Benji Backs Young Ace Brooks To Measure Up

[weststigers4life]

Benji Marshall, the last Wests Tigers player to go from teenage rookie to superstar, has urged coach Mick Potter to throw 18-year-old prodigy Luke Brooks into the deep end.
Marshall, who debuted as an 18-year-old in 2003, believes the up-and-coming halfback is ready for a call-up to the NRL side, despite reluctance by the club to rush him into the team.
Marshall's push for the Holy Cross, Ryde, graduate comes fresh after news the Tigers are set to release axed halfback Jacob Miller from the final year of his contract to join Hull FC in the English Super League.

The experienced Tigers five-eighth has played alongside 17 different halves during his 11 seasons in the NRL, but rates Brooks as the pick of the bunch.
''He's definitely one of the brightest young halves I've worked with,'' Marshall said. ''Just in terms of his potential, you can see there are a lot of things going on in his head but he's a little bit shy to put it to play. That's what we have to bring out of him.
''Throw him in the deep end. That's how you learn. The best way to learn is being out there. I played first grade in '03 and I was fresh and raw, but that's how I learnt.''
Miller has been linked to Hull FC and while the Tigers' aren't denying interest from other clubs, Fairfax Media understands he won't be leaving for at least another week.
The 20-year-old will play NSW Cup on Wednesday night and is also expected to back up for the game at the weekend.
There is a suggestion Miller's imminent exit would free up money in the club's second-tier salary cap to allow it to play Brooks.
The club insists it is merely waiting for the right time to blood the playmaker and is not in a position where it can't play him due to salary cap restraints.
Brooks is part of the Tigers' National Youth Competition salary cap and if he was to make his debut this season, he would then go under the club's second-tier cap, which has already been exacerbated due to a large injury list.
Miller is part of the club's top 25 players and his departure would allow the club to use another player from outside the NRL squad.
The Tigers have already approached salary cap auditor Ian Schubert and have been granted dispensation over their second-tier salary cap with 10 first-grade players unavailable through injury.
While there is plenty of conjecture over Brooks' short-term future, Marshall has no doubt he'd be ready for the step up, even after just five under 20s games and one NSW Cup match.
''I think he is [ready],'' Marshall said. ''I've seen him play 20s and he controls that game. He's just a footballer, he knows how to control a game, he's got a great kicking game, he can run the ball and is a solid defender. For him it's a matter of experience - throw him in there, why not?
''If there's one thing he's not strong at it's the talking and controlling things when it comes to first grade, which is probably a bit of shyness and probably being a bit too respectful to guys like Robbie [Farah] and myself. I've been trying to help him with that - talk and control games. He loves it. He's a competitor and trains hard. That's all you want from a young guy …''

http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/benji-backs-young-ace-brooks-to-measure-up-20130507-2j5st.html

 

[Tiger_Watto]

"Next"

Didn't Marshall say something similar about Miller leading into the season?

Hopefully Luke gets the free ride like Sironen and will be allowed time to mature?!

 

[strrretch]

It would be nice to see less of his comments and see him focus on his game.

What's the priority ? Media comments or playing football?

Cut the media crap please Benji, when the playings done and u have performed well then we might be interested in hearing what u have to say.

 

[Eye_Of_Da_Tiger]

To much talk. Comments like that should come from the coach no the players. Benji just needs to knuckle down and concentrate on his own. Start making headlines instead of writing them

 

[innsaneink]

To much talk. **Comments like that should come from the coach no the players.** Benji just needs to knuckle down and concentrate on his own. Start making headlines instead of writing them

Exactly!!

No wonder theres a perception he's running the circus.

 

[MacDougall]

I'm glad that the players seem to want Brooks in there. I agree with Marshall's sentiments. The only thing that concerns me is that he says Brooks lacks confidence and is shy and that is the last thing we need.

 

[pHyR3]

Not ready, give it AT LEAST several weeks and see how he comes along on his talking. Come to think about it, he was very quiet in the NSW Cup game vs the Bears; actually everyone was except when they bombed us. Although, i guess i wouldn't have heard anything they said within the opposition's 20 from my position.

 

[system]

So he is ready but isn't comfortable with the level of talk and barking orders required and he is to play halfback.

Queue up another kid having his career pushed towards the scrap heap by the Robbie & Benji show

 

[Anthism]

Is there a particular reason he isn't playing tonight but is for the weekend?
Little bit suss that Benji says he is going to play his running game yet we already have Siro who is also a ball runner.
No source, but I just have a feeling we may see Mr Brooks run out on Friday night.
Siro at 7 just has something strang/sinister about it…
If there is a valid reason for my first question then I'll withdraw this thought.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Little wonder people suggest that Benji runs the joint…

 

[Strider]

Put Brooks in now. We might struggle but I think it's unlikely we will win another game this year anyway, give him the experience.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Yay. Another young halfback we can ruin. Better not stuff this kid around, Bennett has been sniffing around him for a while.

 

[851]

Is there a particular reason he isn't playing tonight but is for the weekend?
Little bit suss that Benji says he is going to play his running game yet we already have Siro who is also a ball runner.
No source, but I just have a feeling we may see Mr Brooks run out on Friday night.
Siro at 7 just has something strang/sinister about it…
If there is a valid reason for my first question then I'll withdraw this thought.

Hope you are right,the kid is a local junior and loves the club,put him in 1st grade and sign him long term,it is a great time to get his signature,the kid might just surprise and stay there,forcing Anasta and Sirro to other spots.

 

[jirskyr]

I think the previous posts are over-reacting. Let us take a step back for a moment, take a breath and look past the issues with Benji's current form.

There are two things to consider:
1) This Friday's game is a home game, so our club is pushing for press coverage.
2) We are LAST on the table, so we should be happy for any positive press we receive.

If you actually read today's SMH, the Benji article covers almost two of the 5 pages they have devoted to league. Wednesday is a slow news day for league, so the articles they choose are often fluff pieces, which this one mostly is.

We thus note that Tigers are getting ~40% of today's footy coverage about a kid who hasn't even played first grade yet. It's not as if Benji called a press conference to talk about Brooks, he has no control over what the SMH choose to run with; his comments may have been only a small part of the overall interview.

The people who think Benji shouldn't make public comments should reconsider, because he is mobbed by the media whenever the opportunity presents itself. That is very important exposure for our club, who in the early days had almost nobody of public interest (how many interviews with Buckets O'Neill or Joel Caine?)

Benji is a diplomatic, well-practised speaker who never denigrates club or teammates. He has very high role model expectations thrust upon him and a high overall profile.

Certainly he is out of form, but it's not as if public silence will magically improve his performances on-field. It's also not as if the 20 minutes he gave to do thkis interview was at the expense of some important training or tactical preparation for the game.

Let's all relax and be happy we have players who the media cares to talk to, compared to say Parra or Penrith our cellar-dwelling mates.

 

[Aubanon]

Yay. Another young halfback we can ruin. Better not stuff this kid around, Bennett has been sniffing around him for a while.

CB - Name one young halves player that we have let go that has turned out to be something good elsewhere???

- Blake Lazarus?
- Rangi Chase?

Miller had the opportunity and couldn't make it work under two different coaches. Just look at the young halves at other clubs that hit the ground running - Sezer, Reynolds, Cherry-Evans. They didn't take a season to get themselves up to it.

At the same time as blooding a new 7 - Potter has got to make it clear to Benji that he isn't a halfback and although Sheens tried to make him think he was - he is a 5/8 and needs to give the first received gig up for the sake of the team.

The team needs both Robbie and Marshall to actually do less - while others lift their involvement up to balance out the side.

 

[system]

Benji will NEVER take a back seat. It isn't in his DNA to play second fiddle and that is why he is an utter liability

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Put Brooks in now. We might struggle but I think it's unlikely we will win another game this year anyway, give him the experience.

We're on the highway to hell, no need to put him in the drivers seat and destroy his confidence and run the risk of Farah and Marshall chewing him up and spitting him out like they did with Miller. His career would be over before its begun. No point in rushing him, especially considering he's only played against kids his whole life. Give him the rest of the yr in NSW cup to get him ready playing with the big boys, then bring him in over summer and give him the whole off-season to establish combo's with Farah and Marshall.

 

[rollingstone]

I think the previous posts are over-reacting. Let us take a step back for a moment, take a breath and look past the issues with Benji's current form.

There are two things to consider:
1) This Friday's game is a home game, so our club is pushing for press coverage.
2) We are LAST on the table, so we should be happy for any positive press we receive.

If you actually read today's SMH, the Benji article covers almost two of the 5 pages they have devoted to league. Wednesday is a slow news day for league, so the articles they choose are often fluff pieces, which this one mostly is.

We thus note that Tigers are getting ~40% of today's footy coverage about a kid who hasn't even played first grade yet. It's not as if Benji called a press conference to talk about Brooks, he has no control over what the SMH choose to run with; his comments may have been only a small part of the overall interview.

The people who think Benji shouldn't make public comments should reconsider, because he is mobbed by the media whenever the opportunity presents itself. That is very important exposure for our club, who in the early days had almost nobody of public interest (how many interviews with Buckets O'Neill or Joel Caine?)

Benji is a diplomatic, well-practised speaker who never denigrates club or teammates. He has very high role model expectations thrust upon him and a high overall profile.

Certainly he is out of form, but it's not as if public silence will magically improve his performances on-field. It's also not as if the 20 minutes he gave to do thkis interview was at the expense of some important training or tactical preparation for the game.

Let's all relax and be happy we have players who the media cares to talk to, compared to say Parra or Penrith our cellar-dwelling mates.

Well said! I also compliment you on your spelling and grammar; it shows out amongst the often incomprehensible posts on this forum. One reputation point from me!

 

[Tigrr]

I think the previous posts are over-reacting. Let us take a step back for a moment, take a breath and look past the issues with Benji's current form.

There are two things to consider:
1) This Friday's game is a home game, so our club is pushing for press coverage.
2) We are LAST on the table, so we should be happy for any positive press we receive.

If you actually read today's SMH, the Benji article covers almost two of the 5 pages they have devoted to league. Wednesday is a slow news day for league, so the articles they choose are often fluff pieces, which this one mostly is.

We thus note that Tigers are getting ~40% of today's footy coverage about a kid who hasn't even played first grade yet. It's not as if Benji called a press conference to talk about Brooks, he has no control over what the SMH choose to run with; his comments may have been only a small part of the overall interview.

The people who think Benji shouldn't make public comments should reconsider, because he is mobbed by the media whenever the opportunity presents itself. That is very important exposure for our club, who in the early days had almost nobody of public interest (how many interviews with Buckets O'Neill or Joel Caine?)

Benji is a diplomatic, well-practised speaker who never denigrates club or teammates. He has very high role model expectations thrust upon him and a high overall profile.

Certainly he is out of form, but it's not as if public silence will magically improve his performances on-field. It's also not as if the 20 minutes he gave to do thkis interview was at the expense of some important training or tactical preparation for the game.

Let's all relax and be happy we have players who the media cares to talk to, compared to say Parra or Penrith our cellar-dwelling mates.

x 2

 

[851]

Could not agree more with jirskyr,this could be a defining game in our season,and the more interest we can generate the more likely a few more fans might turn up,because what we have been dishing up lately will not attract fans.
A win on friday while unlikely would do wonders for team morale,and could get us away from the spoon for good.