BENJI - A LOT OF TRUTHS IN THIS

[snowleopard]

An old criticism of Benji Marshall might be heard by him again if Mick Potter shares the opinion of top rugby league analyst Peter Sterling.
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Wests Tigers have had a mixed start to the year, holding on for a 10-point win over Penrith in round two after getting thumped 42-10 by Newcastle in round one.

And while they've shown glimpses of brilliance Sterling believes Marshall could be responsible for throwing wins away if he keeps choosing low percentage plays in the closing stages.

"I was concerned about some of the things he did towards the end of that win over Penrith," Sterling pointed out, speaking on his new show Sterlo on Thursday night.
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"When you get to that last 10 minutes in the game holding a lead, I'd like to see the Tigers play to the fourth or fifth tackle and then have a shot at four, have a shot at field goal or roll it into the in-goal. That's how you play out a game."
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For the full Sterlo chat on Benji Marshall and the Tigers' start to the season under Mick Potter, click on the video at the top of the page!
A guest on the Sterlo panel was Marshall's Tigers teammate Braith Anasta.

The former State of Origin ball-player agreed that the genius five-eighth was still yet to find the right balance within the Tigers' new structure under Potter.
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"It's about finding a balance, I think," Anasta said.

"He's still got to play the way he does with his instinctive play and play off the cuff.

"He can read the game so well but at times he may need to pull it back, play with the structure a bit more and just be a bit more patient I suppose."

Fox Sports rugby league expert Matthew Johns went a step further, saying it was time for Marshall to finally grow into the responsibility that comes with being a senior player.

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"I think you're right to be critical," Johns told Sterling.

Mick Potter's come along and he's said 'look, I'm going to put someone else in the No.7 jersey who can be the organiser so Benji can just be Benji'," Johns said.

"But, with age comes real responsibility, particularly for a man of Benji's class - he's been there for a long, long time. And you're right Pete: I wonder sometimes what goes through Benji's head.

"I'll hazard a guess and say Benji puts too much pressure on himself to look for the big play."

"I've watched him a couple of times when the ball comes loose and he picks the ball up and he just has that urgency.

"I think he's living with other people's expectations. I think it's got to be time for Benji to just take a step back."

 

[innsaneink]

Warriors semi

 

[palms]

Not much you can argue about with those comments. It doesn't take Sterlo's genius footy brain to notice this either…and yet the older he gets the less it changes

 

[PYMBLEPETE]

Yes, some very apt comments in that discussion.

 

[system]

Not much you can argue about with those comments. It doesn't take Sterlo's genius footy brain to notice this either…and yet the older he gets the less it changes

About time they talked about his negative game.
It will do benji a world of good

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[palms]

Not much you can argue about with those comments. It doesn't take Sterlo's genius footy brain to notice this either…and yet the older he gets the less it changes

About time they talked about his negative game.
It will do benji a world of good

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Will it though? Unfortunately history tells us it will go unnoticed by Benji and won't change a thing.

 

[Peaches]

This isn't anything new and probably is something that Benji knows. I think its up to the halfback to reign him in. Hopefully Miller is the man as sometimes Farah inputs himself into situations where he would be better suited being at hooker.

 

[Tigerpete]

There's a lot of fair points in that discussion about Benji. He's definitely guilty of over playing his hand all to often. Case in point, his flick pass to Koroibete last weekend. Trouble is he's on another level to most footballers. It can't be easy. I've just learnt to accept the good with the bad.

 

[palms]

yes but the good hasn't got us to the semis regularly. Its been the good of his offsiders that has. Unfortunately without a dominant half history tells us his flamboyant style won't get us to the semis alone

 

[TIGER]

yes but the good hasn't got us to the semis regularly. Its been the good of his offsiders that has. Unfortunately without a dominant half history tells us his flamboyant style won't get us to the semis alone

Amen

 

[Shooshmeister]

Hope he gets his pin point kicking game soon. Practice, i'm sure Cronk practices all the time. That what we need from Benji, calmness and solid performances, will a little bit of flair when needed.