Tigers beat Rabbitohs in league trial
Wests Tigers superstar Benji Marshall admitted he had a lot to learn about playing halfback after helping his side to a 30-26 win over South Sydney in the Return to Redfern rugby league trial on Sunday.
New Zealander Marshall, who was moved from his traditional five-eighth spot, scored the first try with some neat footwork and set up two more four-pointers.
He came off at halftime, when the Tigers were leading 16-6.
On a glorious summers day the Tigers scored six tries to five in the members only trial played before 5000 fans at the refurbished Redfern Oval, the visitors crossing for two late tries to overturn a 26-22 deficit in the final quarter.
Starting with a much stronger and more experienced lineup, the Tigers dominated the first half.
It became a more even contest in the second half when Tigers coach Tim Sheens replaced Marshall and several other stars with both teams fielding younger talent.
Sheens said Marshall did "some good and not so good" things at halfback but he wasn't disappointed with his key playmaker's performance.
"I'm excited about playing halfback and I've got a lot of things to learn," Marshall said.
"I was a bit erratic today, I think I need to build a bit more consistency in my game. You touch the ball a lot more at halfback than you do at five-eighth."
Marshall said he had received "a few offers" from both rugby league and union clubs, but stressed he was in no hurry to decide his future beyond this season.
Souths received a double boost in the re-signing department with New Zealand Test hooker Issac Luke and young local utility back Beau Champion each extending their contracts until the end of the 2011 season.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor was happy with the way his young side performed, despite some pre-match fears in some quarters that the celebratory nature of the day could be spoilt if a stronger looking Tigers unit scored an easy victory.
"I didn't want that to happen but I was confident that the guys would go out and do a good job," Taylor said.
"There were heaps of kids that I thought were really impressive."
Tigers assistant coach and former Test hooker Royce Simmons felt the club's British Test forward Gareth Ellis would be a big bonus after being impressed with his pace and good running lines in his debut.
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