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[Guest]

Tigers golden after Marshall magic

Updated March 04, 2012 20:56:48
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Tigers captain Benji Marshall landed a long-range field goal just two minutes into golden point to steal a thrilling 17-16 extra-time victory over the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

A Todd Carney-inspired comeback saw the Sharks fight back from 12-4 down at half-time to take a stunning 16-12 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.

But the Tigers somehow found a way back in hot conditions, with winger Beau Ryan producing a brilliant grubber and chase down the sideline to lock the scores at 16-16 in the 77th minute.

Marshall missed the sideline conversion to take the lead and the game was forced to golden point extra time.

The drama did not take long to restart with Carney's kick-off rebounding off the crossbar and into the hands of the Sharks.

Carney's first drop goal attempt was charged down and, on the back of a controversial penalty, the Tigers took the ball to the other end where Marshall sealed the victory from 35 metres out.

The Tigers playmaker said his one-pointer got a helping hand from former Wests prop, now Sharks player, Bryce Gibbs.

"I looked like it was going wide, but I think it tipped his hand when Bryce charged it down," he said.

"Great to get the win, but very disappointed with the way we played. We went away from everything we practised. I suppose we won't be favourite after that."
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Tedesco blow

The victory was soured with news young full-back James Tedesco was ruled out for the rest of his debut season with a ruptured ACL.

Like Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper at the Rugby World Cup, the 19-year-old was jinking in front of the defensive line when he went down like he had been taken out by a sniper in the stands.

"Just seeing his reaction in the sheds, he was crying in there and it brought a tear to a few of the boys' eyes," said Marshall, himself no stranger to the surgeon's scalpel in the early days of his career.

"We see him as such a great talent, and he's fit into the squad well and he's a really good kid."

For Sheens it means a rethink on the number one jumper he had already gambled on by giving it to the rookie.

Former Parramatta utility Tom Humble impressed after coming on in his place, while Joel Reddy and Mitch Brown will also come into calculations.

"It's disappointing for him, a 19-year-old in his very first game," Sheens said.

"I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade full-back.

"But Robbie Farah did the same thing at the same age and came back stronger. Tim Moltzen has done it and came back stronger. All you can do as a footballer is get on with it."

Half-back Moltzen also left the field with split webbing in his hand.
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End to end

The game was not even two minutes old when Marshall had his first impact, with his grubber for the sideline bouncing cruelly for the Sharks and into the arms of Ryan for a dream start for the home side.

There was more than a hint of forward pass as the Sharks replied via Isaac De Gois, but Marshall answered like only he can as he danced his way over from short range.

The Tigers were revelling in rarely seen Sydney sun, but while they toyed at times with the Cronulla defence, they had no more points to show for their endeavours.

Carney then awoke from his slumber.

He delivered a cut-out pass to Colin Best who juggled before diving over, then the 2010 Dally M medal winner did it all himself with two big right foot steps to give the Sharks their first lead at 14-12 with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Best could not help himself as he was pinged for a double movement as he chased his double, the desperation and heat affecting players from both sides.

Marshall almost conjured up another magic trick with a deft grubber at the Sharks line which was fumbled by Nathan Gardner, but Ryan could not finish off the job as he fumbled the ball over the line.

But Ryan more than made up for it with his late solo effort.

Tigers: 17 (B Ryan 2, B Marshall tries; B Marshall 2/3 conversions; 1/1 pen; field goal)

Sharks: 16 (C Best, T Carney, I De Gois tries; T Carney 1/3 conversions; 1/1 pen)

ABC/AAP

 

[Guest]

Star rookie's NRL debut ends in tears
March 4, 2012 - 7:16PM
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They say Balmain boys don't cry, but some couldn't help themselves at the sight of stricken debutant fullback James Tedesco in the sheds.

Tedesco's first NRL game - and almost certainly his season - ended after just 30 minutes on Sunday when his left knee buckled without a hand laid on him in Wests Tigers' golden point win over Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval.

Like Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper at the Rugby World Cup, the 19-year-old was jinking in front of the defensive line when he went down like he'd been taken out by a sniper in the stands.

The standing ovation he got as he was stretchered off was of little comfort as he faces the prospect of season-ending knee reconstruction surgery.

And not even the team's delirium at Benji Marshall's extra time winning field goal could gloss over the players' bitter disappointment for their young colleague.

"Just seeing his reaction in the sheds, he was crying in there and it brought a tear to a few of the boys' eyes," said Marshall, himself no stranger to the surgeon's scalpel in the early days of his career.

"We see him as such a great talent, and he's fit into the squad well and he's a really good kid."

For Sheens it means a rethink on the No.1 jumper he'd already gambled on by giving it to the rookie.

Former Parramatta utility Tom Humble impressed after coming on in his place, while Joel Reddy and Mitch Brown will also come into calculations.

"It's disappointing for him, a 19-year-old in his very first game," Sheens said.

"I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade fullback.

"But Robbie Farah did the same thing at the same age and came back stronger. Tim Moltzen has done it and came back stronger. All you can do as a footballer is get on with it."

 

[Guest]

Marshall magic eclipses Carney comeback
Steve Jancetic
March 4, 2012 - 4:39PM

WESTS TIGERS 17 CRONULLA 16

He missed from the sideline in regulation but Wests Tigers superstar Benji Marshall made no mistake in golden point to get his side out of jail with a 17-16 NRL win at Leichhardt Oval today.

Marshall snapped the match-winning field goal from 35 metres out three minutes into extra time after Sharks halfback Todd Carney had almost pulled off a stunning comeback just minutes earlier.

With the scores locked at 16-16 after 80 minutes, Carney's extra time restart hit the crossbar and gave possession back to the Sharks, but his field goal on the next tackle was charged down, handing the Tigers a chance they did not waste.

Carney's brilliant second half performance had his side leading 16-12 with three minutes remaining, but Beau Ryan's second of the afternoon added some late drama.

Having butchered a try 12 minutes from time, Ryan made amends with a stunning chip and chase as he hugged the sideline in the 77th minute to lock it up, Marshall's sideline conversion fading across the face of goal.

The game wasn't even two minutes old when Marshall had his first impact, with his grubber for the sideline bouncing cruelly for the Sharks and into the arms of Ryan for a dream start for the home side.

There was more than a hint of forward pass as the Sharks replied via Isaac De Gois, but Marshall answered like only he can as he danced his way over from short range.

The Tigers were revelling in rarely seen Sydney sun, but while they toyed at times with the Cronulla defence, they had no more points to show for their endeavours.

The mood darkened on the half hour when James Tedesco - with no-one near him - went down with a suspected season-ending ACL injury, halfback Tim Moltzen joining him in the sheds before the break with split webbing which required stitches.

Marshall produced a pearler of a cut-out pass to put Matt Utai over nine minutes after the restart, but the powerful winger couldn't keep his heel in the field of play with the Tigers denied by the video referee.

Carney then awoke from his slumber.

He delivered a cut-out pass to Colin Best who juggled before diving over, then the 2010 Dally M medal winner did it all himself with two big right foot steps to give the Sharks their first lead at 14-12 with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Best couldn't help himself as he was pinged for a double movement as he chased his double, the desperation and heat affecting players from both sides.

Marshall almost conjured up another magic trick with a deft grubber at the Sharks line which was fumbled by Nathan Gardner, but Ryan couldn't finish off the job as he fumbled the ball over the line.

But he more than made up for it with his late solo effort.

 

[Guest]

BRIGHT FUTURE STILL AWAITS JAMES TEDESCO
By Wayne Cousins
4/03/2012 9:09:47 PM

James Tedesco may have only played around 30 minutes but Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence has no doubt the 19-year-old is a future star of the game.

In the cruellest blow, Tedesco’s NRL debut was cut short when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after returning a kick upfield . Up until then,Tedesco was impressive in his first game in the Telstra Premiership.

Sitting quietly inside the doctor’s room below the Leichhardt Oval grandstand with his parents John and Rosemary by his side, Tedesco was informed by respected Wests Tigers Doctor Donald Kuah that his season was over. It was a shattering blow for the youngster who rose from playing SG Ball for Western Suburbs to Wests Tigers NRL side within 12 months.

“I feel for him. ‘Teddy’ was having such a good game,’’ Lawrence said.

“He is a young bloke who probably hasn’t had to deal with injuries like this and being his first game, it is even more shattering.

“All the boys had a word to him in the sheds after the game to just let him know that we were there. We told him to just keep his head up and work really hard to get back next year.

“James is going to be a superstar of the game. He is going to be a part of this Wests Tigers team and playing in the NRL for many years to come.”

Wests Tigers Head Coach Tim Sheens says Tedesco could take encouragement from the fact that many of his team-mates had overcome major injuries.

“It is very disappointing for him. I think he showed why we earmarked him as our first grade full-back,’’ Sheens said.

“Robbie Farah had the same thing at the same age and came back strong. Timmy Moltzen had it (in 2010) and came back stronger. All James can do is, as you do with footballers, is to get on with it.

“Benji (Marshall) underwent surgery five times on his shoulder. You just have to learn to live with that and come back stronger. With the support we will give him, he will come through.”

Marshall said the team were devastated when they saw Tedesco at the half-time break.

“Just seeing his reaction in the shed, he was crying and it brought a tear to few of the boys’ eyes as we see him as such a great talent,’’ Marshall said.

“He has fit into this squad well and is a really good kid.”

 

[Guest]

BENJI MARSHALL FIELD GOAL SEALS VICTORY
By Wayne Cousins
4/03/2012 5:54:38 PM

A long range Benji Marshall field goal secured Wests Tigers a thrilling 17-16 victory over Cronulla Sharks at a packed Leichhardt Oval today.

In front of a crowd of 19,762, Marshall landed a 35 metre field goal two minutes into golden point to secure the two competition points in the opening round of the Telstra Premiership.

Earlier, Marshall missed a conversion attempt from the sideline to put Wests Tigers in the lead after winger Beau Ryan scored from his own grubber kick to level the scores.

The win came at a major cost to Wests Tigers with exciting young full-back James Tedesco suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee in the 30th minute. Head Coach Tim Sheens confirmed after the match that Tedesco would not play again this season.

The match also marked the 100th Wests Tiigers game for centre Chris Lawrence and the Club debuts of new signings Adam Blair, Matthew Bell and Tom Humble.

Wests Tigers got off to a dream start when winger Beau Ryan swooped on a grubber kick from five-eighth Benji Marshall to score in the right corner just 90 seconds into the game.Two Sharks players were waiting for the ball to go over the sideline when Ryan swooped on it to score to send the Wests Tigers faithful wild. Marshall converted the try to give Wests Tigers a 6-0 lead.

Wests Tigers were denied a scrum feed 10 metres out from the Sharks line a few minutes later after a towering bomb spilt by Nathan Gardner and a team-mate was ruled to be knocked back by referee Jared Maxwell much to the roar of disapproval from the home crowd.

The Sharks opened their account in the 15th minute through a try to hooker Isaac De Gois from pass by second-rower Anthony Tupou. Half-back Todd Carney failed to convert the try for a 6-4 scoreline.

Following a one minute drinks break due to the humid conditions, Wests Tigers received a penalty after De Gois was ruled to not clearing the ruck after tackling prop Keith Galloway.

Wests Tigers Captain and hooker Robbie Farah turned down the two points on offer in front of the posts to go for a try. It paid off two plays later when Marshall stepped off his right foot to slice through a gap to score near the posts in the 22nd minute. Marshall converted his own try to give Wests Tigers a 12-4 lead.

Eight minutes later, Tedesco suffered his knee injury, resulting in Tom Humble coming on at full-back.

2nd Half

Wests Tiger winger Matt Utai had a try denied in the 40th minute when the video referee ruled his foot touched the sideline in trying to score.

The Sharks got back to 12-8 when centre Colin Best crashed over in the corner to score in the 52nd minute after brushing off Ryan. Carney failed to convert the try.

After enjoying a weight of possession, Cronulla took the lead for the first time in the 59th minute when Carney stepped inside prop Keith Galloway and second-rower Adam Blair to score 10 metres from the posts. Carney converted his own try for a 14-12 lead to the Sharks after 60 minutes.

Ryan was placed on report in the 63rd minute for a high shot on full-back Nathan Gardner. From the ensuring penalty, Best was denied his second try when referee Jared Maxwell ruled a double movement.

Wests Tigers missed an opportunity score in the 68th minute when a Marshall grubber kick was fumbled forward by Ryan in a desperate bid to pick up the ball after it bounced off Gardner.

Carney converted a penalty goal in the 74th minute from 25 metres out in front after referee Chris James ruled centre Blake Ayshford had raked the ball loose from the arms of Andrew Fifita. It gave the Sharks a 16-12 lead.

The video referee was called upon in the 77th minute to determine whether Ryan had grounded the ball in following his own grubber kick through. The home crowd roared with sheer delight when the try was awarded for a 16-all scoreline.

It left Marshall with a sideline conversion attempt to put Wests Tigers in front but the ball went wide of the posts with two minutes remaining. The match was locked at 16-all at full-time.

Carney had one shot at a field goal attempt from close range but the ball was charged down by Chris Heighington and Aaron Woods. Marshall then landed the field goal to send Wests Tigers players and fans into a frenzy. It was Wests Tigers third win from 10 games in golden point.