Titans 12 Tigers 28

TIM SHEENS may have gift-wrapped the Kiwis a World Cup weapon after an electric Benji Marshall terrorised the Gold Coast Titans in the season-ending dead rubber at Skilled Park yesterday.

As Wests Tigers farewelled departing fullback Brett Hodgson, Marshall turned the Titans' home ground into his own private amusement park as his chip-kicking, flick-passing antics propelled his side to victory.

Tigers icon Hodgson, who is bound for UK Super League side Huddersfield on a two-year deal, was the official man of the match but even the fullback admitted Marshall was the main attraction.

For the injury-riddled Titans, who finished 13th, their disastrous implosion in the second half of the year means they become the first team since North Sydney in 1993 to be leading the competition after 10 rounds but miss the finals.

Marshall was switched to halfback in the second half, where his goose-stepping wizardry dumbfounded the Titans defence.

He was denied his part in what would have been one of the tries of the season, when video referee Chris Ward disallowed a four-pointer he set up for Ben Te'o with an incredible no-look pass after a mystery knock-on was detected.

Sheens said he had been grooming Marshall as a halfback for some time, saying a depleted New Zealand should consider him at the scrum base for the World Cup next month.

"I've looked to groom him as a seven. And although he's got those no-look passes, fancy plays that he doesn't need to use, you understand when he's playing there you're worried about him," Sheens said.

"It's a long way from being the answer - and maybe it won't be the answer. I looked at it today and thought it went pretty well.

"He threatened the line, kicked through for himself, little things that only he can do. We're going to have to knock a few of the rough edges off, [but] it showed something to the Kiwis that maybe he left a mark there that he's getting a little better."

Sheens also played down rumours that Marshall would leave the club at the end of the year, with rugby a possibility.

"Benji's got a 12-month contract. If Benji's got an issue, he'll come and see me about it. I know the kid," Sheens said.

The sudden departure of Sonny Bill Williams to France has sparked paranoia every time a player jumps on a plane, with Sheens revealing his phone started ringing after Marshall went back to New Zealand last weekend for a wedding.

"He got on a plane the other day to go home to New Zealand for the day and I got a phone call from the media to say he's just left the country. He went Saturday morning, came back Sunday morning and was leaving the country," Sheens said.

Marshall's freakish display yesterday didn't entirely steal the limelight from Hodgson, who was his usual impervious self at the back for the Tigers.

He had texted former teammate and Titans star Scott Prince earlier in the week, asking for an early bomb to settle the nerves. Prince obliged, with Hodgson absorbing every blow, including some knees in the back from Ben Jeffery.

Hodgson said he fought back tears as his team formed a guard of honour as he left the field, and wouldn't rule out another stint in the NRL after his service in England.

"You never say never," he said. "I've always felt I've got another three or four years of good footy in me provided the body holds up well and the injuries stay away.

"I guess this chapter of my life is now closed and I look forward to playing in Huddersfield for the next two years. I'll see what may come after that."

Sheens was full of praise for Hodgson, saying youngster Shannon Gallant had an enormous task to fill the void next season, should he win the race for the vacant jumper.

"It's a new chapter for Brett. Obviously it's a new chapter for the team. They're big shoes to fill, even though he hasn't got big feet," Sheens joked.

The Titans' job was made more difficult given they had enough first graders injured to warrant construction of a new ward at the local hospital.

The patients include Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey, James Stosic, Mark Minichiello, Nathan Friend, Josh Graham, Brad Meyers, Luke O'Dwyer and Brenton Bowen.

The Titans could have done with the good fortune of 14-year-old fan Emma Hamilton, who, with a one-in-25 chance, pocketed $100,000 in a half-time competition.

At least one Titans fan went home smiling.

WESTS TIGERS 28 (T Moltzen 2 C Lawrence B Ryan T Tuiaki tries B Hodgson 4 goals) bt GOLD COAST 12 (B Delaney S Prince tries S Prince 2 goals) at Skilled Park. Referee: B Sutton. Crowd: 20,723.