What was shaping up to be one of the most significant games in recent Wests Tigers history took a brutal turn Sunday, as the team suffered a brutal late-game collapse to effectively end their finals push.
After the Wests Tigers took what looked like a formidable lead was extinguished in remarkable fashion, after the North Queensland scored three tries in five minutes to steal the win.
To make matters worse, the team also lost their starting halfback Adam Doueihi after the 27-year-old was hospitalised with a fractured cheekbone following a failed HIA.
Adam Doueihi hospitalised as Wests Tigers see finals hopes extinguished
It was supposed to be a celebration of the Wests Tigers 2005 grand final win against the North Queensland Cowboys, but the away team took revenge in a stunning way Sunday night.
Not even a back-to-the-future-esque team try involving a flick pass was enough to propel the team to victory, seeing their chances at finals football coming to a close.
"Hopefully, as a team we can take a lot out of that," Jarome Luai told ABC Sport after the game.
"We've still got two more weeks of footy, and yeah, disappointed with where we are."
The team also lost their starting halfback Adam Doueihi, who suffered a brutal head knock after trying to tackle a steam rolling Jason Taumalolo, resulting in hospitalisation.
"He gets his head on the wrong side here," Andrew Johns said on Nine during the game.
"You don't want to put your head there when you're tackling anyone, let alone Jason Taumalolo. He gets himself in such an awkward position there."
The Wests Tigers will now face the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans to conclude their season.