Lote Tuquri scores on NRL return as Wests Tigers come back to beat Manly at SFS
By Christian Nicolussi From: The Daily Telegraph March 16, 2010 12:00AM
Big win...Wests Tigers players celebrate Gareth Ellis's match-winning try. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
Wests Tigers 26 Manly 22
But for all Marshall and Farah's magic, much of the talking point today will surround Manly's poor discipline and Stewart's knee injury.
"We'll have to have a look at match review and wait for the verdict. I'd like to think we'll get all three off, but if I was a betting man I don't think we will," Hasler said.
And it was marquee players Farah and Marshall who stood up when the club needed them most.
Blake Ayshford started the fightback before some quick hands between Farah and Marshall put Tim Moltzen into space, who eventually found a galloping Liam Fulton.
Farah, Marshall and Fulton again teamed up to put Chris Lawrence in for a four-pointer before a well-weighted kick by Farah handed English import Gareth Ellis his first try in Tigers colours and the two competition points.anly looked headed for a comfortable victory at the hour mark in a game that produced plenty of brutal defence and big hits.But the Tigers refused to roll over and thoroughly deserved to begin their much-anticipated 2010 season on the right note. Marshall said the Tigers never panicked and knew if they could spread it wide early in the second half and produce their trademark free-flowing football they would remain in the contest.
"Sheensy (Tim Sheens) said at halftime that if we kept our composure the game would turn itself, if we kept control of the ball," Marshall said. "They were aggressive up front so we started spreading it and it started paying off for us.
"You can never lose faith when you've got so much attack out wide, you play to your strengths."
He was full of praise for Tuqiri's debut game, saying: "Lote, with the amount of expectation on his shoulders and three days training, it was an unbelievable effort."
Sheens was delighted with the effort, but would not comment on Manly's string of reckless tackles.
"It was an aggressive, physical game and maybe Manly got frustrated, I don't know. They will have some issues there," Sheens said.
The Tigers could not have asked for a better start when they had four consecutive sets before new recruit Tuqiri crashed over in the left corner with his first touch.
Fellow winger Beau Ryan looked to have gone over in the other corner minutes later but referee Jared Maxwell ruled the final pass forward.
Momentum soon swung Manly's way and they opened their account through Michael Robertson, who outleapt Ryan for a Jamie Lyon bomb. Lyon then sent Glenn Stewart over, Rose barged over for a four-pointer, and when Heighington took out Lyon late, the Sea Eagles looked well in control - until the Tigers got their tails up.
WESTS TIGERS 26 (B Ayshford G Ellis L Fulton C Lawrence L Tuqiri tries B Marshall 3 goals) bt MANLY 22 (M Robertson G Rose G Stewart tries J Lyon 5 goals) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referees: Gavin Badger, Jared Maxwell. Crowd: 18,421.
Big win...Wests Tigers players celebrate Gareth Ellis's match-winning try. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
Wests Tigers 26 Manly 22
WESTS Tigers stars Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah orchestrated a brilliant come-from-behind victory last night against a battered Manly outfit who lost Brett Stewart to injury and had another three players placed on report.
In a stunning Monday night NRL opener at the SFS, the Tigers trailed 20-4 at the break before Farah and Marshall roared to life and set up four tries in the space of 16 minutes to reel in the Sea Eagles 26-22.But for all Marshall and Farah's magic, much of the talking point today will surround Manly's poor discipline and Stewart's knee injury.
Stewart hobbled off the field in the 71st minute clutching his left knee after putting his body on the line to stop rampaging debutant Lote Tuqiri.
Manly club doctor Paul Bloomfield said afterwards it was not the same knee that sidelined Stewart for the bulk of last year, and an MRI scan would today shed more light.To make matters worse for Manly, Kieran Foran, Brent Kite and George Rose were all placed on report in the second half for high shots. Kite's wayward right arm broke Chris Heighington's nose while Rose was sin-binned for a reckless forearm that sparked an all-in brawl in the final minute.
Worried Manly coach Des Hasler was unsure how his trio would fare at the match-review panel."We'll have to have a look at match review and wait for the verdict. I'd like to think we'll get all three off, but if I was a betting man I don't think we will," Hasler said.
"It will depend on the carry-over points. (Overall) I thought we were pretty good across the park, except for the scoreboard."
As the headaches mounted for Manly in the second half, the Tigers conjured up a grandstand finish to thrill the 18,421 fans.And it was marquee players Farah and Marshall who stood up when the club needed them most.
Blake Ayshford started the fightback before some quick hands between Farah and Marshall put Tim Moltzen into space, who eventually found a galloping Liam Fulton.
Farah, Marshall and Fulton again teamed up to put Chris Lawrence in for a four-pointer before a well-weighted kick by Farah handed English import Gareth Ellis his first try in Tigers colours and the two competition points.anly looked headed for a comfortable victory at the hour mark in a game that produced plenty of brutal defence and big hits."Sheensy (Tim Sheens) said at halftime that if we kept our composure the game would turn itself, if we kept control of the ball," Marshall said. "They were aggressive up front so we started spreading it and it started paying off for us.
"You can never lose faith when you've got so much attack out wide, you play to your strengths."
He was full of praise for Tuqiri's debut game, saying: "Lote, with the amount of expectation on his shoulders and three days training, it was an unbelievable effort."
Sheens was delighted with the effort, but would not comment on Manly's string of reckless tackles.
"It was an aggressive, physical game and maybe Manly got frustrated, I don't know. They will have some issues there," Sheens said.
The Tigers could not have asked for a better start when they had four consecutive sets before new recruit Tuqiri crashed over in the left corner with his first touch.
Fellow winger Beau Ryan looked to have gone over in the other corner minutes later but referee Jared Maxwell ruled the final pass forward.
Momentum soon swung Manly's way and they opened their account through Michael Robertson, who outleapt Ryan for a Jamie Lyon bomb. Lyon then sent Glenn Stewart over, Rose barged over for a four-pointer, and when Heighington took out Lyon late, the Sea Eagles looked well in control - until the Tigers got their tails up.
WESTS TIGERS 26 (B Ayshford G Ellis L Fulton C Lawrence L Tuqiri tries B Marshall 3 goals) bt MANLY 22 (M Robertson G Rose G Stewart tries J Lyon 5 goals) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referees: Gavin Badger, Jared Maxwell. Crowd: 18,421.
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