Comment: Benji Marshall starts with win but not much to be excited about for Tigers

The Benji Marshall era officially started with a win but hopefully Tigers supporters aren’t charging out yet to buy NRL finals tickets, writes DEAN RITCHIE.

The Wests Tigers celebrate an Alex Seyfarth try. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

When you have won just eight NRL games in two years, any victory is precious – but there still wasn’t too much to get excited about.

The Benji Marshall era officially started on Sunday with his Wests Tigers fending off a late-charging Warriors to secure an 18-16 trial match win in Christchurch.

While the win was hard-fought and gritty, Wests Tigers supporters won’t be charging out just yet to buy finals tickets.

Wests Tigers only won by two points despite playing a 12-man Warriors side for 60 minutes.

While both coaches rested key players before and throughout the game, it was the Warriors who surged home stronger, despite playing a man short for an hour.

There was a healthy level of expectation to kickstart Marshall’s reign.

Benji Marshall started with a win against the Warriors. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

And while the Tigers held out to win, the anticipation levels at Concord won’t rise to any dizzy heights after Sunday’s game.

We were all left a tad flat.

Tigers fans are entitled to be satisfied with the win but confidence levels for success this year will remain low.

Wests Tigers have finished last for the past two seasons, winning just eight of their 48 matches.

The club hasn’t played finals football since 2011. It was only a trial game but there wasn’t much on Sunday to suggest that drought will be broken in 2024.

Originally published as Comment: Benji Marshall starts with win but not much to be excited about for Tigers