NRL: Marshall sparks Tigers fightback

Lance Hohaia of the Warriors tackles Black Ayshford of the Tigers. Photo / Getty Images

Wests Tigers 26
NZ Warriors 22

A Benji Marshall inspired West Tigers clinched an incredible comeback win over the NZ Warriors 26-22 at Mt Smart Stadium.

Trailing 4-22 with 15 minutes remaining the Tigers magician turned on the razzle-dazzle, scoring a brace of tries and laying on a pair for his teammates.

On top of their agonising loss the NZ Warriors could also be without the services of lock Michael Luck for an significant period after he injured his anterior cruciate ligament.

The workhorse will be a huge void to fill for Ivan Cleary's outfit who rely on his high tackle-count and defensive effort around the ruck area to nullify opposition forward packs.

The first try of the match went to the Tigers who scored through centre Blake Ayshford.

With their first possession in the Warriors red-zone, Tigers halfback Robert Lui took the ball to the line and flicked a cut-out pass to Ayshford to dive over.

The Warriors should've struck back in the 15th minute as winger Manu Vatuvei brushed past former teammate Wade McKinnon and Beau Ryan but lost the ball as he went to touch down.

Despite the missed opportunity, home fans didn't have to wait long for a Warriors response as opposite wing Krisnan Inu made sure he got the ball down in the 19th minute.

Fullback Kevin Locke broke a pair of tackles from inside his 20 to release Feleti Mateo who ran deep into Tigers territory before the Warriors swept right to a three on two overlap for the former Eel to dot down.

The Tigers almost nabbed two tries in ten minutes but centre Tim Moltzen was ruled to have pushed Inu in the in-goal before forcing the ball and replacement backrower Liam Fulton was held up short before the line.

The home-side went into the break with the lead in the 34th minute after Lance Hohaia's kick was batted back by Vatuvei before Locke pounced on the loose ball after backrowers Mateo and Simon Dwyer had both missed the ball in their attempts to make a play at it.

The Warriors began the second half with the same vigor as the first stanza and Vatuvei finally went over after going close on several occasions with a try in the 49th minute.

'The Beast' finished off another move started by Locke inside his own half before Mateo threw a cut-out pass to the big winger to go over unopposed.

In successive sets the Warriors scored their fourth and fifth try of the night to halfback Shaun Johnston and Vatuvei(2).

Maloney finally converted his first conversion of the night to Vatuvei's try.

As the Warriors comfortably sat 22-4, Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall instigated an extraordinary fightback.

Marshall scored a brace and McKinnon notched a try to take the Tigers level at 22-22 with seven minutes remaining.

The Tigers miraculous comeback was complete in the 74th minute with Ryan squeezing in the corner to force the match winning try.

WESTS TIGERS 26 (B Marshall 2 B Ayshford W McKinnon B Ryan tries B Marshall 3 goals) bt WARRIORS 22 (M Vatuvei 2 K Inu S Johnson K Locke tries J Maloney goal) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Adam Devcich, Ashley Klein.

- Herald online