Marshall cleared for Storm match

SYDNEY: Benji Marshall will be on deck for Saturday night’s must-win NRL clash against Melbourne after the stand-in Wests Tigers skipper accepted the early guilty plea over a dangerous contact charge.
Marshall was facing a one-game ban for his high shot on Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, but with the Tigers’ season on the line, the Kiwi captain took the safe option.
With Robbie Farah already sidelined with a broken hand, the Tigers could ill-afford to be without Marshall as well for a game they need to win to be any chance of making the finals.
Even if the Tigers do beat the Storm, it may not be enough to see them leap over either Brisbane or Canberra into the top eight.
Brisbane’s chances of earning the win they need to book a finals berth became a little tougher with Penrith prop Sam McKendry cleared to play against the Broncos on Friday night.
McKendry also took the early plea on a grade two careless high tackle charge on Gold Coast’s Ben Ridge. – AAP