Tigers come back to beat Roosters
"Angry" Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall declared 2009 to be his year after he led the side to a 40-24 win over the Sydney Roosters that coach Tim Sheens described as his best NRL performance.
Marshall was brilliant as the Tigers overcame an 18-10 half-time deficit to claim a seven tries to four win in their first home game at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The match was billed as Benji and Robbie's house-warming party and it was, Marshall with a hand in three tries while Robbie Farah scored one and set up another.
Chris Lawrence and Taniela Tuiaki both finished with doubles as the Tigers celebrated a come-from-behind victory in Roosters territory.
Marshall's game had everything; pinpoint kicking, dummy half running and a flick pass behind his back reminiscent of his 2005 grand final effort that still dominates highlight reels.
The Kiwi superstar praised his forwards for setting a platform but said he'd gone into the game angry at criticism he'd copped after just two performances in the No.7 jersey.
"I was a little bit angry with some of the criticism and some of the stuff other people were saying," said Marshall.
"I just wanted to go out and prove a point tonight.
"I wrote down as my goal to run the ball a bit more and I thought I did that.
"I was just in the zone where I wanted the ball and wanted to run it.
"Usually after games I get four or five (text) messages, I checked my phone and I've got 30 so I must have done something right.
"I've had a pretty tough road with injury and that but I feel like I've come back a bit stronger now and maybe this year is my year."
Sheens had no doubt where Marshall's performance rated, claiming it was "by far" better than his 2005 grand final heroics.
"Benji probably played the best game he has played for the club," said Sheens.
"He handled himself pretty well on the field. There was little if any errors in his game.
"(But) It's a long way before I'm going to call him a great halfback."
The Roosters started superbly with Mitchell Aubusson scoring twice in three minutes to give the tricolours a 12-0 lead after ten minutes.
But the Tigers fought back into the contest and gained the lead in the second half by securing the dominance in the middle of the field to over-run the Roosters.
Roosters coach Brad Fittler slammed his side's mental toughness, believing poor handling of the football cost his men dearly.
"We had a couple of silly errors that really cost us. Dropping the ball after a tackle is completed really hurts you," said Fittler.
"The manner in which we did them shows where your head is at ... it's a sign of weakness."
Roosters captain Braith Anasta conceded the Tigers were simply too good for his side.
"They're a quality team and always have tricks up their sleeve," he said.
"They were just a bit classy for us in the end."
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