Wests Tigers confirmed their status as the NRL's most perplexing team, mounting a spirited second-half comeback without skipper Robbie Farah to defeat the Warriors 24-22 at a packed Leichhardt Oval on Friday night.
After a lethargic opening in which they looked like they desperately missed the stability and creative input of Farah, who is in camp with New South Wales ahead of Wednesday's State of Origin opener in Melbourne, the Tigers overturned a 10-0 half-time deficit to pile on four tries.
They had to endure a nerve-wracking ending, but the match was sealed when full-back Tim Moltzen ghosted through for a try in the 78th minute.
Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell scored a consolation try in the 80th minute, his second of the game, to narrow the final scoreline.
The home side did it without Chris Lawrence as well, with the makeshift five-eighth succumbing to a hamstring injury at half-time.
Beau Ryan kick-started the comeback when he capitalised on a Manu Vatuvei error to open the Tigers' account six minutes after the break.
Ryan had put in an innocuous grubber which Vatuvei made a meal of, before the Tigers winger toed the ball ahead again and dove on it for the try.
As quick as a flash the home side found itself in the lead when, from the following set after the kick-off, they marched upfield and Marshall put in a perfectly weighted kick for Lote Tuqiri to score his second try of the year.
Marshall completed the hot start to the second half with a sideline conversion to give the Tigers a 12-10 lead.
It looked a completely different Tigers outfit to the one that had bumbled its way to a 10-0 half-time deficit, care of tries to Warriors duo Bill Tupou and Ben Henry.
The match swung back in the Warriors' favour in the 54th minute when five-eighth James Maloney, who had a fine game, latched onto a Moltzen grubber and started a 90-metre movement downfield which ended with Hurrell outpacing Marshall for a converted try to reclaim a 16-12 lead.
Ten minutes later the Tigers found themselves back in front when powerful bench utility Matt Utai, playing his 150th NRL game, burrowed over from close range on his hands and knees to lock up the scores at 16-16.
Once again Marshall converted from the sideline, giving the Tigers a two-point lead that would eventually be the difference.
Moltzen was allowed to waltz through the Warriors' defence to increase the lead before similarly abject defending allowed Hurrell to score his second try of the night at the other end.
But it was too little, too late for the New Zealand side.
Wests Tigers: 24 (B Ryan, L Tuqiri, M Utai, T Moltzen tries, B Marshall 4/4 cons)
Warriors: 22 (K Hurrell 2, B Tupou, B Henry tries, J Maloney 3/4 cons)
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, balmain-2041, campbelltown-2560 First posted May 18, 2012 21:45:36
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