For a brief moment, the ultimate Adam Doueihi and Wests Tigers redemption story was on the cards.

Yet another tumultuous week in Tiger Town was about to finish with a win against Parramatta courtesy of a try to Doueihi, and a wobbly 25m field goal.

But once again Tigers’ hearts were broken when Isaiah Iongi skipped through a yawning gap to seal a 16-13 victory at CommBank Stadium.

The Sunday afternoon clash featuring two struggling western Sydney clubs was a contender for one of the worst games of the year.

The Eels completed at less than 50 per cent in the second half, while the Tigers never looked like scoring until prop Fonua Pole’s inspirational 48th-minute run brought the home side to life.

The Tigers and Doueihi dominated the headlines after the playmaker refused to make himself available against Canberra the previous week. He was upset about being shifted out of the halves, then took the opportunity to tell coach Benji Marshall a few home truths about what he thought was going on at the club.

But Doueihi was welcomed straight back into the team, and the emotion was plain to see when he scored a try on the hour to level the scores. He ran hard from close range and carried three Eels defenders over the try line with him. His teammates celebrated as Doueihi, a spiritual man, took a moment to cross himself.

When Doueihi stepped up to kick a field goal from 25m out, the Tigers looked set for snap a seven-match losing streak and score an unthinkable victory.

However, Iongi and the Eels had other ideas.

Neither team will play in the finals, but you sensed this one meant more to the home side.

Plenty of supporters had given up on their club a long time ago, and there were an alarming number of empty seats at CommBank Stadium. Not even a half-time performance by The Wiggles, whose frontman Anthony Field is a passionate Tigers fan, could energise the rusted-on faithful.

What a contrast it was to the 30,000 fans who turned up to watch the same two clubs in round five when Jock Madden’s 84th-minute field goal handed the Tigers a thrilling win.

The Eels led 12-0 at the break, but could have been up by so much more. Jordan Samrani leapt for a Mitch Moses kick to score, and Tallyn Da Silva, a one-time Tiger celebrating 50 NRL games, scored next to the posts after a Samrani run the play before.

The Tigers enjoyed plenty of possession and field position early, but not once looked like scoring.

They fancied their chances whe going right, only for players to be caught with the ball, while a Doueihi pass sailed straight over the head of Sunia Turuva.

It was not until Pole stormed on to the ball early in the second half and scored from 20m out that the Tigers woke up.

The Tigers clicked into gear, and Doueihi kept the scoreboard ticking over.

The one passage that best summed up the fortunes of both clubs happened in the 57th minute when Doueihi dropped the ball cold, Ronald Volkman picked it up and looked ready to run the length of the field. He knew he did not have the pace, threw it to Josh Addo-Carr, who then spilled the ball down.

The Tigers have the bye next weekend and will use the time to clear their heads and forget about the latest dramas surrounding Doueihi and claims of players receiving preferential treatment and a lack of accountability.

Parramatta take on South Sydney. The quicker they forget Sunday afternoon the better.