Benji Marshall won his highly- anticipated individual battle with Jarryd Hayne as he scored two tries in the Wests Tigers' 21-13 win over the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. Lote Tuqiri also scored twice for the Tigers but it was the half-back, Marshall who stole the show in what had been billed as the match to decide who is the best player in the league. He also had a hand in one of Tuqiri's tries and would have ended up with more than 11 points had he not missed four of five goal attempts.
After the game Tim Sheens, the Wests coach who signed a one-year extension until the end of 2011 yesterday, said Marshall had put in the fine display despite a rib injury. "It's just a bit of rib cartilage from last week's game but it's a tough sport and you've got to play with these sort of injuries so I'm just happy I got through it," said Marshall. Tuqiri was almost as impressive as Marshall. He now has four tries in three games after returning to the NRL following a six-year stint in Rugby Union.
Hayne, the Eels' full-back, did make 146 yards with the ball but he was unable to breach the home team's defence. In the day's other game, the St George/Illawarra Dragons moved to the top of the table after they beat the North Queensland Cowboys 33-8. In Europe, there are two games in the Super League tonight as Hull KR visit Catalans Dragons buoyed by last week's 17-10 win at the defending champions, Leeds.
Their city rivals, Hull FC, are set to give a debut to the 17-year-old winger, Reece Lyne, against Salford tonight. akunawicz@thenational.ae Panthers v Storm, 10.30am, Showsports 2 Sea Eagles v Knights, 12.30am, Showsports 2
