Marshall magic ropes in Cowboys | Thebigtip

Benji kicks into gear to inspire comeback victory - by Glenn Jackson at smh.com.au

ABOUT 50 minutes into last night's clash, there may have been some in the Leichhardt Oval masses who would have happily cut off the right foot of Tigers halfback Benji Marshall. The Tigers had dragged themselves back into the contest, with three tries in 13 minutes - only for Marshall's inaccurate boot to leave the Tigers short of their opponents.

''Yeah, mad goalkicker,'' Marshall said afterwards, the sarcasm cleaner than any of his strikes with the boot.

''It's pretty disappointing. I've done a lot of work with the goalkicking. I just wish the boys would score them under the posts for me for a change. It's just one of those things. I'm just glad it didn't cost us the game.

''I had to touch the ballboy for luck for the one that got over - I should have touched him every one.''

But his right boot would still be the difference in the right way. A chip kick by the playmaker after 54 minutes, which set up Lote Tuqiri's second try of the night, changed the course of a crucial contest.

It was a strange night for Marshall, the sort of up-and-down occasion that reflected his team's performance. He finished with one conversion from six, and after kicking a 51-metre field goal last week against the Titans, he missed from 20 metres out with six minutes left, as the Tigers looked to close out the match. It took a try by Liam Fulton, who had been put through a gap by Marshall, to finally see off the spirited Cowboys with a few minutes remaining. Marshall - who else? - put the polish on it with a late sprint to the line. ''He's had a mixed night,'' coach Tim Sheens said. ''He knows that. But when the big moments are there … ''

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