Benji Marshall admitted there was relief as Wests Tigers rediscovered that winning feeling with a 30-0 thumping of Penrith on Sunday – the first time the joint venture has held a team scoreless in its 12-year history.
Touted as potential premiers at the start of the season, the Tigers arrived at the foot of the mountains on the back of five successive defeats and without injured back-rowers Gareth Ellis and Chris Heighington.
They also lost skipper Robbie Farah with concussion early in the game but were rarely troubled by a poor Penrith side who struggled without a number of experienced players including star centre Michael Jennings.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Marshall was relatively quiet as the Tigers inflicted a second successive 30-0 defeat on the Panthers, who went down by the same margin against Manly last Monday.
However, the Kiwi superstar said his team still needs to improve in attack.
“It’s been difficult losing five in a row,” said Marshall.
“It hasn’t happened in a while, but we are trying hard. It’s not like we are trying to lose, but we are losing games on our own terms – not because of the other teams.
“It was good to keep them to nil, but we were pretty messy out there today and they had a few of their star players out.
“We are going to have to be better next time.”
Assistant coach Steve Georgallis said Farah was withdrawn in the 13th minute as a precautionary measure after his head caught the hip of Dayne Weston.
Marshall said the loss of their skipper affected their play but they adjusted.
“It was difficult losing Robbie early,” he said.
“He really controls that ruck for us. But I thought our forwards were outstanding in carrying the ball up and Beau Ryan was solid in defence and attack and the boys had a dig.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said his youthful side would benefit from the experience.
“We’ve had a pretty steady stream of injuries since round one and, although you prepare the best you can, we had a confidence crisis today,” Cleary said.
“But the boys kept trying, but sometimes we think if we push for a try, it is just going to happen and that sort of sums up where we are at the moment.”
Cleary refused to be alarmed about a second successive shut-out.
“It is coincidence and a by-product of where we are at the moment,” Cleary said.
“We have a hell of a lot of injuries at the moment and that affects combinations and confidence.
“Even when we do play some good football, we still miss some chances, but we will keep putting it in and working hard.”