Not even a re-enactment of the most iconic try in their history could inspire Wests Tigers to the victory that would have kept their season alive at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, as a late North Queensland rally clinched a gripping 34-28 victory and consigned the Tigers’ finals hopes to the dustbin. On a day when the Tigers honoured their heroes from the 2005 grand final triumph against the Cowboys, the team brought a capacity crowd to fever pitch with a first-half try that evoked memories of the famous Pat Richards runaway in the premiership decider 20 years ago. Richards’ try, set up a sublime flick pass by teammate and current Tigers coach Benji Marshall, rates as one of the most replayed rugby league highlights of all time. On Sunday, Richards’ modern-day counterparts produced an uncanny impersonation. With scores locked at 10-all and North Queensland on attack, deep in the Tigers’ territory, they coughed up possession and Wests back-rower Samuela Fainu snapped up the ball, immediately linking with skipper Jarome Luai.