NRL: Warriors out-Marshalled

Robbie Farrah and Benji Marshall of the Tigers celebrate after Farrah scored a try against the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Tigers 20 Warriors 12

Put this down as yet another Leichhardt nightmare - but this match will be seen as the one that got away.

It is a familiar feeling, especially when Benji Marshall is in the opposition. Three times late in the second half, the Warriors made crucial, coach-killing errors when they had the ball in the red zone, twice direct from the scrum and a third time on just the second tackle.

In contrast the Tigers, mainly thanks to Marshall, had more composure on attack and took their chances late in the game.

There were improvements on last week with more urgency on defence and an improved kicking game. But the team still lack the ability to seize the initiative when it matters and now face the Dragons as they search for their first win of 2011.

The Warriors had been in front for most of the match, before two late tries took the home side clear.

Feleti Mateo hardly touched the ball in the first half but got through plenty of defence, especially in the second stanza. It is not easy to impose yourself as a playmaker at a new team - especially from the second row - but Mateo will need to make more of an impact in the coming weeks.

Of the other new boys, Shaun Berrigan was again impressive, while Krisnan Inu showed some good touches but needs to get more involved.

There was definitely more passion and purpose about the Warriors, compared to their flat start at the Battle of Eden.

Both teams looked to offload early and the Warriors had the best of the opening quarter.

Mateo actually scored in the 14th minute but the referee incorrectly ruled that the Tigers had earlier forced the ball, without bothering to refer to the video referee.

The Warriors then enjoyed three consecutive sets in the Tigers' red zone without profit, before Chris Lawrence finally broke the drought in the 34th minute. As usual, Marshall was involved. The Kiwis captain picked up an errant pass off his bootlaces before flicking it effortlessly to an onrushing Lawrence who split Brett Seymour and Joel Moon.

The Warriors struck back immediately, profiting after the Tigers knocked on from the kickoff. Just like last week, Berrigan made an immediate impact, zipping out of dummy half before cleverly sending Simon Mannering inside.

Leichhardt has always been a horrible place for the Warriors. Remember Nigel Vagana and Matthew Ridge receiving bans after shoving the referee in 1999, or Wade McKinnon being sent off for an air kick in 2007. The crowd sits right on top of the players and the passionate supporters intimidate referees.

Certainly there is nothing intimidating about the Tigers' new jerseys. They look like orange singlets over black vests - akin to something you might see in a gymnastics training squad or in the recent Mardi Gras. Who knows what legendary Tigers hard men like Paul Sironen, Steve Roach and Kevin Hardwick would think of the new garb?

After being virtually anonymous in the first half, the mercurial Inu showed some magic in the second half. He produced a full length dive to miraculously keep the ball in play after a clever kick down the sideline, before dummying and diving over in the corner. Seymour goaled from the sideline. The Warriors, who had hardly gone to the air in the first 50 minutes, then bombed for Inu who forced a mistake.

You sensed this was the moment, but Isaac John, who had been industrious rather than inspiring, dropped the ball from the scrum base. A few minutes later, Blake Ayshford busted a Jerome Ropati tackle to score a soft try.

Again, though, there was a chance - Farah spilt the ball near his posts but the Warriors couldn't profit. The Tigers hit the lead for the first time in the 70th minute - Farah scoring near the posts after a Marshall engineered break. Lawrence wrapped up the match four minutes later.

Tigers 20 (C. Lawrence 2, B. Ayshford, R. Farah tries; B. Marshall 2 goals) Warriors 12 (S. Mannering, K. Inu tries; B. Seymour 2 goals). Halftime: 6-6.