Benji wants a shot at the Eels

THE dust was still settling on the Wests Tigers' demolition of the poor old Sharkies yesterday when the attention turned to next week.Tigers v Parramatta. Fifth v eighth. Jarryd Hayne v Benji Marshall. The mouth waters at the mere thought of it."Parramatta are the form team of the comp right now," said Marshall, who produced a blinder in his 100th match for the club."Whether they're placed eighth, or wherever they are, doesn't matter."This game is a big one."And as for Hayne?"He's the freak of the comp right now," Marshall said. "Some of the stuff he did (against the Warriors) with the chip and chase. He's unbelievable. We're going to have a job to shut him down."Hayne might be the form player of the competition, but Marshall reminded everyone that he is capable of turning it on with the best of them yesterday.After struggling at halfback, he has relished the decision to place the No. 6 on his back again. It was no more evident than yesterday.And no more evident than the 62nd minute, when he smoked down the left touchline before producing the massive left-foot sidestep to snap inside Sharks replacement Nathan Stapleton and run away to score.The try was Marshall's second and took the visitors out to a 42-4 lead. All the damage had been done in the first half - and much of it by tank-like winger Taniela Tuiaki who scored three tries.After sinking to second-last at one stage, yesterday's result was the Tigers' sixth in a row and they are sitting pretty in fifth position.But whatever you do, don't tell them they are starting to resemble the side that snatched the premiership in 2005."The devastation of the last three years and not making the semis has put things into perspective," Marshall insisted. "We're a better team than what we have been in the last three years and we want to prove that."Captain Robbie Farah also dismissed comparisons."It's a different team," he said. "Even though we're in a good position now, we're not guaranteed a semi-final spot. It's so close around the bottom of the eight. A couple of losses, you're straight out the back door. We're not getting too carried away."Besides, the Eels are fast approaching in the rear-view mirror. Then come the Titans and Bulldogs on the run home.Even though Sharks coach Ricky Stuart sat with his arms folded and slunk deeper into his seat on the sideline with every try, he couldn't help but be impressed by what he had seen."There was some fantastic attack today," he said. "What Benji Marshall and young (fullback) Tim Moltzen did, and some phases of their attack, were excellent. They were really good."I'm very critical of our defence, but the attack was exceptional. Some of the best I've seen for some time."But that's as far as the praise went. Asked for a prediction in the clash between the Eels and Tigers, Stuart snapped: "You're asking the wrong bloke. We just got beat by 50. Do you think I really care about Balmain or Parramatta? Please."The football purists will when the two sides meet in a blockbuster at the SFS on Friday night.The renaissance of Marshall, in particular, is something to relish."A lot of people still underestimate what he went through - five shoulder dislocations," assistant coach Royce Simmons said."It's amazing he's even playing the game. He'll keep getting better for the next 18 months. He's still getting confidence back, and a game like that certainly pushes him a bit further again."

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Replies

Dan_Ref August 17, 2009 at 7:45am

cant wait , this is a true test for parra
Jarrod August 17, 2009 at 8:54am

I can't see why this won't be a sell out. Which sucks cuz my free season passes won't be accepted :(
Dan August 17, 2009 at 9:19am

I used to like Balmain, but now I HATE the Tigers. I hope Marshall gets bashed.
- DazDingo > Dan August 17, 2009 at 10:30am
  
  I hope he gets run over by a Tongan wrecking ball
  - Dan > DazDingo August 17, 2009 at 11:24am
    
    more than once.
    
    Go Fui
Parra Dude August 17, 2009 at 11:46am

The Tiger's defense will be their undoing!.. The Eels defense will be our shining light!
seCtion eiGht August 17, 2009 at 1:18pm

Benji should be careful what he asks for as he will definately get it.
nz eel August 17, 2009 at 1:21pm

is laurie still in the tigers side?

if so it'll be great to see him and fui goin at it again (just hope the refs don't get in the way this time).
- Bourbon Man > nz eel August 17, 2009 at 2:17pm
  
  I don't think Tim Sheens will risk playing Laurie again this season! He's definitely a match winner - but not often for his own team :-)
Blue & Gold Blood August 17, 2009 at 4:06pm

we will win 20+...watch!

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