Superstar Wests Tigers recruit Jarome Luai had a heartfelt message for his new club's long-suffering fans after the joint venture thrashed the Eels 32-6 on Sunday.
Luai and former Australian Schoolboys five-eighth Lachlan Galvin combined in the halves in lethal fashion as the Tigers chalked up their first win of the season.
And the man who crossed from the Panthers to the Tigers with Luai over the off-season, winger Sunia Turuva, scored a hat-trick as the Eels were consigned to consecutive defeats at the start of the season.
The Tigers lost 10-8 to the Knights on Luai's club debut in round one, but the chocolates awaited them on Sunday.
In an interview with rugby league great Brad Fittler after the full-time whistle, Luai spoke with passion for his new colours.
"Things haven't gone their way for a couple of years, but the Tigers fans are really spirited and we're going to do this for the ones that stuck by us," Luai said on the Nine broadcast.
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Wests Tigers celebrate a try in their thumping win over the Eels. Getty
Galvin, Starford To'a and Jeral Skelton bagged a try each in the Tigers' emphatic win.
Galvin's try came in spectacular fashion. Flashy fullback Jahream Bula broke through the Eels' line deep in Tigers territory and linked with Adam Doueihi, who hurtled down the left wing and sent a kick in field. Galvin charged onto the kick and streaked away to score. He then bombed the ball into the crowd as his ecstatic teammates mobbed him.
Benji Marshall's men would have kept the Eels to zero if they'd kept out Sean Russell, who crossed on the left wing in the final minute of play.
The late try was a source of disappointment for Luai.
"What we want to be as a team this year is defence first, but that's the game of rugby league," the Tigers halfback said.
"It's never perfect and it gives us something to work on for next week.
"We're going to be chasing that zero every week."
That remark impressed rugby league legend Ruan Sims.
"You know what I loved about it? Was how Jarome Luai said, 'Look, we're very happy with what we did in attack, but we shouldn't have let the points in'," Sims said on the Nine coverage.
The former Jillaroo hailed a "very spirited performance".
"A lot of those tries were scored in front of the Tigers faithful," Sims said.
"They loved it."
As for the Eels, the reign of coach Jason Ryles has begun with a 56-18 thumping at the hands of the Storm, and Sunday's crushing defeat to the Tigers.