Wests Tigers beat Penrith in upset of NRL season

Much-maligned halfback Luke Brooks and ex-Panther Api Koroisau have combined to help the last-placed Wests Tigers wage the biggest NRL upset in recent memory - a 12-8 defeat of two-time reigning premiers Penrith.

The win in Bathurst officially halts the previously winless Tigers' losing streak after seven losses to begin the season and five to end 2022.

It also intensifies pressure on an admittedly undermanned Panthers side that has now begun their premiership defence with four wins and four losses.

Penrith were stilted and error-prone in torrential rain on Saturday night but mostly fell victim to a polished Tigers side that finally delivered on the potential shown this month.

Without injured halves partner Adam Doueihi, Brooks rose to the challenge of booting the Tigers into momentum.

The Tigers' two tries both came directly after Brooks 40/20 kicks, the first of which was in the first set of the night.

After his first pinpoint kick, Brooks threaded a grubber through the defence to give Brandon Wakeham the opening try of the night - all before the reigning premiers had touched the ball.

Hooker Koirisau had his best game since leaving the Panthers last year and was the Tigers' general in the middle of the park.

He came within inches of scoring a try from his own grubber in the first half and just after halftime, tore through the defence on a line break that could have given the Tigers a second try if he had support.

The performance would not have gone unnoticed by NSW coach Brad Fittler, who is set to choose between Koroisau and Damien Cook when he names his team for State of Origin I.

But penalties cost the Tigers; they conceded three in the space of eight minutes in the first half and on the back of a high tackle from Brooks, the Panthers marched upfield to score their only try through Tyrone Peachey.

The Tigers did well to avoid conceding points while centre Brent Naden was in the sin bin for laying a shoulder charge on Zac Hosking. 

The ex-Panther had only just made his return from a shoulder injury but can expect to spend more time on the sidelines.

Down 12-8, Penrith looked to have equalised when Nathan Cleary burst through the defence but the ball bounced free of his grasp in slippery conditions as rookie fullback Jahream Bula slid over in cover defence.

It was one of 11 errors for the Panthers, many of which came in good territory.

Referee Adam Gee pulled the play back to sin-bin Penrith interchange hooker Soni Luke for a hip-drop tackle on Alex Twal as the final ten minutes approached and the Tigers held on.

Injury continues to ravage the Panthers' middle forward rotation, with Matt Eisenhuth set to join James Fisher-Harris and Spencer Leniu on the sidelines after picking up a game-ending shoulder complaint in the 15th minute.