Marshall helps Tigers defeat Storm 26-14

A vintage display by Benji Marshall has inspired Wests Tigers to a 26-14 win over
Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval and moved them a step closer to securing a top two spot
for the NRL finals.
The dynamic five-eighth scored a hat-trick in an important victory which means the
Tigers need only beat Gold Coast next week or lose by a small margin to finish
second and give themselves a chance of gaining a week's break in the playoffs.
Marshall wound the clock back to 2005 when he started and finished a mesmerising try
in the 13th minute to level the scores.
The Tigers ace sliced through the Melbourne defence 40 metres out from his own line
and dashed down-field before producing one of his trademark flick passes for Mitch
Brown.
The replacement centre then found halfback Robert Lui who popped a ball over the top
for Marshall to touch down in the left-hand corner and salute the delirious
Leichhardt crowd of 20,168.
Marshall showed nice touch to score his second in the 47th minute off a Beau Ryan
kick, before completing his treble with a runaway effort at the death.
However the win was heavily soured for the Tigers, with star centre Chris Lawrence's
season seemingly over after he was taken from the field after just four minutes with
a broken jaw.
The injury came after a high shot from Jeff Lima, the Storm prop was not put on
report for the incident.
Prop John Skandalis was also taken off at the start of the second 40 minutes with a
hip injury and didn't return, while fullback Wade McKinnon appeared to re-strain his
troubled hamstring in the closing stages.
The home side always looked on top but Melbourne were never out of the contest and
when second rower Ryan Hoffman crashed over in the 58th minute the Tigers' lead was
cut to 16-14.
Skipper Robbie Farah and 21-year-old game-breaker Andrew Fifita scored crucial tries
from short range while the Storm opened the scoring in the seventh minute when
rookie winger Justin O'Neill scored his ninth try in eight first grade games.