Benji Marshall #70

[rustycage]

It makes me very uncomfortable at even 35 Marshall was on the field doing his best for WTs while Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J were not. All are highly paid and all need to reassess where they are at. Marshall has been a great, the other three can only wish they were. The same goes for Lawrence. You have to admire these two players.

The other 3 were not getting picked, Benji on the other hand was getting picked whilst he should not have

I understand there are divergent views and you won't change opinions. But Marshall deserves far more loyalty than Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J.

He *has* received far more loyalty than all of them. No question! But times up. Pretty much every single player is tapped on the shoulder at some point. Benji's problem has always been his over inflated opinion of himself.

 

[Goanna57]

So glad we didn't resign him and moved on as a club. ..
He will regret the way he is carrying on with not bringing his family to the game and have jabs here and there in media. Grow up and respect that we gave you an extra 2-3 years back here in the first place..
HE LEFT Tigers first and I for one would not be too concerned if we even pulled the offer for a job after his playing career. Show some respect to the club

How and when and in what form or media has Benji had a jab at the club . Benji Marshall is no longer at the club some on this forum need to take off there hate glasses and move on but I’m sure you will find someone else to hate

It's not a case of hating him because he is a legend of the club and always will be ...
But if you have not been watching him in the media you should go and watch some of his interviews and than watch some of Chris Lawrence interviews.
There is a big difference between the 2 and on how you thank the club that gave you everything. He is acting like a spoilt child when he should be thanking them for the opportunity to come back home after HE LEFT us..
It has left a bad taste in Tigers supporters mouths and that's evident in all the negative comments about him leaving..

So hsv you have no problem Chris and his sister running to the media last year angling for one more year extension on contact.Let me say I like him and think he deserved extension,but not to much difference in the way he went about it. But as I said there not at club anymore time to move on

 

[pawsandclaws1]

It makes me very uncomfortable at even 35 Marshall was on the field doing his best for WTs while Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J were not. All are highly paid and all need to reassess where they are at. Marshall has been a great, the other three can only wish they were. The same goes for Lawrence. You have to admire these two players.

The other 3 were not getting picked, Benji on the other hand was getting picked whilst he should not have

I understand there are divergent views and you won't change opinions. But Marshall deserves far more loyalty than Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J.


He *has* received far more loyalty than all of them. No question! But times up. Pretty much every single player is tapped on the shoulder at some point. Benji's problem has always been his over inflated opinion of himself.

Benji could play. Others including a current WT talk themselves up but can't back it up.

 

[rustycage]

It makes me very uncomfortable at even 35 Marshall was on the field doing his best for WTs while Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J were not. All are highly paid and all need to reassess where they are at. Marshall has been a great, the other three can only wish they were. The same goes for Lawrence. You have to admire these two players.

The other 3 were not getting picked, Benji on the other hand was getting picked whilst he should not have

I understand there are divergent views and you won't change opinions. But Marshall deserves far more loyalty than Packer, Reynolds and Leilua J.


He *has* received far more loyalty than all of them. No question! But times up. Pretty much every single player is tapped on the shoulder at some point. Benji's problem has always been his over inflated opinion of himself.

Benji could play. Others including a current WT talk themselves up but can't back it up.

I absolutely agree 100% he could play up until 2012. It all went down hill from there imo.

 

[Moh]

Marshall is a great and we have three roster spots invested in players who don't deserve it. Marshall could have easily taken one of them and have been far more effective at lesser $.

Yah - as @dazza65 said though, it's very unfortunate we're stuck with duds on ridiculous contracts.

I have no doubt we would have kept Benji if we were able to offload Reynolds.

I don't know. Of course I would offload Reynolds (and Packer) in a second if I could, but even with JRey off the books I wouldn't have extended Benji. Benji and Brooks don't work well together as a unit - neither one of them is very good at managing a game. Benji's attack was very good at times, but defence was usually barely at pass mark and often terribly below. I'd endure with Brooks (as he may do well with a decent partner who can manage the game and take that off his shoulder's), for the next year at least, and look forward to Doueihi as the other half.

It is time for Benji to retire, and I feel the way he has rejected the opportunity WT tried to give him in honouring him is disrespectful (by not allowing his family to attend), and I suspect he will bad mouth us in he press at some point within the next few months, to further muddy his legacy.

I do agree with everything you have said about Benji, I too think it was really silly of him to reject bringing his family along; and I too think he should retire. But he has every right to want to play on.

If we got rid of JRey, I believe we would have kept him like I said - but I definitely wouldn't be playing him every week. Sure, a lot of people would say Benji wouldn't be happy playing 2nd/3rd fiddle, but he did that at the Broncos and he's said in the past that he is happy to.

Anyway, I'm not upset he is gone - just more value in having him than Josh Reynolds in many ways; but of course that's not possible.

 

[Newtown]

Marshall is a great and we have three roster spots invested in players who don't deserve it. Marshall could have easily taken one of them and have been far more effective at lesser $.

Yah - as @dazza65 said though, it's very unfortunate we're stuck with duds on ridiculous contracts.

I have no doubt we would have kept Benji if we were able to offload Reynolds.

I don't know. Of course I would offload Reynolds (and Packer) in a second if I could, but even with JRey off the books I wouldn't have extended Benji. Benji and Brooks don't work well together as a unit - neither one of them is very good at managing a game. Benji's attack was very good at times, but defence was usually barely at pass mark and often terribly below. I'd endure with Brooks (as he may do well with a decent partner who can manage the game and take that off his shoulder's), for the next year at least, and look forward to Doueihi as the other half.

It is time for Benji to retire, and I feel the way he has rejected the opportunity WT tried to give him in honouring him is disrespectful (by not allowing his family to attend), and I suspect he will bad mouth us in he press at some point within the next few months, to further muddy his legacy.

Another Braith Anasta?

 

[BZN]

Again I’ll state that I love Benji and will always be grateful for all the excitement he has provided and he is a true Wests Tigers legend but... and it’s a big but he has seriously lost the plot.

If Benji truely has the best interest of the club at heart he should of just shut up and said nothing. But he couldn’t, it had to be about how he was treated. It’s all about Benji and I’m afraid to say I for one am glad your time playing for the club has come to an end. It’s no longer about what is best for Benji but what is best for the Wests Tigers and that is a Wests Tigers without Benji playing there.

[/QUOTE]

From what I know about people like Benji, needing to be the centre of attention in some cases stems from an insecure childhood, and that insecurity has never been treated.
And that's a real pity as it can stuff up every day of your life.

 

[mike]

Again I’ll state that I love Benji and will always be grateful for all the excitement he has provided and he is a true Wests Tigers legend but... and it’s a big but he has seriously lost the plot.

If Benji truely has the best interest of the club at heart he should of just shut up and said nothing. But he couldn’t, it had to be about how he was treated. It’s all about Benji and I’m afraid to say I for one am glad your time playing for the club has come to an end. It’s no longer about what is best for Benji but what is best for the Wests Tigers and that is a Wests Tigers without Benji playing there.

From what I know about people like Benji, needing to be the centre of attention in some cases stems from an insecure childhood, and that insecurity has never been treated.
And that's a real pity as it can stuff up every day of your life.

I find this comment a little inappropriate to have on the forum. Think there's absolute no need to bring someone's childhood into it, kids can't control what's happening around them.

I think that is exactly what @MAGPIES1963 is saying.

 

[BZN]

I was a six year old kid at Campbelltown on the hill in 2004 when I watched Benji Marshall toy with the Canberra defence. I asked my dad who on earth that was, and the love affair began.

like every other kid, I wanted to be Benji Marshall. The x-blade boots, the step, the flick pass, the goofy walking style, all of it. he was as much an aesthetic or an image as he was a player, the pied piper with the bag of tricks dragging every junior footballer and tigers tragic along for the ride. seeing him in '06-'08 was almost a luxury, because he was barely on the field with shoulder and knee issues, but when he got out there he was something to behold. there's some moments of brilliance in that time that go unnoticed. the game where he was on leg and made a break and literally hobbled around the Newcastle fullback was one. another was probably the greatest no try you'll ever see (jog on fergo) when he chipped chased and flicked passed to Dean Collins in the final round of 2008 on the Gold Coast.

Benji had plenty of moments he would've wished he could have over again (the final 10 minutes in the preliminary final of 2010, the semi final in 2011), but no one can ever take 2005 away from him. simply phenomenal. everybody remembers the flick pass and the try against Cronulla, but what about the try saver against Brisbane in the semi? what about picking the ball up from the back of the scrum, skipping around two defenders and putting Hodgson through a gaping hole when we thrashed the cowboys. insane. he was searching for Scott Prince for the rest of his days after it, we saw flashes with Lui and Brooks came too late, but it was almost as if it was only meant to happen once.

as GNR said, he left this club and came home a man. he had been given a reality check a few times to harden his resolve and change his nature. while we weren't able to give him a semi final berth, the fact that he's here is a miracle in itself, and despite the fact that I truly believe it is time to go, it's fitting that he was able to come back here after all those years, and see it through.

thanks Benj, I love you mate. we'll never forget you.

[/QUOTE]

I reckon it will be a long time before we find another player as exciting as Benji.

 

[mike]

Again I’ll state that I love Benji and will always be grateful for all the excitement he has provided and he is a true Wests Tigers legend but... and it’s a big but he has seriously lost the plot.

If Benji truely has the best interest of the club at heart he should of just shut up and said nothing. But he couldn’t, it had to be about how he was treated. It’s all about Benji and I’m afraid to say I for one am glad your time playing for the club has come to an end. It’s no longer about what is best for Benji but what is best for the Wests Tigers and that is a Wests Tigers without Benji playing there.

From what I know about people like Benji, needing to be the centre of attention in some cases stems from an insecure childhood, and that insecurity has never been treated.
And that's a real pity as it can stuff up every day of your life.

I find this comment a little inappropriate to have on the forum. Think there's absolute no need to bring someone's childhood into it, kids can't control what's happening around them.

I think that is exactly what @MAGPIES1963 is saying.

It sounds like a psychoanalysis of someone based upon their upbringing and inadvertently brings parenting skills into it though and shouldn't be brought upp in discussion on a footy forum.

Reading way too much into it.

 

[tonza]

Again I’ll state that I love Benji and will always be grateful for all the excitement he has provided and he is a true Wests Tigers legend but... and it’s a big but he has seriously lost the plot.

If Benji truely has the best interest of the club at heart he should of just shut up and said nothing. But he couldn’t, it had to be about how he was treated. It’s all about Benji and I’m afraid to say I for one am glad your time playing for the club has come to an end. It’s no longer about what is best for Benji but what is best for the Wests Tigers and that is a Wests Tigers without Benji playing there.

From what I know about people like Benji, needing to be the centre of attention in some cases stems from an insecure childhood, and that insecurity has never been treated.
And that's a real pity as it can stuff up every day of your life.

Unfortunately most of the 22 year old stars are. Its called youth. Benji freely admits it went to his head. He also says he was bought down to earth and humbled in the time he left us. At least he will admit it.

 

[JD Tiger]

Marshall is a great and we have three roster spots invested in players who don't deserve it. Marshall could have easily taken one of them and have been far more effective at lesser $.

Yah - as @dazza65 said though, it's very unfortunate we're stuck with duds on ridiculous contracts.

I have no doubt we would have kept Benji if we were able to offload Reynolds.

I don't know. Of course I would offload Reynolds (and Packer) in a second if I could, but even with JRey off the books I wouldn't have extended Benji. Benji and Brooks don't work well together as a unit - neither one of them is very good at managing a game. Benji's attack was very good at times, but defence was usually barely at pass mark and often terribly below. I'd endure with Brooks (as he may do well with a decent partner who can manage the game and take that off his shoulder's), for the next year at least, and look forward to Doueihi as the other half.

It is time for Benji to retire, and I feel the way he has rejected the opportunity WT tried to give him in honouring him is disrespectful (by not allowing his family to attend), and I suspect he will bad mouth us in he press at some point within the next few months, to further muddy his legacy.

Another Braith Anasta?

Hope not. Benji was a legend. Braith was a Bulldog.

 

[mike]

Marshall is a great and we have three roster spots invested in players who don't deserve it. Marshall could have easily taken one of them and have been far more effective at lesser $.

Yah - as @dazza65 said though, it's very unfortunate we're stuck with duds on ridiculous contracts.

I have no doubt we would have kept Benji if we were able to offload Reynolds.

I don't know. Of course I would offload Reynolds (and Packer) in a second if I could, but even with JRey off the books I wouldn't have extended Benji. Benji and Brooks don't work well together as a unit - neither one of them is very good at managing a game. Benji's attack was very good at times, but defence was usually barely at pass mark and often terribly below. I'd endure with Brooks (as he may do well with a decent partner who can manage the game and take that off his shoulder's), for the next year at least, and look forward to Doueihi as the other half.

It is time for Benji to retire, and I feel the way he has rejected the opportunity WT tried to give him in honouring him is disrespectful (by not allowing his family to attend), and I suspect he will bad mouth us in he press at some point within the next few months, to further muddy his legacy.

Another Braith Anasta?

Hope not. Benji was a legend. Braith was a Bulldog.

Braith is an overrated hack.

 

[Telltails]

So glad we didn't resign him and moved on as a club. ..
He will regret the way he is carrying on with not bringing his family to the game and have jabs here and there in media. Grow up and respect that we gave you an extra 2-3 years back here in the first place..
HE LEFT Tigers first and I for one would not be too concerned if we even pulled the offer for a job after his playing career. Show some respect to the club

How and when and in what form or media has Benji had a jab at the club . Benji Marshall is no longer at the club some on this forum need to take off there hate glasses and move on but I’m sure you will find someone else to hate

Absolutely agree. Yes he has aired his disappointment - plenty of fans are too. It was no doubt a difficult decision for the club to make but if you want bag to players there are plenty past and present that deserve that far more than Benji.

 

[hobbo1]

Marshall is a great and we have three roster spots invested in players who don't deserve it. Marshall could have easily taken one of them and have been far more effective at lesser $.

Yah - as @dazza65 said though, it's very unfortunate we're stuck with duds on ridiculous contracts.

I have no doubt we would have kept Benji if we were able to offload Reynolds.

I don't know. Of course I would offload Reynolds (and Packer) in a second if I could, but even with JRey off the books I wouldn't have extended Benji. Benji and Brooks don't work well together as a unit - neither one of them is very good at managing a game. Benji's attack was very good at times, but defence was usually barely at pass mark and often terribly below. I'd endure with Brooks (as he may do well with a decent partner who can manage the game and take that off his shoulder's), for the next year at least, and look forward to Doueihi as the other half.

It is time for Benji to retire, and I feel the way he has rejected the opportunity WT tried to give him in honouring him is disrespectful (by not allowing his family to attend), and I suspect he will bad mouth us in he press at some point within the next few months, to further muddy his legacy.

Another Braith Anasta?

Hope not. Benji was a legend. Braith was a Bulldog.

Braith is an overrated hack.

Who broke our hearts

 

[Furious1]

I don't really understand the issue. He is disappointed to not be renewed ( fair enough), bitterly disappointed he found out through the media ( disgraceful really) and wants to play on. He was ( and still may be, i'm too lazy to look) leading the NRL in try assists. Not bad for a 35 year old. The guy is a horrible defensive player, but put that attacking statistic into perspective. A man who is 35 years old and plays in the team that came 11th has/had more try assists then at least four SOO halves who are at the peak of their powers. Players that are playing in far better teams then ours.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that Benji will be a defensive liability wherever he ends up and the media would never have allowed him to be a second stringer here, but he will be a handy pick up for a club where he will be allowed to fulfill that role. The fact on Saturday night he made it about Lawrence and not himself knowing Chris would never play another game is a good thing. He didn't want his family with him because like any other player that is changing clubs, it's not the end.He has every right to play on. They will be with him when he does hang up the boots. For those saying he is sulking, i don't see it. I see a guy who is filthy at finding out through the media he is being moved on and rightly so. And quite frankly he is not the only player treated extremely poorly by our club in the last month. There's a starting point for what we are stand for as opposed to what we should stand for. (another topic i know)

 

[mike]

I don't really understand the issue. He is disappointed to not be renewed ( fair enough), bitterly disappointed he found out through the media ( disgraceful really) and wants to play on. He was ( and still may be, i'm too lazy to look) leading the NRL in try assists. Not bad for a 35 year old. The guy is a horrible defensive player, but put that attacking statistic into perspective. A man who is 35 years old and plays in the team that came 11th has/had more try assists then at least four SOO halves who are at the peak of their powers. Players that are playing in far better teams then ours.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that Benji will be a defensive liability wherever he ends up and the media would never have allowed him to be a second stringer here, but he will be a handy pick up for a club where he will be allowed to fulfill that role. The fact on Saturday night he made it about Lawrence and not himself knowing Chris would never play another game is a good thing. He didn't want his family with him because like any other player that is changing clubs, it's not the end.He has every right to play on. They will be with him when he does hang up the boots. For those saying he is sulking, i don't see it. I see a guy who is filthy at finding out through the media he is being moved on and rightly so. And quite frankly he is not the only player treated extremely poorly by our club in the last month. There's a starting point for what we are stand for as opposed to what we should stand for. (another topic i know)

Benji’s disappointment and anger should be directed at his management and not the Wests Tigers. I have very little doubt that his management were responsible for the leaks and why he found out through the press, with his management trying to put pressure on the Wests Tigers to re-sign Benji which blew up in Benji’s managements faces.

 

[mike]

Again I’ll state that I love Benji and will always be grateful for all the excitement he has provided and he is a true Wests Tigers legend but... and it’s a big but he has seriously lost the plot.

If Benji truely has the best interest of the club at heart he should of just shut up and said nothing. But he couldn’t, it had to be about how he was treated. It’s all about Benji and I’m afraid to say I for one am glad your time playing for the club has come to an end. It’s no longer about what is best for Benji but what is best for the Wests Tigers and that is a Wests Tigers without Benji playing there.

From what I know about people like Benji, needing to be the centre of attention in some cases stems from an insecure childhood, and that insecurity has never been treated.
And that's a real pity as it can stuff up every day of your life.

I find this comment a little inappropriate to have on the forum. Think there's absolute no need to bring someone's childhood into it, kids can't control what's happening around them.

I think that is exactly what @MAGPIES1963 is saying.

It sounds like a psychoanalysis of someone based upon their upbringing and inadvertently brings parenting skills into it though and shouldn't be brought upp in discussion on a footy forum.

Reading way too much into it.

The comment specifically takes aim at his ego and also speculates whether it developed from an "insecure" childhood. That statement absolutely suggests an opinion of the unhealthy formation of his emotional and/or psychological state through his upbringing, and whether intentional or not ofcourse it indirectly brings the parenting skills into it.
The construction of it gives it no other meaning.

There's presently a real ugly attitude toward Benji on the forum and not all of it is footy related.
I'm mostly in agreeance with anything footy related or re:the current media circus, yet I'm a bit perplexed as to why this type of topic isn't off limits on the forum.

You always have the foe option at your disposal if you don’t like what people are saying.

 

[cochise]

I don't really understand the issue. He is disappointed to not be renewed ( fair enough), bitterly disappointed he found out through the media ( disgraceful really) and wants to play on. He was ( and still may be, i'm too lazy to look) leading the NRL in try assists. Not bad for a 35 year old. The guy is a horrible defensive player, but put that attacking statistic into perspective. A man who is 35 years old and plays in the team that came 11th has/had more try assists then at least four SOO halves who are at the peak of their powers. Players that are playing in far better teams then ours.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that Benji will be a defensive liability wherever he ends up and the media would never have allowed him to be a second stringer here, but he will be a handy pick up for a club where he will be allowed to fulfill that role. The fact on Saturday night he made it about Lawrence and not himself knowing Chris would never play another game is a good thing. He didn't want his family with him because like any other player that is changing clubs, it's not the end.He has every right to play on. They will be with him when he does hang up the boots. For those saying he is sulking, i don't see it. I see a guy who is filthy at finding out through the media he is being moved on and rightly so. And quite frankly he is not the only player treated extremely poorly by our club in the last month. There's a starting point for what we are stand for as opposed to what we should stand for. (another topic i know)

How did the media find out?

 

[Harvey]

Has always been able to fill a highlight reel. He usually features in all our brilliant tries and the opposition tearing us to shreds.

A player with a unique set of attacking skills but not a total footballer and horribly inconsistent.

The fact that him and Farah were welcomed back to the club shows the boys club mentality that has lead to a decade long finals drought.

The sense of entitlement both have in a professional sporting organisation is beyond belief.