“We Paid Him to Make That Error!” – Wests Tigers Fans Rejoice on Instagram After Jaydn Su’A’s Costly Blunder Hands Tigers Thrilling 34–28 Victory
In one of the most jaw-dropping moments ever witnessed in Magic Round history, St George Illawarra Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A made a critical mistake that gifted the Wests Tigers a stunning 12-point turnaround—and Wests Tigers fans wasted no time celebrating online. Flooding Instagram with cheeky memes and celebratory posts, fans jokingly claimed, “We paid him to make that error!” following the Dragons star’s shocking fumble.
The drama unfolded at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night in front of a captivated crowd, with the Dragons appearing to have a sure try on their hands. A slick long ball from Kyle Flanagan found Su’A in open space with no defenders nearby and a clear shot at the line. But just as he dove to score, Su’A lost grip of the ball, inadvertently dislodging it with his own knee in an unthinkable mistake.
In a flash, Tigers fullback Jahream Bula pounced on the loose ball and sprinted over 100 metres to score at the opposite end, flipping what should have been a 20–16 Dragons lead into a commanding 26–10 halftime advantage for the Tigers. The try ignited wild celebrations among Wests supporters and left Dragons fans in stunned silence.
Commentators couldn’t hide their disbelief. Andrew Voss cried out, “What a ball, what a pass… and the Dragons go over – or do they?” Kevin Walters added, “There was no one near him… he just had to put the ball down!” Greg Alexander referenced a similar blunder from 1984 but admitted Su’A’s moment was uniquely painful, especially given the 100-metre try that followed.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions, but it was Instagram where Tigers fans had the most fun. Comments like “That’s our best signing of the year” and “Su’A deserves a statue outside Leichhardt after that one!” flooded fan pages and highlight reels. The phrase “We paid him to make that error” became an instant viral line among the Tigers faithful.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback attempt in the rain, the Dragons couldn’t recover. Head coach Shane Flanagan called Su’A’s fumble the “turning point,” while league great Mal Meninga described it as “a killer” that likely cost the Red V the match.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ resurgence under Benji Marshall continues to build momentum. Jahream Bula, the match-winner and hero of the night, ran a massive 251 metres and recalled after the game, “I just saw it come out and kept going… I was waiting for the whistle but it never came, so I just backed myself.”
With their fifth win of the season secured and a top-eight spot reclaimed, the Tigers now shift focus to next week’s clash against Melbourne. For the Dragons, it’s a painful lesson and back-to-back losses from Magic Round and one unforgettable error that might haunt them for weeks to come.