Api days as Tigers stun Sharks for first win of Marshall era

An inspirational performance by Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau helped deliver the first win under new coach Benji Marshall against a stunned Sharks outfit at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.

Koroisau produced two try assists and five tackle breaks, while running 106 metres from dummy half and making 42 tackles before coming from the field with 12 minutes remaining as the Tigers triumphed 32-6. 

Marshall revealed after the match that Koroisau had been affected by a gastro bug in the lead up to the match and was in discomfort but was never going to miss the game.

"Before the game he could hardly walk and had no energy, so for him to punch out what he did in the game shows how much his teammates mean to him and that's why he's the skipper," Marshall said of Koroisau.

Cheered on by a crowd of 15,990, the Tigers scored 32 unanswered points to deliver Cronulla's first loss of the season in a triumph built on scrambling defence and relentless offloading in attack.

The Sharks finished the match with just one available player on the interchange but they were unable to match the enthusiasm and desperation of the young Tigers, led by fullback Jahream Bula and five-eighth Lachlan Galvin. 

Bula scored two tries, while Galvin produced three of his side's 18 offloads as the back-to-back wooden-spooners turned entertainers in just Marshall's second match in charge.

After an opening round bye, the win has lifted the Tigers into the top eight.

Sharks prop Tom Hazleton opened the scoring in the 14th minute when he bumped his way over the tryline from a Blayke Brailey pass after a strong run by centre Siosifa Talakai.

However, the Tigers responded just six minutes later when rookie centre Solomona Faataape tapped back an Aidan Sezer kick for Kiwis second-rower Isaiah Papali'i to score.

From then on it was largely one way traffic.

Koroisau appeared destined to score next when he burrowed over from dummy half only for Sharks fullback Will Kennedy to knock the ball from his grasp but the home side were clearly on top.

The Tigers eventually took the lead when Koroisau put interchange forward Alex Seyfarth over in the 34th minute and the Fijian hooker ensured his team went further ahead by laying on a try before halftime for PNG centre Justin Olam.

Koroisau extended the Wests Tigers lead to 20-6 with a 45th minute penalty goal and fellow Fijian Bula put them further ahead when he pounced on a loose ball in the Cronulla in-goal to score in the 52nd minute.

Bula sealed the win when he scored his second try of the match in the 70th minute.