sports, while waiting to receive the Royce Simmons Cup.

To a man they said they had been confident of upsetting the back-to-back premiers at Carrington Park after narrow losses to Manly and Parramatta in their previous two matches.

“It has been a hell of a rollercoaster the first nine rounds for the boys,” Klemmer said. “We have been in most games.

“I think probably the Parramatta game struck a nerve for us and ever since then we have really come along, we were unlucky against Manly and we stuck to the game plan tonight. We battled with the best in the business.”

That game plan, devised by veteran coach Tim Sheens and his staff of David Furner, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, was to play through the middle and change the angles of their runs to trouble the Penrith defence in the wet conditions.

“We were confident coming into the match today and it was a tough one, they have been the benchmark over the last three years, but it is just great to get a win,” Brooks said.

“We just wanted to kick it early and just complete our sets, and back our defence. I thought we did that throughout the whole 80 minutes.”

Rookie fullback Jahream Bulla, who was playing just his second NRL match, proved a revelation for the Tigers and produced a try saving tackle on Nathan Cleary, while laying on the match winning try for David Nofoaluma.

“He was outstanding for his second game in first grade,” Brooks said.

“There were a couple of bombs towards the back end of the game where he was under pressure and he took them. He is a great player, and he has got a big future in the game.”