By Dan Walsh
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.
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.
Instead, the cornered tiger bit back in his post-match press conference. Marshall once again took umbrage with this masthead’s report of him putting a heavy tackle on Doueihi during a training scrimmage then launched into the well-worn narrative around the exits of Galvin and Da Silva.
The Tigers celebrate a try from Samuela Fainu.Credit: Getty Images
“That’s a bit of a script-flip from what was happening during the week about letting juniors go,” Marshall bristled.
“We didn’t let any juniors go. They didn’t want to be here. And we want guys who want to be here. So eventually, you’re talking about the Latus and Samuelas [Fainu] and Luke Lauliliis, they want to be here. There’s a future there, but at the same time you have got to have a good group of leaders who are driving the ship.”
Both stand-in skipper Alex Twal and Fainu spoke after full-time of Marshall’s influence under fire, with the young halfback telling Fox Sports: “This win means a lot. Not just for us, but our fans and especially our coach.
He’s been through a lot. We did it for him”.
Meantime, 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 after 30 minutes with the trio in absolutely everything was the best indicator yet.
Wearing the No.7 jersey for the fourth time in his young career, whenever Fainu went to the line, things happened.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall looks on from the sideline.Credit: Getty Images
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.
Halves partner Doueihi threw the last pass for Samuela Fainu to crash over, 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.
“He’s just going from strength to strength,” Marshall noted neatly of Latu. “His future’s bright but there’s a lot going on around him. You talk about the other two Fainu boys, they’re a pleasure to coach. They all are.”
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 and scrambled for their lives in defence.
Latu Fainu produced the best game of his burgeoning career.Credit: Getty Images
All the while, Marshall paced. Two late sets on the Roosters line were an absolute mess, and the former champion half could only watch in horror. A penny for his thoughts – though you surely couldn’t repeat them – when Nawaqanitawase muscled over for his second and then Tedesco matched him.
For once, though, with a new playmaking prodigy the centre of attention, the tale of the Tigers finished happily.
Even if Marshall was still spoiling for a fight.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to win,” Marshall concluded. “[But] we were cruising and playing a style that suited us. And then they come back and score like they did… We have to play that for 80 minutes, and that’s where we’re going. I don’t want to just be happy with today. I want next week. Let’s do it again.”
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