AN EMOTIONAL Benji Marshall has opened up on his rollercoaster rugby league career & the return “home” to Wests Tigers
- Thread starter WT2K
- Start date
I see Benji as not only a legend at the Tigers but as a legend of the game. Some of you guys have short memories - Benji brought a whole new style to the game and a flare that excited ALL fans - sure that was then, but he can still play far better than any of the back-ups we have had in the halves over recent years. And he has probably cost us similar money to those guys. Furthermore there can be no denying the draw card he still is with kids, sponsors and media. Sure, there may be a bit of cheesy sentiment going on but it's got to be better than a lot of the negative press we've had for so long. Another thing… going on how many games Reynolds and Brooks were out with injury this season, I think we'll be bloody thankful that we have Benji.
I'll guarantee that when he retires and gets the big send off that he deserves there'll be plenty of nostalgia and thousands of fans with teary eyes cheering him!!
I can't see how all of this isn't positive for the WT's.
I'll guarantee that when he retires and gets the big send off that he deserves there'll be plenty of nostalgia and thousands of fans with teary eyes cheering him!!
I can't see how all of this isn't positive for the WT's.
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
Bring on the cheese. My guilty confession is that I didn't go to a single game last year, despite having a ticketed membership (First time since 2003 I haven't gone once.)
I know it's overly emotional to some, but things like this will matter to a lot of fans. The PR battle is important in terms of attracting higher caliber players, last year we were smashed by the media, but if they sense a more cohesive fan base, without any major divisive issues at the club, then that will turn around.
I know it's overly emotional to some, but things like this will matter to a lot of fans. The PR battle is important in terms of attracting higher caliber players, last year we were smashed by the media, but if they sense a more cohesive fan base, without any major divisive issues at the club, then that will turn around.
G
Guest
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Marshall eyes starting halves role at Tigers
Thu 16 Nov, 2017, 6:00pm
By Margie McDonald, Senior Reporter, NRL.com
@MadgetheBadge
Wests Tigers recruit Benji Marshall is not returning to his old club to simply be an encyclopedia on how to orchestrate attacking plays.
He wants to push for a starting role in the halves and coach Ivan Cleary has given him the green light to do so.
The 268-NRL game veteran reports to the club’s Concord Oval base on Friday for a barrage of sports medicine and other high-performance tests before fulltime pre-season training starts next Friday.
He announced last August that while the Brisbane Broncos helped save his career in 2017, he had “unfinished business” at Wests Tigers, the club he helped deliver a premiership to in 2005.
Cleary is only too happy to accommodate that request.
“He will help drive what we want to do here. He wants to help the club improve on and off the field. I think it’s great he’s back here – it’s fantastic,” Cleary told NRL.com.
“He brings a tremendous amount of goodwill to the team. When I got here last year there was a sense of disconnect between some of the more high-profile guys at the club with the others.
“It didn’t sit well with me, and I’m not blaming anyone, but it’s nice to hear someone like Benji who loves the club and wants to come back.”
The benefits to Cleary as he puts his team together with other high-profile acquisitions like Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer and Ben Matulino, are immeasurable.
To the outsider, Marshall’s role will be similar to that at the Broncos last season – coming off the interchange bench as a back-up for the halves and possibly at fullback.
But Cleary is more than happy to sit back and watch Marshall battle with Reynolds and Luke Brooks for a spot in either the No.6 or No.7 jersey.
‘’In his own words, he’s looking to help those guys, but he wants to play there too,” Cleary said. “I don’t know how it all pans out in the end but he’s prepared to play that role.
“He thinks he’s still good enough to play, so if he’s the best option, then he’s the best option. But he’s also got to understand that we’ve invested a fair bit in our halves and we want to give them the best opportunity as well. So for me, it’s a really good situation to have.”
There’s no secret as to how Marshall can press his case.
“He’s just got to work hard in pre-season like everyone else,” the coach said.
Then he will have two trials against North Queensland Cowboys in Cairns and Cronulla Sharks at Campbelltown to force his way into the run-on side.
Like most Tigers fans, Cleary wants to see Brooks, who turns 23 in December, take more steps forward in his development. Marshall could be the key there. He left the joint-venture club the same year as Brooks made his debut in 2013.
“Luke is excited and so he should be. He had pictures of Benji up on his wall and now he gets this chance to work much more closely with him,” Cleary said.
“Josh (Reynolds) is equally excited as well. With Benji offering to help them as much as he can, and still wanting to be competitive with them in those positions, it’s a fairly unique situation, but a great one for us.
“Some guys are comfortable enough in their own skin and where they are at and Benji’s one of those. Guys like (Broncos half) Ben Hunt and (Anthony) Milford, Benji drove them hard and tried to improve them, while at the same time sitting on their tails which made them do their job.
“It’s a big couple of years for Luke I’m confident he can shoulder that responsibility.”
Thu 16 Nov, 2017, 6:00pm
By Margie McDonald, Senior Reporter, NRL.com
@MadgetheBadge
Wests Tigers recruit Benji Marshall is not returning to his old club to simply be an encyclopedia on how to orchestrate attacking plays.
He wants to push for a starting role in the halves and coach Ivan Cleary has given him the green light to do so.
The 268-NRL game veteran reports to the club’s Concord Oval base on Friday for a barrage of sports medicine and other high-performance tests before fulltime pre-season training starts next Friday.
He announced last August that while the Brisbane Broncos helped save his career in 2017, he had “unfinished business” at Wests Tigers, the club he helped deliver a premiership to in 2005.
Cleary is only too happy to accommodate that request.
“He will help drive what we want to do here. He wants to help the club improve on and off the field. I think it’s great he’s back here – it’s fantastic,” Cleary told NRL.com.
“He brings a tremendous amount of goodwill to the team. When I got here last year there was a sense of disconnect between some of the more high-profile guys at the club with the others.
“It didn’t sit well with me, and I’m not blaming anyone, but it’s nice to hear someone like Benji who loves the club and wants to come back.”
The benefits to Cleary as he puts his team together with other high-profile acquisitions like Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer and Ben Matulino, are immeasurable.
To the outsider, Marshall’s role will be similar to that at the Broncos last season – coming off the interchange bench as a back-up for the halves and possibly at fullback.
But Cleary is more than happy to sit back and watch Marshall battle with Reynolds and Luke Brooks for a spot in either the No.6 or No.7 jersey.
‘’In his own words, he’s looking to help those guys, but he wants to play there too,” Cleary said. “I don’t know how it all pans out in the end but he’s prepared to play that role.
“He thinks he’s still good enough to play, so if he’s the best option, then he’s the best option. But he’s also got to understand that we’ve invested a fair bit in our halves and we want to give them the best opportunity as well. So for me, it’s a really good situation to have.”
There’s no secret as to how Marshall can press his case.
“He’s just got to work hard in pre-season like everyone else,” the coach said.
Then he will have two trials against North Queensland Cowboys in Cairns and Cronulla Sharks at Campbelltown to force his way into the run-on side.
Like most Tigers fans, Cleary wants to see Brooks, who turns 23 in December, take more steps forward in his development. Marshall could be the key there. He left the joint-venture club the same year as Brooks made his debut in 2013.
“Luke is excited and so he should be. He had pictures of Benji up on his wall and now he gets this chance to work much more closely with him,” Cleary said.
“Josh (Reynolds) is equally excited as well. With Benji offering to help them as much as he can, and still wanting to be competitive with them in those positions, it’s a fairly unique situation, but a great one for us.
“Some guys are comfortable enough in their own skin and where they are at and Benji’s one of those. Guys like (Broncos half) Ben Hunt and (Anthony) Milford, Benji drove them hard and tried to improve them, while at the same time sitting on their tails which made them do their job.
“It’s a big couple of years for Luke I’m confident he can shoulder that responsibility.”
“He brings a tremendous amount of goodwill to the team. When I got here last year there was a sense of disconnect between some of the more high-profile guys at the club with the others.
Interesting comment. I guess some already knew and others assumed something wasn't right in the playing group. Doesn't matter now who was to blame but I'm glad they are looking to fix this.
I am looking forward to next season more and more.
Interesting comment. I guess some already knew and others assumed something wasn't right in the playing group. Doesn't matter now who was to blame but I'm glad they are looking to fix this.
I am looking forward to next season more and more.
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
@ said:
Gotta be the three amigos that high tailed it outta the club that were being referred to.
Masterton
Well-known member
@ said:
What, for one game in 2013 when Benji was in the centres?
Happy to have Benji back, but let's not pretend they have any real history.
beachtiger
Well-known member
@ said:
They may have only played one game together but Brooks was part of the full time NRL squad at that point so you'd think they would have spent a fair bit of time together at training.
Thanks for the article Willow - the quotes from Ivan say it all. I am willing to trust in Ivan and I am looking forward to see this scenario play out. You never know - if Benji has got the form then we might see him at 5/8 and Reynolds at DH, I reckon that could be a great option as long as Benji's up to it.
old_man_tiger
Well-known member
Wow, for a coach to say that is pretty honest. I'm shocked at the lack of spin.
Good on you Ivan.
Good on you Ivan.
Tiger_Steve
New member
@ said:
Shocked…...yes
Impressed..........Absolutely!
Harvey
Well-known member
The NRL should replicate American sports, where if a member of the crowd catches the ball, they get to keep it.
If that was the rule, Benji organising our team could bring additional fans through the gate, hoping that they would leave with a souvenir
If that was the rule, Benji organising our team could bring additional fans through the gate, hoping that they would leave with a souvenir
Benji Marshall isn't rejoining the Wests Tigers just to play a bit-part role and nurture young playmaker Luke Brooks.
Instead, the new Tigers recruit is eyeing a starting role in the halves with coach Ivan Cleary ready to give Marshall every chance to secure either the number six or seven jersey.
"In his own words, he’s looking to help those guys, but he wants to play there too," Cleary told NRL.com.
"I don’t know how it all pans out in the end but he’s prepared to play that role.
"He thinks he’s still good enough to play, so if he’s the best option, then he’s the best option. But he’s also got to understand that we’ve invested a fair bit in our halves and we want to give them the best opportunity as well.
"So for me, it’s a really good situation to have."
The 2005 Premiership winner will join the Tigers for pre-season training next Friday.
https://www.triplem.com.au/sport/nrl/news/benji-marshall-wanting-more-than-bit-part-role-at-the-tigers-in-2018/amp
Instead, the new Tigers recruit is eyeing a starting role in the halves with coach Ivan Cleary ready to give Marshall every chance to secure either the number six or seven jersey.
"In his own words, he’s looking to help those guys, but he wants to play there too," Cleary told NRL.com.
"I don’t know how it all pans out in the end but he’s prepared to play that role.
"He thinks he’s still good enough to play, so if he’s the best option, then he’s the best option. But he’s also got to understand that we’ve invested a fair bit in our halves and we want to give them the best opportunity as well.
"So for me, it’s a really good situation to have."
The 2005 Premiership winner will join the Tigers for pre-season training next Friday.
https://www.triplem.com.au/sport/nrl/news/benji-marshall-wanting-more-than-bit-part-role-at-the-tigers-in-2018/amp
supercoach
Well-known member
@ said:
Pretty much the way I see it to. Great marketing tool, probably a good mentor and football brain, but as a player he has about 30 good minutes a month in him at best and his cap space probably could have gone elsewhere. As for being on modest money, I think most people would be very surprised at what sort of money we are paying him.
One things for sure, when he's at training Friday there will be plenty of TV cameras at training…
innsaneink
Well-known member
@ said:
Same.
I only used two of a four game pkg.
On Marshall…i think hes matured a bit on field....coming of the bench, lesstime i think has seen him less rocks ...a bit more stable and occasional diamond's
That said he was under less pressure at the bronx... time will tell.
Bring him off the bench if our pigs are coping with 3 on the sideline
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
What are people's thoughts on playing him at dummy half?
