SYDNEY - South Sydney matchwinner Nathan Merritt admitted his last-minute field goal to beat Wests Tigers 23-22 in Sunday's NRL clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground was the first time he had scored with his boot since playing at junior level.
The young winger broke the Tigers' hearts with a
well-struck goal just three seconds from time to keep Souths in the top eight in front of a crowd of 29,970, a record attendance for a fixture between the two old rivals.
Souths, trailed for most of the match until Merritt's heroics and the 25-year-old said he was always confident he would clear the bar after being teed up by the impressive Craig Wing, who had an effort charged down moments earlier.
"I could see everyone setting up for Wingy to take the field goal, so I let him know I was out wide and I shot it over, caught it sweet," he said.
"As soon as I hit it I knew it was going over .. it was my first one .. I don't practise field goals, I am a winger!"
Coach Jason Taylor was delighted with his side's attitude and said the win was a sign his young team are heading in the right direction.
"We're very pleased we got the victory in the end but some things we came here to do better in relation to our previous games we didn't do as well as we can and there is a clear improvement area for us, but that is a good thing" Taylor said.
"But what is there is the effort that the boys are putting in, and it was so evident with 15 minutes to go when they kept coming down the middle and got themselves right back into the game," he said.
"Nathan is a goal kicker of some note, he doesn't like to practise - that is probably the first one he has practised this year."
Tigers coach Tim Sheens failed to hide his disappointment and said his side threw away the game after leading 22-10 with 16 minutes remaining.
"If you get beaten by 40 you're disappointed, if you lose in the last seconds to a field goal from a winger on the sideline it is equally disappointing," Sheens said.
"When you lead by 12 and have two or three good chances to put it away and we didn't .. we were flat on our feet hoping to win the game and you could sense that.
"Losing Keith Galloway early didn't help and losing three players in the week made life difficult for us, but I was pretty happy with the youngsters that came on."
Tigers captain Robbie Farrah, who scored a try early in the second half, played out the game despite being concussed after a crunching tackle from Luke Capewell.
Farrah received almost three minutes of treatment on the field and, although he played out the last quarter of the game, Sheens said his skipper was in a bad way.
"We will just have to wait and see, but it was a nasty head clash and he was vomiting after the game .. but he is a tough kid who was always going to finish the game."
Galloway will have scans today to determine the extent of his injury, having limped off just before half time with a dislocated left knee cap.
Chris Sandow also limped off with an ankle injury but Taylor said he expects the young halfback to be fit for Friday's clash with Parramatta.
- AAP
Souths winger Nathan Merritt celebrates his match-winning field goal against the Tigers. Photo / Getty Images
SYDNEY - South Sydney matchwinner Nathan Merritt admitted his last-minute field goal to beat Wests Tigers 23-22 in Sunday's NRL clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground was the first time he had scored with his boot since playing at junior level.
The young winger broke the Tigers' hearts with a
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.