Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Teenage five-eighth Lachlan Galvin dropped the ball over the line in the dying minutes as the Wests Tigers suffered a 20-12 to South Sydney at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
With the Rabbitohs leading 16-12 and down to 12 men because Tallis Duncan had been sin-binned, Galvin stepped into a gap and sprinted 15 metres for what appeared to be a try that would have locked up the scores.
But as centre Adam Doueihi started sizing up a conversion attempt that could potentially have put the Tigers into the lead, the bunker intervened, ruling that the ball jolted from Galvin’s grip before he grounded it.
Two minutes later, Jai Arrow scored for Souths and the Rabbitohs were celebrating their sixth win of the season, which lifted them into the top eight.
The Rabbitohs might have claimed the two points, but Tigers co-captain Api Koroisau was the star of the show.
Koroisau sent NSW Origin selectors a belated reminder of his talents with two tries.
Jarome Luai on the attack against Souths.Credit: Getty Images
The dynamic hooker played four Origins for NSW, most recently in 2023, but was given little hope of displacing Reece Robson in the Blues’ squad for the series opener on May 28.
By the time the final game of round 11 kicked off, Robson’s position in the NSW starting line-up was all but confirmed.
Judging by his form against Souths, Koroisau would not be out of place.
Just before half-time, he exploded out of dummy-half in a 70-metre sprint to the line, beating Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell with an elaborate sidestep.
Adam Doueihi puts a step on Campbell Graham.Credit: Getty Images
That moment of magic provided a timely boost for the Tigers after Souths dominated the first half.
Souths had opened the scoring in the 10th minute when dummy-half Siliva Havili burrowed over from close range and grounded the ball.
Ten minutes later, the Tigers lost Galvin to the sin bin, after he made a tackle in an off-side position on Isaiah Tass, who was in a try-scoring situation.
With the Tigers down to 12 men, Souths five-eighth Jayden Sullivan burst into a yawning gap and an exchange of passes ended with back-rower Euan Aitken diving over.
Mitchell converted both tries.
When winger Alex Johnston raced away for the 197th try of his NRL career in the 60th minute, the Tigers found themselves chasing a 16-6 deficit.
But after Koroisau scored from dummy-half in the 69th minute, it was a four-point ball game.
The Tigers were coming home with a wet sail, and Galvin appeared to have earned them the lead with just a few minutes to play.
But the no-try ruling broke their hearts, and soon after Arrow plunged over to score.
Mitchell warmed up for Origin I with a solid game that included one 80-metre break.
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