The enthralling history of the Beyond Blue Cup

Wests Tigers and South Sydney will once again battle it out for the Beyond Blue Cup in tonight's Round 18 clash at Bankwest Stadium.

After an enthralling finish in last year's contest between the two sides, Wests Tigers will be determined to retain the Cup against the Rabbitohs as part of a special night raising awareness around mental health in Australia.

Wests Tigers' formal partnership with Beyond Blue first began in 2016 with the two organisations working together to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention in Australia and to reduce any associated stigma. 

Since then, the partnership has seen Wests Tigers and Beyond Blue delivering mental health programs within the Wests Tigers community, while also taking part in an annual Beyond Blue Cup to promote mental health support services.

On field, the Beyond Blue Cup has brought with it its fair share of drama and excitement, with some incredible finishes to note.

In 2016 — the first year the trophy was awarded — Wests Tigers secured a 19-18 win over the Brisbane Broncos with a field goal in the 79th minute, ending a run of defeats at Suncorp Stadium that stemmed back close to a decade.

The following year, it was a stunning 14-point comeback from Wests Tigers that finished with a Malakai Watene-Zelezniak try in the 78th minute — giving the home side a 30-26 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval.

While the result might not have been there in 2018, the off-field storylines were aplenty as Robbie Farah returned for his first game back at the club, while now co-captain Moses Mbye also made his club debut for Wests Tigers.

But the drama returned in 2019 as Wests Tigers faced the Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium, as Michael Chee Kam's stunning solo try in the dying minutes of the game saw Wests Tigers snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to reclaim the Cup.

If the history of the Beyond Blue Cup is anything to go by, it's shaping up as a fascinating night on and off the field tonight at Bankwest Stadium!

BEYOND BLUE CUP RESULTS

2019 — Wests Tigers

def. South Sydney Rabbitohs, 14-9 at Bankwest Stadium

2018 — Gold Coast Titans

def. Wests Tigers, 30-12 at Leichhardt Oval

2017 — Wests Tigers

def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 30-26 at Leichhardt Oval

2016 — Wests Tigers

def. Brisbane Broncos, 19-18 at Suncorp Stadium