Benji Marshall was flat after the Tigers blew a 28-16 lead to go down to the Cowboys 34-28 and end their slim finals hopes in skipper Jarome Luai’s 150th milestone match.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >
The Tigers needed to win their three remaining games to break the longest finals drought in the NRL stretching back to 2011, but the Cowboys capitulation means that drought will continue for another season at least.
“I’ll start by saying I guess we’re all feeling how probably all our fans are feeling,” Marshall said.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
“They’re deflated, disappointed. Essentially we had the game in our hands there and we let it slip through.
“I reckon some comfortable actions in our defence that wasn’t good enough. I was proud of the way we fought back, but still it’s not going to take away that feeling of how everyone’s feeling at the moment.”
The Tigers lost two halfbacks in Adam Doueihi to a facial fracture and Latu Fainu to a HIA, with the former’s season likely over.
“He went to the hospital in an ambulance, it didn’t look good,” Marshall said od Doueihi.
Payten chats ‘influential’ Drinkwater | 04:03
“Something to do with his eye socket or cheekbone, so he’s still there getting sorted out, but I’m guessing it’s probably the end of the season.
“I don’t know that, but judging off what I’ve been told it probably is, so yeah big loss.
“But I thought Latu came in and did a fair job and steadied the ship and did a real good job until he had to go off with the HIA then.”
MORE NRL NEWS
‘NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION’: Des in fiery exchange with journo over Fifita
HUGE TWIST: Roosters’ Walker blow as Moses leads Eels to epic boilover
‘WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP’: DCE reflects on record milestone amid big hint on future
However, Marshall refused to use losing two playmakers as an excuse for the loss and took aim at his side’s defence.
“No excuses, every team is playing with injuries,” Marshall said.
“Everyone has to cover stuff. At the end of the day we had the opportunity to win it with our defence and we didn’t.
“So it’s a credit to the Cowboys though I’ll be honest, at 12 points down they had every right to throw the cue in the rack.
“But they kept fighting and in that five minutes scored three tries and we need to be better. “It’s just hard because I just feel for everyone, the hope and the hype and the results last night giving everyone a bit of hope into where we could end up. It’s all been taken away after tonight, so I guess everyone’s feeling the same.”
Marshall is focused on improvement rather than finals, but he admits it was a bitter pill to swallow after losing in front of 16,000 Tigers fans.
“We have got the team of competitors who want to win,” Marshall said.
Tigers link up for ‘try of the year’?! | 00:43
“When you lose, it’s never easy and you just want to do everything possible to win and today we missed the mark a bit in that back end of the second half.
“But I’m proud of my team, the way they’ve been preparing, fighting, giving themselves a chance.
“I love the way they’re driving each other, training to be better and starting to find what our DNA looks like. But again it’s just disappointing.”
Luai admitted the result did spoil his 150th milestone, but was still proud of his team.
“It does for me a little bit, I would have rather the two points than the try and things like that,” Luai said.
“Like Benji said, I hate to lose bro, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to put things into perspective and I think this milestone is more of a celebration for my family and for anyone who’s really invested to get me to where I am today.
“So I’m disappointed for me and my team, but I’ll get home and have a pretty good time reflecting with my family and friends.”
Doueihi hospitalised after nasty injury | 00:47
The Tigers had the members of the 2005 Grand Final win over the Cowboys at the game and were playing like them in some of their tries, but Marshall denied his current team can be successful in the same way.
“It’s good to have everyone here, I’ll be honest,” Marshall said.
“We talked about it a little bit. Heritage round and the people who have gone before us, but we’re probably a completely different team to that era.
“The game’s changed so much. We probably can’t play like how they played, although there was some tries tonight that made me feel like that a little bit.
“But that’s not going to be our DNA moving forward. We need to be better defensively. Tonight there’s some lapses there, but we’re still figuring that out at the moment.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do still, but I guess from a coaching perspective, I want to finish the season as good as possible.”
O’Brien addresses horror show v Broncos | 06:16
In some good news for the Tigers, it was announced at half-time that the club has received $100 million in funding to play home games at Leichhardt Oval and in Campbelltown for the next 15 years.
“Super happy for the players, the fans, both here and Campbelltown,” Marshall said.
“I think it’s important for us to know where our future lies and especially for our fans.
“So it’s credit to Richo and their team for what they’ve done to be able to get that funding and that’s not really my job to worry about, but from the players and coaching perspective, we’re happy about it.”
