NRL: Marshall comes through to Kearney's relief

Stephen Kearney. Photo / Daily Post

The Wests Tigers faithful were not alone in marvelling at Benji Marshall's virtuoso performance in Canberra on Friday night - Kiwis league coach Stephen Kearney also sat back in Melbourne impressed, and mightily relieved.

A week ago Kearney was firing off worried text messages to his captain after watching Marshall wrench a knee in the final quarter of the week one playoff match against the Sydney Roosters.

Languishing on the sideline strapped with an ice pack at the Sydney Football Stadium, Marshall missed the golden point component of the Tigers' defeat.

The 2005 premiers always had another life - albeit away against the in-form Raiders - but Kearney was obviously concerned about the ramifications of Marshall's injury on his planning for next month's Four Nations tournament.

Fortunately ligament damage was not as serious as initially feared and Marshall was able to play a pivotal role in the Tigers' 26-24 victory.

Seven days on, Kearney was pleased to also see the Roosters' leading Kiwis' candidates Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam Perrett and Shaun Kenny-Dowall emerge unscathed from their 34-12 win over the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night.

Rookie Penrith prop Sam McKendry impressed in a beaten side while on Friday Canberra back rower Bronson Harrison logged another industrious performance against the Tigers.

Harrison's form and the availability of New Zealand Warriors captain Simon Mannering - he missed May's Anzac test through injury - means the potential loss of Frank Pritchard may not impact too significantly on the second row resources.

As usual, the halves combination is Kearney's problem area with Manly's Kieran Foran out of contention with a shoulder injury. Foran and Marshall paired up for the first time in May's Anzac test and were seen as a long-term solution in the playmaking role.

Thomas Leuluai and Nathan Fien are options to play halfback alongside Marshall. Kearney expects to name a 23- or 24-man squad on October 4 - the day after the NRL grand final.

- NZPA