Benji likely to play against Raiders

http://www.bigpondsport.com/injured-benji-declares-i-will-play/tabid/91/newsid/60351/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

awesome news! :slight_smile:
 
Marshall return to put roar in Tigers
Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph September 14, 2010 12:01AM

WESTS Tigers yesterday received a considerable boost to their spirits, with star playmaker Benji Marshall set to lead a host of injured stars to Canberra for Friday night's sudden-death semi.

Although Marshall stopped short of declaring himself fit to play, The Daily Telegraph understands his right knee injury only amounts to swelling and bad bruising that's strongly tipped to subside before kick-off.

In further good news for the Tigers, Gareth Ellis (back) and Wade McKinnon (hamstring) are also in line to be named in Tim Sheens' squad today.

And there's also an outside chance that gun centre Chris Lawrence could make an earlier-than-expected comeback from a broken jaw he suffered in round 25 against Melbourne Storm.

Lawrence wasn't expected to return until next weekend's preliminary finals, but is understood to be an outside chance of travelling to the ACT on Thursday.

Marshall's anticipated recovery, however, is the most positive news for the Tigers - who are otherwise bereft of playmaking options outside halfback Robert Lui.

Scans taken after Marshall failed to finish Saturday night's epic qualifying final loss to the Roosters have ruled out any structural damage to the knee.

"I'm reasonably confident," Marshall said before yesterday's field session at Concord, which he watched with a compression pack on his knee.

"I'm sure the coach will give me every opportunity until game day. [Sheens] has got enough faith in me to do the job. If I'm right on game day I'll play."

Marshall's injury scare created speculation that Tim Moltzen would gain a miraculous recall from his five-month layoff after season-ending knee surgery.

It's understood Moltzen has been pleading with Sheens to come back in recent weeks, but, with the Marshall and Lui combination firing, the coaching staff believe the risk is not worth taking.

**Wests Tigers will break with convention and fly to the ACT on Thursday, before having a match-eve training session at Canberra Stadium.\
\
Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys said the team normally travelled to the nation's capital by bus.\
\
"But because of the demands after playing a 100-minute game of football the previous week, we feel they should spend as little time as possible sitting in the one spot," he said.**
 
fine by me! hope they have rested up well by friday to put the raiders away. no longer then 80 minutes pleasssse i can't take another golden point
 
Marshall set to play for Wests Tigers
Greg Prichard, Sydney
September 15, 2010

INJURED star Benji Marshall will play, Chris Lawrence wants to play, despite not yet having been cleared to return from a broken jaw, and Blake Ayshford is back in the mix, despite still being quarantined from the team with an illness.

That is the good news for Wests Tigers as they try to patch together a team for Friday night's elimination semi-final against the rampant Raiders at Canberra Stadium.

The bad news starts with full-back Wade McKinnon and centre Geoff Daniela, both with hamstring injuries, and half-back Tim Moltzen, who, it was suggested, might make a comeback after missing most of the season following a knee reconstruction, all no chance of playing.

And second-rower Gareth Ellis (back) and prop Bryce Gibbs (knee) remain in doubt.

The Tigers yesterday were cautious in their description of Marshall's chances of playing, after he was forced off during the second half of Saturday's loss to Sydney Roosters with bruising in his knee.

Assistant coach Royce Simmons said that while Marshall wanted to play, and the club wanted him to, common sense had to apply, and the medical staff would assess him later in the week.

But insiders at the club said Marshall was expected to play, and a source very close to the Kiwi five-eighth said last night: ''Benji's playing. There is no way he will miss this game.''

Marshall and centre Ayshford were named in the starting side in the Tigers' 21-man squad yesterday. Lawrence, who was not expected to be available to play again until week three of the finals, if the Tigers made it that far, was named at No. 19.

Asked about Lawrence's chances of playing, Simmons replied: ''He's like everyone else. He'd like to play, he wants to play, but, again, we'll just probably wait until Thursday to see how he is. He'll definitely go down to Canberra with us - there's a plane load of us going down.

''We'll get down there and do some contact with him. I mean, Chris is not a bloke who has to go out and run on the park [to prove himself] or anything. He knows how we play and what's required. So we'll see what comes from it.''

Tigers club doctor Donald Kuah said last night Lawrence had been given the OK by his specialist to start running again but that was all at this stage.

''It's in my hands to make a final call on Chris for this game,'' Kuah said. ''It's up in the air at the moment. We'll see how he goes running and whether he can make any advance on that, in terms of training.

''Third week of the finals would have been ideal for him, but he's obviously keen.''

Kuah said it wasn't clear whether Ayshford would travel with the rest of the squad to Canberra.

''He hasn't got glandular fever,'' Kuah said.

''It's a virus, and we're working through it with blood tests and throat swabs.

''He's improving - he's certainly better today than yesterday - but he's still isolated at this stage.''
 
Campese wants Benji to play
16/09/2010 1:25 PM
Steve Orme in Canberra
Sportal
\
\
In-form Canberra pivot Terry Campese is hoping injured Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall will play in Friday's elimination semi-final at Canberra Stadium.

Marshall is in doubt for the do-or-die encounter after injuring his right knee late in last week's marathon loss to the Roosters.

Mystery surrounds the make-up of the visitors' line-up with prop Bryce Gibbs (knee), back-rower Gareth Ellis (back), centre Blake Ayshford (virus) and Chris Lawrence (jaw) all yet to prove their fitness for the clash.

But while Raiders coach David Furner repeatedly told the large media pack assembled outside Canberra Stadium on Thursday morning 'it's all about us', the ultra-competitive Campese concedes he'd rather beat a full-strength Tigers side.

"I think everyone does want to play against the best side they can put on the park - just so there's no excuses really," a confident Campese said before the side's closed training session on Thursday.

"We've played them twice this year already so we've played against Benji and everyone that's (in doubt) with their injuries, so we'll just go out there and go with the same game plan we did in those two games I think."

While the Kiwi international is yet to fully test his injured knee, Campese has little doubt his opposite number will play and says he'll still be a major threat despite the injury.

"He's been there before and he's done it," Campese said.

"He's played in big games like Tri Nations and things like that and he's won a grand final, so he knows what his body's feeling and I'm sure that if he runs out there he'll be very confident in himself and he'll be still at his best."

"They're probably the best attacking side in the comp so if we're down on attitude or we don't bring our best game they'll score five tries in a matter of 10 minutes, so we've got to turn up with our heads on and make sure we're at our best defensively."

But in an ominous sign for the visitors, Campese, who played a starring role in last week's 24-22 upset win over Penrith, warned he's ready for another big performance in front of the Raiders faithful.

"I'm confident and I'm enjoying my footy so there's no reason why I can't do the same this week and it's going to be a packed house here at Canberra, so there's nothing better than to play well here," he said.

Despite having lost both encounters to the Tigers this season, including a 35-22 defeat at Canberra Stadium in Round 4 after blowing a 12-point half-time lead, the Raiders enter Friday's clash as heavy favourites.

And while expectations in the nation's capital are high, Campese insists his young side won't be overawed by the occasion.

"We've got a confident group of guys and everyone's handling it really well and you can just tell by last week's game that everyone went out there and focused on the 80 minutes, and that's what we've got to do tomorrow," he said.

"I think when they won that Toyota Cup grand final they've been through it so they've been handing it very well."

"Last week it was a big game and they all stood up and played well so it's going to be no different tomorrow night."

Meanwhile, co-captain Alan Tongue declared himself a certain starter for the must-win clash after overcoming a calf injury suffered in Round 25 against the Cowboys.
 
just watched the sports section of channel tens 5pm news

the headline was video footage of the wests tigers closed training session in canberra. benji was running at full pace with no knee strap looking as dangerous as usual, taking on the line and directing play…footage even showed one of benji's no look flick pass

HE IS PLAYING!!!!! :master:

blake ayshord has also travled down to canberra and joined the boys during the final training session meaning he will play :master:

something which caught my eye was that as the cameras were following benji onto the bus and stadium asking him questions as entered training...he continued to limp (quiet heavily)

this 'heavily' reinforces my opinion that we have been playing these "we are battered and bruised" mind games to hopefully get on top of a young and inexpereinced team as well as coach (especially in finals) so that we can stun them and hopefully ambush them in the early part of tomorrows game....sounds like something shifty sheens would do :master:

thoughts?

ps. GO YOU GOOOOD THINGS!!! :sign:
 
i think the raiders already know,if tounge and campese's media confrences are anything to go by. they claim they are preapring for a full strength team including benji
 
@habibsta33 said:
i think the raiders already know,if tounge and campese's media confrences are anything to go by. they claim they are preapring for a full strength team including benji
Click to expand...

of course they're preparing for him to play. They'd be pretty stupid to assume he wasn't playing, work out their game plan, then be surprised if he does play.
 
Wests Tigers sweat on Benji's fitness
Peter Veness & Bonny Symons-Brown
September 16, 2010 - 6:49PM

AAP

The Wests Tigers are desperately hoping superstar Benji Marshall pulls up pain-free after the injured playmaker completed a final training session for Friday night's NRL's do-or-die semi-final against Canberra.

Television footage showed Marshall running freely at a closed session, but it is how his injured knee responds on Friday morning that will determine whether he takes his place against the Raiders.

Coach Tim Sheens said he will give his key man until the last minute to prove he is fit but added, if Marshall pulled up stiff, it would be hard to pick him.

"We'll see how he goes after training," Sheens said on Thursday.

"I'm keeping an open mind at the moment.

"Every senior coach gives every player, let alone a key player, as much time as possible.

"We've got about six (players) that we're carrying at the moment but we've got contingencies."

Those six include forwards Gareth Ellis (back) and Bryce Gibbs (knee) and centre pairing Chris Lawrence (jaw) and Blake Ayshford (virus).

Sheens described Lawrence and Ayshford as "very doubtful", the latter finally joining the squad after being cleared of glandular fever.

Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys also appeared more hopeful than confident of Ayshford playing at an announcement about an upgrade for Leichhardt Oval.

"He's certainly getting better, he's feeling better, but he's got a bit of a way to go," Humphreys said.

"Obviously suffering that kind of illness, it's drained his energy levels and so that's as much of a concern as anything else."

Raiders co-captain Terry Campese said the home side, who closed their training session for the first time this year, were preparing for Marshall to play.

"(Marshall) has got the wood on me twice this year so I've got one game to get it back and this is the game that counts," the five-eighth said.

"They're probably the best attacking side in the comp so if we are down on attitude or we don't bring our best game they'll just score five tries in a matter of 10 minutes.

"We've got to turn up with our heads on and make sure we are at our best defensively."

Canberra have no major injury concerns, with co-captain Alan Tongue returning from a calf injury.

His defence will help lift a side also set to be buoyed by a crowd of 27,500 Green Machine fanatics.

The sell-out crowd has forced the one-town club to send a message to fans: "Get there early".

Meanwhile, injured Tigers utility Tim Moltzen has categorically ruled himself out of any involvement in the finals, regardless of whether his side makes it to the October 3 decider.

Moltzen is on a six-month recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

"Everything's looking positive, for next year that is," he said.

"When we decided to take the longer approach to the operation for the knee, it was always known it was going to be a six-month injury and I haven't thought otherwise.

"It's only been five months at the moment so we're a month away."

Moltzen is confident the Tigers can get the job done at Canberra Stadium.

"We've travelled down there a couple of times over the last two years and come away with wins so it's definitely a trip we're used to," he said.
 
Benji Marshall survives secret session

* Christian Nicolussi
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* September 17, 2010 12:00AM

THEY just could be the eight hours that save Wests Tigers' season.

In a desperate bid to be fit for tonight's crucial clash against Canberra, superstar Benji Marshall stayed up all last Saturday night to ice his injured knee.

Yesterday, the result was there for all to see - or a few TV cameras and The Daily Telegraph tucked away high above Canberra Stadium - as Marshall looked a picture of health during the Tigers' final training session.

Plenty of attention leading into the Raiders-Tigers clash has centred on whether Marshall will overcome the knee injury which forced him from the field during the late stages of last Saturday's painful 19-15 loss to Sydney Roosters.

But the brilliant playmaker was in such good spirits after the one-hour closed session that he was not required to undergo further treatment back at the team's hotel.

Tigers football manager Alan Mair said Marshall's all-nighter with the ice pack had given him the chance to potentially break the 27,000-plus hearts of the fans who sold out Canberra Stadium.

"I remember Benji arrived for training last Sunday morning and I said he looked like shit," Mair said.

"But he told me he had set the alarm every two hours to ice his knee. All the medical people have since told me that has made a huge difference."

Marshall will run out for the Tigers and Bryce Gibbs (knee) and Gareth Ellis (back) are expected to play, despite not taking part in the club's final training run.

Blake Ayshford arrived in Canberra after lunch yesterday because of the after-effects of a virus, but will play. His centre partner Chris Lawrence is also an outside chance.

However, Tigers officials said Lawrence remained the biggest outsider to start, especially given he had only broken his jaw three weeks ago.

Coach Tim Sheens was hopeful Marshall would survive training and said the biggest concern would be how his No. 6 recovered this morning.

"Every coach will give every senior player - let alone a key player - as much time as possible [to recover]," Sheens said. "I'm keeping an open mind about it. We have an alternative plan if there is a worst-case scenario."

But Sheens won't have such headaches and will be delighted at the fact he now has a close to full-strength side against the rampaging Raiders.

Interestingly, the Raiders yesterday had their first closed session as coach David Furner tried to get his young troops focused on the match, perhaps worried about the over- exposure to the media and public this week in the nation's capital.

Canberra skipper Terry Campese made it clear he would relish the challenge against Marshall, whom he said was experienced enough to give himself a clean bill of health.

"Benji has been there before, he's played in the big games, the Tri-Nations, won a grand final, so he knows how his body is feeling and I'm sure if he runs out he'll be confident," Campese said.

"He's got the wood on me twice already this year, I've got one game to get it back."
 
Why Benji must play
Glenn Jackson
September 17, 2010

THIS is the stat that proves injured five-eighth Benji Marshall must play tonight: Wests Tigers have won just one game against Canberra without him.

Marshall trained yesterday and is a good chance of playing in the first elimination semi-final against the Raiders - and Tigers supporters will be praying that he does after the revelation that he is unbeaten against them.

According to statistics provided by David Middleton's League Information Services, the Tigers have won seven out of seven matches against the Raiders with the 25-year-old in the team since the playmaker made his debut in 2003 - but they have lost four from five without him in that time. The Tigers' only victory over the Raiders without Marshall came in 2007.

The Tigers won both their matches against the Raiders this season, giving them some psychological edge over the in-form Raiders.

''[Marshall] has got the wood on me twice this year so I've got one game to get it back and this is the game that counts,'' Marshall's opposite, Terry Campese, said yesterday. ''They're probably the best attacking side in the comp, so if we are down on attitude or we don't bring our best game, they'll just score five tries in a matter of 10 minutes.''

While the likelihood is that Marshall will play, the club's coaching and medical staff will still reassess his knee injury this morning after the Kiwis captain trained for most of the Tigers' final session yesterday, at Canberra Stadium.

The Tigers are quietly confident that the squad named on Tuesday will be available to play tonight; second-rower Gareth Ellis (back) and centre hopeful Chris Lawrence (jaw) being the most doubtful. Both those players only trained lightly yesterday, along with prop Bryce Gibbs, who remains troubled by a knee injury, although centre Blake Ayshford, who has had a virus, trained strongly.

''One or two of them, we'll probably see [this] morning how they wake up from it and determine how they are,'' Tigers coach Tim Sheens said.
 
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