Benji’s latest prodigy leads Tigers to pressure-easing victory over Roosters

2 weeks ago 17

Benji Marshall stalked the Allianz Stadium sideline like the cornered tiger he has increasingly resembled of late.

The latest prodigious playmaker in his keeping – 20-year-old halfback Latu Fainu – played like one, inspiring a nerve-jangling 30-28 upset win over the Roosters right when his club and coach needed it most.

The Tigers had lost 18 of the past 19 clashes against the Tricolours, more often than not by a small landslide.

In seemingly rinsed and repeated news cycles, the Tigers’ best and brightest creative types have been either leaving or considering their options – be it Lachie Galvin, Tallyn Da Silva or Jarome Luai.

But on Sunday against a fast-finishing Roosters outfit, Fainu’s matchwinning display was the most welcome of storylines for a beleaguered Tigers side and fanbase. Right next to the 77th-minute whistle that allowed Adam Doueihi to knock over a late penalty that proved the difference.

With James Tedesco’s last-gasp crash over the line, the Roosters had one last, desperate crack at breaking the Tigers’ hearts. Marshall might just have walked all the way home if they’d pulled it off.

The Tigers celebrate a try from Samuela Fainu.

But the club’s lucrative investment in the young Fainu and his brothers Sione and Samuela has already shown signs of paying off handsomely. A 20-0 lead, with the trio in absolutely everything, was the best indicator yet.

For 30 minutes, one of rugby league’s most one-sided rivalries was going exactly to script – only it was in reverse, with Fainu orchestrating the whole thing.

Wearing the No.7 jersey for the fourth time in his young career, whenever Fainu went to the line, things happened.

Most impressively, when the Roosters were on the comeback trail and a 20-0 lead was cut in half by the end of the opening 40.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall looks on from the sideline.

It was halves partner Doueihi who threw the last pass for Samuela Fainu to crash over and ease Marshall’s heart rate as he paced up and down. But it was Latu’s trickery in holding up the Roosters defence a moment earlier that truly set up the try.

Coming after Fainu had already contributed a runaway first-half four-pointer, it was a telling play. When Sione twisted, turned and trampled his way through the Roosters starting back-row to join his brother on the scoresheet, it was nothing but Tigers and Marshall was simply out for a Sunday stroll.

With co-captains Luai and Api Koroisau watching on from the stands, though, the feeling was it wouldn’t last. And the Roosters, shorn of five Origin stars themselves, made good on the promise of a comeback.

Daniel Tupou flew high for the type of try he’s been scoring his entire career. Rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase made something out of nothing to cross as well right on halftime. He’s only half a season into his own NRL career, but this is already the former Wallaby’s calling card.

Samuela Fainu’s try was answered in the 55th minute by Hugo Savala finishing a break down the right edge.

The tension only mounted as the Tigers dropped high balls but dodged bullets as Roosters fumbles were found as well. Their goal-line defence shoved some promising raids into touch and stopped others just short of the line.

All the while, Marshall paced. When the Tigers got a sniff of the Roosters’ line, Latu took a crack down the short-side from close range. Samuela ended up forcing a repeat set with a grubber and the skill of his younger brother.

The resulting set was a complete mess and Marshall could only watch in horror. A penny for his thoughts – though you surely couldn’t repeat them – when Nawaqanitawase muscled over for his second, closely followed by Tedesco’s late try.

For once, though, with a new playmaking prodigy the centre of attention, the tale of the Tigers finished happily.

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