Am I the only one?

[delpy]

I hope we stick with him. He hasn't been the same since he hasn't had a halfback. I'd love to see Brooks at 7 and Marshall at 6\. I'd love to see them actually play those positions and not play Marshall at halfback in the 6 jersey so that 90% of fans won't notice and won't complain.

 

[trusty1]

it wouldnt matter where you played him he was right off against the Broncos and has been all year.
can't tackle, ineffective kicking in general play, doesn't run the ball and wont take on the line.
how many times has he been brushed aside trying to grab at an attackers shoulders

 

[phil1986]

I hope we stick with him. He hasn't been the same since he hasn't had a halfback. I'd love to see Brooks at 7 and Marshall at 6\. I'd love to see them actually play those positions and not play Marshall at halfback in the 6 jersey so that 90% of fans won't notice and won't complain.

No your not, we have to remember, sirro is a ball runner, not an organiser.

We need an organiser, a half to lea is around, that's where you will get the best out of Marshall, you could see it whilst lui was there, he had more freedom, like a Greg inglis who can pick when and when not to join into attack.

Currently he doesn't have a choice, and its placing more and more pressure on him, it's a downward spiral!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[magpiecol]

Definitely not the only one. Amen to you.
Each time Benji gets the ball, people expect him to break the line, fend off a winger, run over the fullback score a try and deliver hotdogs to us with onions and bbq sauce. If he doesn't we give him crap. What they don't realise is that he can't do it on his own. If the opposite team isn't afraid of your forwards, doesn't need to keep a constant eye on your wingers and centres because they're dangerous and most importantly doesn't have to wonder who will be deciding on the plays (with Robbie out they know exactly where the ball is going on the 5th) well they just shut down the few key players. When you have a a 7, a 9, and a 6 who are all gamemakers that's much harder to predict. It was a poor performance last night but Benji isn't responsible for all the knock ons and penalties caused by his teammates.
On another note, I really like how Tedesco is shaping up. If we can keep him on the side with robbie and a good 7, that will wreck havock on any side.

Cannot agree with you I am afraid.

Benji is in shocking form and needs to be dropped and this week. I do not know about other people but I expect him to at least tackle when he is on the field!!

He was directly responsible for at least 3 Bronco's tries. Got pushed off by Gillett, got pushed off by Prince and chipped kicked 30 metres out from his own line 2 minutes before the break!! All of these actions lead directly to 3 tries and 16 or 18 points.

Other players that need to be gone this week include, but not restricted to:- Pettybourne, Reddy, Ayshford, Buchanan and the hooker. Also, if you think that Tedesco is a first grade fullback, then you are kidding yourself. A fullback needs to run at the gaps not give the opposing team some tackling practice!!

If you want keep Benji (God knows why), let his have a go at fullback. That way he is not directing play but can attack when and if he wants.

Brooks to half, Anasta to 5/8, Sironen to second row, Fulton to lock, Koro and Mr. T to the wings with Nofo and Simona in the centres. Either hooker from the reserve grade would be ok as would the young center from reserves, Jay Hitchcock?

Time for new blood and planning for next year.

 

[tig_prmz]

I hope we stick with him. He hasn't been the same since he hasn't had a halfback. I'd love to see Brooks at 7 and Marshall at 6\. I'd love to see them actually play those positions and not play Marshall at halfback in the 6 jersey so that 90% of fans won't notice and won't complain.

his defense and his attitude has nothing to do with not having a 7.

 

[pHyR3]

I think his attitude is better than some believe. I did see him take 4 tackles in a row and they were all GOOD tackles too. If he was in fact lazy and arrogant you can bet he wouldn't have. I know his defence is lacking, it always has been as is EVERY five 8\. Kelly and Thurston missed 12 tackles between then this round. And that wasn't atrocious for them like 9 was for benji. Problem was a lot of benji's missed tackles let to tries since our back row is so horrible (except fulton).

We NEED a marquee second rower, someone likeee Hindmarsh. Who complements fulton and farah to make our middle rock solid. That way if fulton is off or farah at origin then we aren't completely screwed and sitting there hoping benji makes a one on one against some guy steaming at him 20 out from the line.

Give benji a halfback, give him a pack and watch his short kicking, passing and ability to read the field come into the fore. He should NOT be kicking for touch, he should NOT be forced to make one on ones and he should NOT be taking long kicks. Those responsibilties should go to the 7 and Farah. Richards might be able to kick for touch, i hear he has a long kick.

To be honest, i'd like to see him gone on current form. But he's on contract till the end of next year so i've thought of ways to get the 2011 benji out of him.

 

[tigsta]

I dont think changing the number on his jersey will help Benji make a simple one on one tackle.

I doubt it will help in attack also. He cant kick, He doesnt have speed and the no look flick passing comes off once in every 50 attempts. With a percentage player like him we are NEVER going to have structure and will always find it difficult to win games. Its not 2005 anymore. The game has changed even since then. Its all about structure and we DONT have it.

 

[stevetiger]

I think he is busting his gut out there. I just think he is a turnstyle in defence, comes up with poor options and doesn't have the running game he had when he came into first grade.

I'm inclined to give him some more time but surely he won't be getting resigned and if he does it will be on a massively reduced contract.

 

[Black_n_White]

Doesnt matter how you choose to defend Benji, it really boils down to that when he is needed to be a football player, when the chips are down and he is required to play the most basic of halves roles he consistantly proves to be inept. He should at the very least understand the role, kicking choices and positional play… better than most he should know what he would expect from a 7, the arm wrestle for field position, especially if you can get into a grind while the player stocks are so thin....

This is a highly paid 10 year vet...

The worst part of it really is if over the years he had wrapped his head around basic footy, it would help elevate his low percentage game. As it stands, everyone in the game knows he will go low% almost every time making what should be the unpredictable, passe and easily shut down.

 

[LCA]

Benji's efforts last night were not just disappointing…they were demoralising. Not just for us fans but, I suspect, for the team for which he wears the (C) next to his name. Contrast that effort with Robbie Farah's week in and week out. If there is any truth to rumours of Rob and Benj not getting along, then, after last night, why wouldn't there be??? Benji's kicks in general play, his kicks for touch on penalties and his half-arsed attempts at tackles were simply an embarrassment. If he is allowed to get away with mediocrity week after week, why would anyone else bother to bust their guts for the team? The stand-in captain clearly doesn't!!! Get rid of him, Tigers management!!

 

[Peaches]

I truly think if Bennett or Bellamy had been coaching Benji instead of Sheens, we'd have a much more complete player.

The development of one Benji Marshall has been stunted by poor coaching in my opinion.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[system]

As I see it it's a simple equation, that is does he create more points than he costs us. He used to, now he doesn't.
For 8 years the tigers were coached to out score the opposition. They bled points but had the confidence they could score more. Sheens built a team around Benji
That philosophy has gone with the coach, attack is pedestrian and predictable, and defense is worse than ever. I think, for all its worth, the Benji style doesnt fit the new tigers style. He looks lost, bored and disinterested.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[NT_Tiger]

Doesnt matter how you choose to defend Benji, it really boils down to that when he is needed to be a football player, when the chips are down and he is required to play the most basic of halves roles he consistantly proves to be inept. He should at the very least understand the role, kicking choices and positional play… better than most he should know what he would expect from a 7, the arm wrestle for field position, especially if you can get into a grind while the player stocks are so thin....

This is a highly paid 10 year vet...

The worst part of it really is if over the years he had wrapped his head around basic footy, it would help elevate his low percentage game. As it stands, everyone in the game knows he will go low% almost every time making what should be the unpredictable, passe and easily shut down.

Yep, Good summary.

 

[NT_Tiger]

Doesnt matter how you choose to defend Benji, it really boils down to that when he is needed to be a football player, when the chips are down and he is required to play the most basic of halves roles he consistantly proves to be inept. He should at the very least understand the role, kicking choices and positional play… better than most he should know what he would expect from a 7, the arm wrestle for field position, especially if you can get into a grind while the player stocks are so thin....

This is a highly paid 10 year vet...

The worst part of it really is if over the years he had wrapped his head around basic footy, it would help elevate his low percentage game. As it stands, everyone in the game knows he will go low% almost every time making what should be the unpredictable, passe and easily shut down.

Yep, Good summary.

Sorry about the extended post, but I would like to clarify…I think it's a good summary from the view of Marshall as Captain and leader. For me, he should not be put in that role. I don't think he can do it for exactly the reasons above.

I see Marshall almost as an optional extra that can come up with exceptional plays, but only in the context of a well structured team, halfback etc. Marshall doesn't make the team, the team makes him! Without the team he can't function well as he is demonstrating. If he leaves the Tigers, watch an astute club pick him up and use him to his strengths. They won't make him Captain.

 

[Paris_Cobbs]

Hi Big sirro, I raised the point about Benji's defense being irrelevant in another thread:

'I realize that the ideal model is that everyone defends and shares the load, but at Benji's age and time in his career, it isn't his defense that we should be focusing on. In his last few seasons, Lockyer made few tackles per game and that was the plan. It ought to be the plan for Benji too. He shouldn't be required to wrestle with someone the size of Gillette on his own. That's someone else's job.

I live in France and sometimes watch French Rugby. English rugby legend Johnny Wilkinson is still playing. No one asks why he doesn't make more tackles, all they care about is how many goals he kicks.'

We have to learn how to get the best he is capable of now out of Benji in attack and protect him in defence.

 

[Furious1]

Doesnt matter how you choose to defend Benji, it really boils down to that when he is needed to be a football player, when the chips are down and he is required to play the most basic of halves roles he consistantly proves to be inept. He should at the very least understand the role, kicking choices and positional play… better than most he should know what he would expect from a 7, the arm wrestle for field position, especially if you can get into a grind while the player stocks are so thin....

This is a highly paid 10 year vet...

The worst part of it really is if over the years he had wrapped his head around basic footy, it would help elevate his low percentage game. As it stands, everyone in the game knows he will go low% almost every time making what should be the unpredictable, passe and easily shut down.

Couldn't have put it better. At a time when he should be at his absolute peak as a footy player, he again showed he doesn't have the maturity, or the qualities needed to lead this young Wests Tigers side. When we needed to consolidate and go in at halftime down by 4, he chip kicks in his own half!!!!!
I love the bloke and what he has done for us in the past, and find it unacceptable the way some people have spoken about him this year, but an honest appraisal of where he is at in his career needs to be done. I respect him enough to believe he needs a change of environment if he is ever any chance to be some of the player he should be.

 

[Furious1]

Hi Big sirro, I raised the point about Benji's defense being irrelevant in another thread:

'I realize that the ideal model is that everyone defends and shares the load, but at Benji's age and time in his career, it isn't his defense that we should be focusing on. In his last few seasons, Lockyer made few tackles per game and that was the plan. It ought to be the plan for Benji too. He shouldn't be required to wrestle with someone the size of Gillette on his own. That's someone else's job.

I live in France and sometimes watch French Rugby. English rugby legend Johnny Wilkinson is still playing. No one asks why he doesn't make more tackles, all they care about is how many goals he kicks.'

We have to learn how to get the best he is capable of now out of Benji in attack and protect him in defence.

Seriously mate, i understand where you are coming from, but don't put Lockyer and Benji in the same category. It was possible once upon a time, but their careers took two very different paths. One kept improving right into his early 30's, the other stalled at 28\. One will be an immortal, the other (sadly imo) will be remembered for a few freakish things. If Benji is going to concede 2 or 3 tries a game through poor defence, then he needs be responsible for us scoring atleast that amount to be contributing to the team.

 

[MightyMaggy]

I hope we stick with him. He hasn't been the same since he hasn't had a halfback. I'd love to see Brooks at 7 and Marshall at 6\. I'd love to see them actually play those positions and not play Marshall at halfback in the 6 jersey so that 90% of fans won't notice and won't complain.

I am amazed that many on here and some/many in the front office have not woken up to Benji like Kearney and the Kiwis have. They did not "drop" Benji down the list without reason, as many on here have been pointing out for many months. He is not an organiser!

 

[innsaneink]

Definitely not the only one. Amen to you.
Each time Benji gets the ball, people expect him to break the line, fend off a winger, run over the fullback score a try and deliver hotdogs to us with onions and bbq sauce. If he doesn't we give him crap. What they don't realise is that he can't do it on his own. If the opposite team isn't afraid of your forwards, doesn't need to keep a constant eye on your wingers and centres because they're dangerous and most importantly doesn't have to wonder who will be deciding on the plays (with Robbie out they know exactly where the ball is going on the 5th) well they just shut down the few key players. When you have a a 7, a 9, and a 6 who are all gamemakers that's much harder to predict. It was a poor performance last night but Benji isn't responsible for all the knock ons and penalties caused by his teammates.
On another note, I really like how Tedesco is shaping up. If we can keep him on the side with robbie and a good 7, that will wreck havock on any side.

Cannot agree with you I am afraid.

Benji is in shocking form and needs to be dropped and this week. I do not know about other people but I expect him to at least tackle when he is on the field!!

He was directly responsible for at least 3 Bronco's tries. Got pushed off by Gillett, got pushed off by Prince and chipped kicked 30 metres out from his own line 2 minutes before the break!! All of these actions lead directly to 3 tries and 16 or 18 points.

Other players that need to be gone this week include, but not restricted to:- Pettybourne, Reddy, Ayshford, Buchanan and the hooker. Also, if you think that Tedesco is a first grade fullback, then you are kidding yourself. A fullback needs to run at the gaps not give the opposing team some tackling practice!!

If you want keep Benji (God knows why), let his have a go at fullback. That way he is not directing play but can attack when and if he wants.

Brooks to half, Anasta to 5/8, Sironen to second row, Fulton to lock, Koro and Mr. T to the wings with Nofo and Simona in the centres. Either hooker from the reserve grade would be ok as would the young center from reserves, Jay Hitchcock?

<big>Time for new blood and planning for next year</big>.

Yeh its been going on for a while now