Benji Marshall says Wests Tigers' 54-20 mauling of South Sydney on Saturday should serve as a warning to the rest of the NRL that there is still life in the 2005 premiers' season.

The Tigers' disappointing 2009 campaign looked dead and buried after last week's 21-10 defeat by St George Illawarra, but with Marshall moving back to five-eighth and hooker Robbie Farah in brilliant form, Souths simply could not cope with a 10-try onslaught from Tim Sheens' men.

Marshall, who was almost ruled out of contention after going down with a virus which kept him in doubt for the game right up to kick-off, played down his return to the No.6 shirt, but said he was excited about the possibility of forming a solid partnership with flatmate Tim Moltzen who enjoyed a strong first game in the halfback role.

"To tell the truth I didn't think it was any different to playing at seven, if anything it relieved the pressure of playing at seven, but I went into the game pretty relaxed and played pretty basic," Marshall told AAP.

"Tim lives with me and he is one of those players who has natural ability and good speed for a big guy and he has a bright future ahead of him."

Sheens said after the game he intended to keep Moltzen and Marshall in the halves for the rest of the season and the Kiwi playmaker said he was confident the pair could deliver positive results on a regular basis.

"It went well today and I think we worked well together, and hopefully we can carry on this way for the rest of the season."

Marshall admitted the Tigers need an extraordinary run of form to reach the finals, but said the memories of their momentum-building run to the 2005 premiership would serve as an inspiration.

"We definitely think we can make the finals and don't care that people have written us off," he said.

"If we play like we did tonight and with a basic game plan and can hold teams out defensively then there is no reason why we can't keep winning games like we did today and make the eight.

"We have shown glimpses of what we can do with the ball, the young boys all stood up tonight and our forwards gave us a chance."

Marshall also heaped praise on captain Farah, who had a hand in eight of his side's tries, and silent assassin Taniela Tuiaki, the softly-spoken bulldozing winger who also resides in chez Marshall and whose first half hat-trick laid the foundations for the joint venture's 100th NRL victory.

"I'm glad I don't have to tackle Taniela, he is one of those players that when you give him the ball one-on-one he is devastating," Marshall said.

"I'm lucky I live with him and don't want to run into him or get on his bad side!"

"And on the back of some good play-the-balls and a decent platform, Robbie is devastating out of dummy half.

"If he gets that opportunity again in State of Origin I have no doubt he will make amends for the last game."

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