The Wests Tigers' hopes of reaching the NRL finals have taken a significant blow after captain Api Koroisau suffered a suspected torn pectoral muscle in a 24-10 loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons at Kogarah Oval on Saturday.
Dragons Secure Second Win
The Dragons claimed just their second victory of the season, with Valentine Holmes scoring a late double to keep their hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon alive. The win was only the second for the Red V in 2025, lifting them off the bottom of the ladder.
However, the major talking point will be the injury to Koroisau and how it impacts the Tigers' (7-9) chances of making the top eight. When the Tigers have been without their crafty hooker this year, they have struggled badly. If scans confirm Koroisau needs surgery, his campaign will be over.
Injury Woes Mount for Tigers
The Tigers, who slipped to 12th on the ladder, are already without Kai Pearce-Paul and Royce Hunt due to similar injuries as part of a dramatic mid-season form slump. Benji Marshall's side started the year with a 5-2 record but have lost seven of their nine games since Jarome Luai announced his intention to quit the club at the end of next season to join the PNG Chiefs.
Luai was not playing due to delayed concussion symptoms, and it appeared the Tigers would get by without him when Adam Doueihi took advantage of Clint Gutherson's early sin-binning to put his side ahead after eight minutes. Doueihi missed the conversion, and when Gutherson returned, the Dragons looked threatening on the left.
First Half Action
Tyrell Sloan had a try chalked off for a foot in touch before sliding in without a hitch at the second time of asking in the 20th minute. Sloan succumbed to a hamstring injury on the half-hour mark, with Damien Cook forced into the centres and Holmes, who kicked a penalty to give the Dragons a 6-4 halftime lead, moved to the left wing.
Doueihi put the Tigers back in front with his second of the night, the halfback grubbering ahead of himself and pouncing on the ball in the in-goal. But when the Dragons halted a run of dreadful errors and Koroisau went off, Dean Young's side finally found a killer punch.
Holmes Seals Victory
Holmes crossed twice in the space of five minutes, converting both tries as well as that of Mat Feagai to seal victory late on. The Dragons' win keeps their slim hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon alive, while the Tigers face an uncertain future without their key playmaker.
