Leichhardt Oval was a cauldron of noise on April 27, 2025, as the Wests Tigers snatched a heart-stopping golden point victory over the Cronulla Sharks in a match that’ll be etched in fans’ minds for years. The hero of the night? Lachlan Galvin, the young halfback whose return from suspension sparked a performance that lit up the sold-out stadium and sealed a 19-17 win in extra time.
The Tigers, battling to climb the NRL ladder, faced a Sharks side known for their grit and defensive steel. Cronulla struck first, with a try from Siosifa Talakai in the 12th minute, converted by Nicho Hynes, putting them ahead 6-0. The home side answered back fast. Api Koroisau, the Tigers’ crafty hooker, darted from dummy-half in the 18th minute, crashing over for a try that leveled things up after John Bateman’s conversion. It was a slugfest from there, both teams trading blows like heavyweight fighters refusing to blink.
Galvin, just 19 and back after a two-game ban, was everywhere. His pinpoint kicking and fearless runs kept the Sharks’ defense guessing. In the 32nd minute, he floated a cut-out pass to Justin Olam, who barreled through for a try, giving the Tigers a 12-6 lead at halftime. The kid wasn’t just playing—he was conducting the game like a maestro, his mop of dark hair bouncing as he weaved through tackles.
The Sharks, though, don’t go quietly. Hynes, their star halfback, orchestrated a comeback in the second half. A converted try by Ronaldo Mulitalo in the 48th minute knotted the score at 12-12. The teams traded penalty goals—Koroisau for the Tigers in the 55th, Hynes for the Sharks in the 62nd—pushing the game to a tense 14-14 deadlock as the clock wound down. With seconds left, Hynes slotted a field goal to nudge Cronulla ahead 15-14, and it looked like the visitors might steal it.
But the Tigers had other plans. Galvin, cool as ice, nailed a field goal in the dying moments to force golden point. Extra time was chaos—missed shots, desperate tackles, and a crowd roaring so loud it felt like the old grandstand might collapse. Then, in the 83rd minute, it happened. A Sharks infringement handed the Tigers a penalty 30 meters out. Up stepped Koroisau, who slotted the kick as the stadium erupted, sealing a 19-17 triumph.
The match drew 15,589 fans, the biggest Leichhardt crowd in a decade. It was the Tigers’ third win of the 2025 season, lifting them to 10th on the NRL ladder. Cronulla, now 6-4, slipped to fifth. Galvin finished with 120 running meters, two try assists, and that clutch field goal, earning man-of-the-match honors.