'Embarrassing' try-scoring blunder sets up 100m stunner for Wests Tigers star Jahream Bula
A costly blunder on the Dragons own tryline set up a sensational 100 metre try for Jahream Bula in a hard-fought victory for the Tigers at Magic Round.
The unmarked Jaydn Su'A looked certain to score when he ignored two teammates on his outside and heading for the white paint unmarked.
Su'A only had eyes for the tryline when he fumbled the grounding, with his knee knocking out the ball as he hit the turf in front of Bula.
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"Oh no. I've never seen anything like this," Kevin Walters said on Fox League.
"That is a play that you never see," added Greg Alexander.
Jahream Bula celebrates his 100m try after Jaydn Su'a's awful error. Fox League/Getty
The loose ball was swiftly collected by the Tigers fullback in-goal as he fired down the sideline before crossing into the middle to score. That try came at half-time with the Tigers leading 24-10.
Cooper Cronk said at half time: "I don't think the Dragons can fight back from that."
"It's embarrassing in a way," Mal Meninga added.
Kyle Flanagan came close to finding an answer to clean up the Dragons mistakes as he powered towards the tryline, but was stopped in his tracks by Bula.
Jahream Bula of the Tigers celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
Errors continued to put the Tigers in strong position to score, though a storming Jacob Liddle proved to be too powerful from close range, keeping the Dragons alive.
Liddle burrowed under three defenders to score the first of the second half before he found the line again three minutes later courtesy of some Lyhkan King-Togia magic.
The Dragons were then hit with an injury blow as Emre Guler was forced off the field with a dislocated shoulder after an awkward landing during a tackle from Adam Doueihi.
Doueihi slotted an additional two points courtesy of a penalty against Flanagan, then the Tigers centre powered over to score his side's sixth try and make it 34-22.
Hamish Stewart sent a late alert with three minutes remaining that the game had not ended for the Tigers as he narrowed the scoreline to one converted try difference.
But the late surge was not enough as the Tigers held onto the lead.
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Emre Guler of the Dragons is assisted by trainers off the field. Getty
Earlier, 19-year-old King-Togia produced a sensational pass to send Dylan Egan through a hole and crash over the line to open the scoring.
A quick play down the line and flick pass from Lachlan Galvin levelled the scores in the 10th minute as Charlie Staines dived over in the corner.
Both teams continued to trade tries with Valentine Holmes and Sunia Turuva diving over for their respective clubs until Staines found an opportunity to surge ahead in the 28th.
Luai to chip in a kick to the corner from 20 metres out, which Doueihi grabbed and fired out to Samuela Fainu, who found Staines on the outside.
Tyrell Sloan attempted to bring down the charging Tiger but didn't make it to the edge in time to stop the try from occurring.
The Dragons ill-discipline continued to be costly in the final moments of the half as Luai put in a perfectly weighted kick from 10 metres out for Fainu to pounce.
"Jarome Luai has been doing his job for the Tigers," Alexander said.
The win makes it two in a row for the Tigers.
