Roosters v Broncos: Benji Marshall brilliant with the boot for Brisbane

SUPERCOACH Wayne Bennett knew what he was doing when he threw Benji Marshall a lifeline at the Broncos.

Brisbane’s Benji Marshall tackles the Roosters’ Latrell Mitchell.

• MATCH REPORT: Roosters edge Broncos in a thriller

• PLAYER RATINGS: Mixed bag as Roosters take narrow win

• WHAT MATTERED: How Roosters v Broncos was won and lost

BENJI Marshall still knows how to put on a show in September.

The 32-year-old Marshall put on a brilliant kicking display on Friday night, with his right boot setting up a try for James Roberts and his 40/20 attempt paving the way for Corey Oates to put the Broncos in front late in the game.

Even Marshall’s shockers still almost led to points, with a wobbly torpedo bomb sitting up for Alex Glenn who almost scored on the stroke of half-time, only to be held up brilliantly by Blake Ferguson.

Marshall is heading back home to the Wests Tigers next year.

Tigers chair Marina Go was watching her new recruit from the stands at Allianz Stadium.

Tigers fans must be delighted.

But Marshall still has plenty of unfinished business for the Broncos, starting next Friday night.

Supercoach Wayne Bennett knew what he was doing when he threw Marshall a lifeline.

Benji Marshall sends a kick downfield for the Broncos against the Roosters on Friday night.

But even Bennett and Marshall themselves must have wondered on plenty of occasions if he would be playing such an important role for such a powerhouse club going into week two of the finals.

Marshall and the Broncos must get the job done at Suncorp Stadium against the winner of Manly or Penrith.

Should it be the latter, Marshall will go head to head with Nathan Cleary, the 19-year-old who was barely in kindergarten when Marshall won the competition with the Tigers in 2005.

His ability to still get the job done has allowed $6 million man Ben Hunt to remain at dummy-half.

He played with plenty of energy and still knows how to organise like the best of them.

How good would it to see him win another title 12 years on. Especially after St George Illawarra could not find the dough to keep him.

Where are the Dragons right now?

Brisbane’s Benji Marshall tackles the Roosters’ Latrell Mitchell.

Friday night’s tight week-one loss to the Roosters would have brought back dreadful memories for Marshall.

It was 2010 when the Tigers and Marshall blew a huge lead, then were sunk by a Braith Anasta field-goal and Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercept try.

It remains one of the all-time great games in the modern era.

Marshall is reminding fans north and south of the border why he remains on of the all-time greats in the modern era.

Marshall still came up with his trademark blunders. He missed six tackles. He dropped a couple of dud passes.

His kick late in the game when the Broncos came steaming towards the right side of the field in search of a try, Marshall’s kick dribbled straight into the feet of Latrell Mitchell.

Marshall even showed the younger Mitchell he’s no pushover when giving him a facial midway through the second half.

Don’t write off the Broncos.

That would be foolish.

Look at the all the good judges who would have written off Marshall earlier this year.