Benji Marshall brilliance has overshadowed David Fifita's first-half hat-trick and a try-of-the-year contender by Gold Coast as South Sydney claimed a 40-30 NRL win over the Titans.
The veteran playmaker, a late inclusion in the visitors' starting lineup by coach Wayne Bennett, scored two tries and had a hand in several others to seal a thrilling win at CBUS Super Stadium on Friday.
Aiming to bounce back from their 36-0 hiding by Manly in Mudgee last weekend, the Titans scored three tries in the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 24-10 lead into the break.
Wrecking-ball forward Fifita claimed his second hat-trick of the season, including a rampaging second where he shrugged off six Rabbitohs' defenders on his way to the line, before a stunning length-of-the-field effort finished by co-captain Jamal Fogarty put the hosts in charge at halftime.
Souths came out of the sheds on fire in response, rattling up 20 points in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to storm into the lead.
Marshall, starting at five-eighth with Cody Walker moving to fullback to replace the suspended Latrell Mitchell, was at the heart of the second-half fightback.
The 36-year-old combined with Walker to send Dane Gagai over, then finished a sharp one-two with Keaon Koloamatangi to score his first of the night.
A trademark flick pass from Marshall sent winger Alex Johnston over in the 58th minute to put the visitors back in front.
Tyrone Peachey's smart one-handed pick-up and step levelled the scores at 30-all, but it was that man Marshall who created a break and then finished it off to put the visitors back in front.
"He's just your average guy," Souths coach Wayne Bennett said when asked why he loves working with Marshall.
"Down to earth. Knows his game really well, knows all the processes that go to make a good game of football and his second-half performance tonight was pretty outstanding."
Moeaki Fotuaika, placed on report for a late high-tackle on Adam Reynolds, conceded two late penalties which Reynolds converted to seal a sixth straight win for the second-placed Rabbitohs.
Frustrated Titans coach Justin Holbrook felt his team didn't catch a break from the officials, particularly in the opening spell of the second half when they conceded five six-again calls on the run.
"We just never got a chance in the second half," Holbrook said.
"We couldn't get the ball and couldn't get any momentum to finish the game off.
"I just felt it was a tough night to watch as a coach, we just didn't really get any opportunities to win the game."
The Titans slip to a 3-4 record ahead of next Friday's derby with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Neither team came away from the game unscathed with Tevita Tatola an early casualty, failing a head-injury assessment after being flattened by Fifita as the Titan rampaged to his first try.
The Titans lost Patrick Herbert to a calf strain while Sam Lisone went down with a pec injury.
Australian Associated Press
