NRL: Benji celebrates milestone in style

Benji Marshall celebrated the 100th NRL game he never thought he'd reach in emphatic style on Sunday by scoring 24 points as the Wests Tigers executed a record 56-10 demolition of Cronulla at Toyota Stadium tonight.

Marshall produced another dazzling display with two tries and eight of 10 conversions as the Tigers stretched their winning streak to six games by toying with the hapless Sharks in front of 12,982 fans.

It was a day of records for the Tigers with the 46 point margin their biggest over the Sharks, surpassing the 46-6 mauling they dished out in 2005 on their way to the NRL premiership.

Winger Taniela Tuiaki scored a hat-trick to claim the club's tryscoring record in a season, his 21st try of the year in the 78th minute moving him past the 20 tries Pat Richards bagged in their premiership season of 2005.

It was hard to ignore the similarities with 2005 as Marshall, hooker Robbie Farah and outstanding fullback Tim Moltzen destroyed a Cronulla outfit on their last legs.

For Marshall it was especially sweet, playing his 100th first grade game in his seventh season after five shoulder reconstructions.

"There were times when I didn't know if I would make it to 100," said Marshall.

"There was times I wanted to stop training, give up and go on a holiday and (my family) brought me back down to earth and kept me there.

"You always doubt yourself but I'm lucky I've got a competitive nature where I want to get back and be the best.

"In the back of my mind it meant something getting (100 games) after the setbacks I've had."

Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons praised Marshall for reaching the milestone and warned his best football was still to come.

"It's amazing he is even playing the game," said Simmons.

"He is going to keep getting better and will get better over the next 18 months."

Winger Beau Ryan and centre Blake Ayshford also bagged doubles against the Sharks, while Moltzen scored a sensational 85m solo try to start the second stanza as the Tigers crossed five times in each half.

The Tigers move to fifth place on the NRL table with win but Marshall says their biggest test is to come with form sides Parramatta, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs in their difficult run to the finals.

With Marshall in full swagger, Farah at his darting best and Moltzen their new attacking weapon at the back, the Tigers may yet replicate their dream run to the 2005 title.

But the players are refusing to even contemplate finals.

"If we want to be serious about semi-final football you've got to match it with the tough teams and they're three of the toughest teams going around at the moment," Marshall said of the run home.

"It will test our form, if we're good enough to make it they're three teams we'll be playing that we need to beat.

"It's still a long way to go. We could go fifth this week and next week be back to eighth or ninth."

- AAP