Wests Tigers v Warriors LIVE: Tigers beat Warriors 18-16 after ...

BENJI GETS TIGERS OFF TO A WINNING START: The Benji Marshall coaching era at the Wests Tigers has begun in auspicious fashion after a narrow trial victory over a Warriors side who battled away with 12 players for the majority of the clash. Trial game form is never a reliable indicator of how a team will fare come the main season but there will be sighs of relief coming from the Tigers following a two-point victory on the road in Christchurch. After consecutive wooden spoons, the pressure is on Marshall to deliver in his maiden season as head coach and he will be pleased with the resolve showed by his team to find a way to win. The Tigers opened up an 18-6 lead, thanks to tries from Alex Seyfarth, Aidan Sezer and Sione Latoa-Vaihu, before holding on in a hard-fought fixture four weeks out from their season-opener against Canberra in round two. New Tigers halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan combined well, while Sione Fainu (162 run metres) and Fonua Pole (102 metres) were excellent for the visitors in a forward-dominated game.

WARRIORS FORWARD SENT OFF FOR HIGH SHOT: Warriors enforcer Zyon Maiu’u will face a nervous wait after being sent off 20 minutes into the match for a high shot on Declan Casey. Play was stopped for more than five minutes as Casey was taken from the field on a stretcher with a suspected concussion. Maiu’u protested the call to leave the field but replays showed there was clear high contact that will be dealt with by the match review committee. The Warriors will remain at home for another trial match against the Dolphins on Saturday in Auckland before a round one outing against the Sharks on March 8.

TUIVASA-SHECK SHINES IN RETURN FROM RUGBY: After two seasons in New Zealand rugby, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gave league fans a reminder of what he can bring to the 13-man game after a polished performance in his new position at centre. Tuivasa-Sheck had the third most run metres for his side (133) and was solid in defence when his side were down a man for most of the match. The Warriors were missing a number of their big names who are likely to return last week with hopes of improving on the team’s preliminary final finish last season.

Warriors forward Zyon Maiu’u is sent off for a high shot on Tigers centre Declan Casey.Credit: Fox

With two minutes on the clock, the Tigers cough up the ball to give the Warriors one last set to spring a come-from-behind win.

But the ball goes over the dead ball line and there isn’t time for a restart. The Tigers hang on for a gritty two-point win.

The Benji Marshall era is off to a winning start.

Credit to the Warriors who scrapped with a player down for three quarters of that match.

WARRIORS 16-18 TIGERS

Excellent footy from the Warriors who are grinding their way back into the match.

Setu Tu swoops on a grubber to score down the right edge.

Ben Farr’s conversion from the sideline … is short and left.

The Tigers need to lift here. If they go down here, Marshall won’t be happy.

WARRIORS 16-18 TIGERS, with 12 minutes to go

Paul Roache has come through with an excellent individual effort to bag a four-pointer and get the Warriors back to a converted try deficit.

The Warriors, who have been down to 12 men for most of this match, are hanging in tough.

WARRIORS 12-18 TIGERS, with 15 minutes to go

The Warriors are denied a try due to an obstruction. Lussick at dummy-half tries to go through a player’s legs but is told that you can’t do that.

BANG: Sione Latoa-Vaihu backs up in support to score the Tigers’ third try of the day. Is that going to be enough?

WARRIORS 6-18 TIGERS with 20 minutes to go

Look this certainly isn’t a classic game of rugby league but both teams are running in off the back fence and trying to smash through the middle.

Tom Ale is digging in for the Warriors with 115 metres from 12 runs.

WARRIORS 6-12 TIGERS, with 25 minutes to go.

Also … in case you missed the send-off earlier today.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is lighting up the left side here as the Warriors search for a score that would bring them back level.

WARRIORS 6-12 TIGERS

David Klemmer takes a carry. Credit: Getty