Benji Marshall #70

[Mighty_Tiger]

Benji is the most important and greatest skilled player in the Wests Tigers life time to date. Not many players can honestly change the way people play the game - Benji did. He is a generational player. The multiple steps, speed, flick pass, bullet no look cut out passes just the way it was always attack mode. Considering ho much time he spent early on the sidelines highlights even more so how special Benji was for the game. Having coached & been around junior footy for a long time - not 1 player came close to him in who kids wanted to be or what they would practice at training/footy park.

I would love to see for 1 last time some Benji magic in the GF and hope he goes out a winner.

 

[TIGERPOWER]

Yep.....hundreds of stunned saints fans in tears at full time....while WTs fan were jubilant.....never seen anything like it

It’s weird but I actually enjoyed that game and had a grand final winning feeling afterward more then the actually grand final. I gave us zero chance to beat the dragons and that’s probably it felt so good. I would have bet my house on beating the cowboys in the grand final.

 

[cochise]

Best game I’ve ever been too. I remember because Saints had the week off, their supporters got in first ticket wise, and the ratio was something like 70-30 Dragons fans, but that 30% that were there for the Tigers dominated. The atmosphere was incredible. Wests and Balmain supporters releasing a life time of depression in the most fanatical way. Very cathartic.

I managed to get tickets to that game decent tickets on the 20 mtr line. The morning of the game my next door neighbour knocks on the door with comp tix as she was an employee of VB and wanted to even the numbers up a little so gave me the tickets that were on the 50 mtr line directly above the tunnel. I called my dad who lives 4 hrs away and got him down to the game. He and I sat in the seats on the 50 mtr line while my wife and mother sat in the seats on the 20.

What a night it was, I will never forget that night as it was one of the nights that cemented my commitment to this club.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Yep.....hundreds of stunned saints fans in tears at full time....while WTs fan were jubilant.....never seen anything like it

remember behind the goals the st George fans draped that huge flag and chanted St George for like 10 mins non stop before the game it was the best atmosphere

 

[mike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

I’ll never forget that game. Benji stepping just made you go wow, and you knew you were watching something very special. That’s the game I started to believe, we’ve got this. To top it off Fitzhenry scores !!!!

 

[tiger_one]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

I’ll never forget that game. Benji stepping just made you go wow, and you knew you were watching something very special. That’s the game I started to believe, we’ve got this. To top it off Fitzhenry scores !!!!

Those feelings of 2005, the winning efforts, the gutsy never-give-ins, the dazzling play .........

That's what we all crave as Wests Tigers fans - more of the same.

NOT that rubbish we were served up @Leichhardt for Tommy'smemorial etc etc - fans support all the time, but what happens on the field??

 

[mike]

Best game I’ve ever been too. I remember because Saints had the week off, their supporters got in first ticket wise, and the ratio was something like 70-30 Dragons fans, but that 30% that were there for the Tigers dominated. The atmosphere was incredible. Wests and Balmain supporters releasing a life time of depression in the most fanatical way. Very cathartic.

I managed to get tickets to that game decent tickets on the 20 mtr line. The morning of the game my next door neighbour knocks on the door with comp tix as she was an employee of VB and wanted to even the numbers up a little so gave me the tickets that were on the 50 mtr line directly above the tunnel. I called my dad who lives 4 hrs away and got him down to the game. He and I sat in the seats on the 50 mtr line while my wife and mother sat in the seats on the 20.

What a night it was, I will never forget that night as it was one of the nights that cemented my commitment to this club.

Gee and that was at the SFS. Wow.

 

[cochise]

Best game I’ve ever been too. I remember because Saints had the week off, their supporters got in first ticket wise, and the ratio was something like 70-30 Dragons fans, but that 30% that were there for the Tigers dominated. The atmosphere was incredible. Wests and Balmain supporters releasing a life time of depression in the most fanatical way. Very cathartic.

I managed to get tickets to that game decent tickets on the 20 mtr line. The morning of the game my next door neighbour knocks on the door with comp tix as she was an employee of VB and wanted to even the numbers up a little so gave me the tickets that were on the 50 mtr line directly above the tunnel. I called my dad who lives 4 hrs away and got him down to the game. He and I sat in the seats on the 50 mtr line while my wife and mother sat in the seats on the 20.

What a night it was, I will never forget that night as it was one of the nights that cemented my commitment to this club.

Gee and that was at the SFS. Wow.

I love the SFS for a finals match, not appropriate for our home ground though.

 

[mike]

Best game I’ve ever been too. I remember because Saints had the week off, their supporters got in first ticket wise, and the ratio was something like 70-30 Dragons fans, but that 30% that were there for the Tigers dominated. The atmosphere was incredible. Wests and Balmain supporters releasing a life time of depression in the most fanatical way. Very cathartic.

I managed to get tickets to that game decent tickets on the 20 mtr line. The morning of the game my next door neighbour knocks on the door with comp tix as she was an employee of VB and wanted to even the numbers up a little so gave me the tickets that were on the 50 mtr line directly above the tunnel. I called my dad who lives 4 hrs away and got him down to the game. He and I sat in the seats on the 50 mtr line while my wife and mother sat in the seats on the 20.

What a night it was, I will never forget that night as it was one of the nights that cemented my commitment to this club.

Gee and that was at the SFS. Wow.

>**I love the SFS** for a finals match, not appropriate for our home ground though.

You know I’m going to miss quote you every time now.

 

[cochise]

Best game I’ve ever been too. I remember because Saints had the week off, their supporters got in first ticket wise, and the ratio was something like 70-30 Dragons fans, but that 30% that were there for the Tigers dominated. The atmosphere was incredible. Wests and Balmain supporters releasing a life time of depression in the most fanatical way. Very cathartic.

I managed to get tickets to that game decent tickets on the 20 mtr line. The morning of the game my next door neighbour knocks on the door with comp tix as she was an employee of VB and wanted to even the numbers up a little so gave me the tickets that were on the 50 mtr line directly above the tunnel. I called my dad who lives 4 hrs away and got him down to the game. He and I sat in the seats on the 50 mtr line while my wife and mother sat in the seats on the 20.

What a night it was, I will never forget that night as it was one of the nights that cemented my commitment to this club.

Gee and that was at the SFS. Wow.

>**I love the SFS** for a finals match, not appropriate for our home ground though.

You know I’m going to miss quote you every time now.

I better put the full quote in my sig then lol

 

[Geo]

If only Benxi didn’t punch Todd Carney

 

[Demps]

If only Benxi didn’t punch Todd Carney

You mean Pearce?

https://youtu.be/hiNr9kGvYPA

 

[Magpie_Magic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

When I saw that try that year it inspired me to put 1k on WT to win comp @$20/1.

That's the thing about Benji, he got everyone thiniking about him opening up opportunities for others, and we had plenty of top players.

 

[Tigerdave]

I hope he goes out a Grand Final winner, he should have had 3 with us instead of 1, but that wasn't to be.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I hope he goes out a Grand Final winner, he should have had 3 with us instead of 1, but that wasn't to be.

The fact he’s playing only second gf shows how much of an under achiever he’s been.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

That was a super article.

Probably even more than the GF in 05, the game against Saints in the PF.
What anticipation walking to the ground, people were losing it, Never seen atmosphere like that even with larger crowds, and the focus square on Benji. So what does he do, within a few minutes runs past the Australian international centres to score the softest of tries, even they were mesmerized.

Can see him doing something again on Sunday. Good on him but sadly it will detract from our moment.

The build up to that game helped in the atmosphere.
Saints had a break, had 2 weeks head start on us and were snapping up all the tickets, we had to get past brisbane so it was 75% stains fans there
They all expected to go straight thru to the GF....I went with my son who was 9 at the time, had a small sign made up specially for full time ...2 GF TIX WANTED!
Got some nasty looks from saints fans leaving the ground holding that up lol

What an amazing 4 weeks that was, lucky to attend all the games

For me, only a Magpies premiership 78 though 80 would have topped that moment, really wanted that still sometimes watch those games hoping somehow the result may change. Just the era of football, growing up in Sydney the way it was then really wanted a premiership then but they gave it to Manly. Sydney and football are different now.

But that 2005 finals series, I was so confident, remember watching the first semi at Homebush ,then was to be in Melbourne the next weekend so bought top tickets for PF final high up near half way regardless, that's how confident I was against Brisbane and remember posting on here and asking people where to watch the game in Melbourne and was told to try Dickens pub on Collins st.

That saints game in the PF was the first time I was stirred up walking to a game since school days. And it's funny Saints fans were saying Benji is hopeless etc. So he becomes idol like and Gasnier and Cooper just looked at him run past them, the smoke from the fireworks still hadn't cleared. I actually saw two women fighting in the stands near me after he scored, It was fever pitched.
I feel privileged to have been there that day.

On Monday morning, I dove down to Enmore theatre grabbed a bacon and egg roll and joined the queue and picked up decent GF tix.


So ,did you manage to buy any GF tix from any Saints fans on way out? Sounds like you were as confident as I was.

 

[cochise]

That was a super article.

Probably even more than the GF in 05, the game against Saints in the PF.
What anticipation walking to the ground, people were losing it, Never seen atmosphere like that even with larger crowds, and the focus square on Benji. So what does he do, within a few minutes runs past the Australian international centres to score the softest of tries, even they were mesmerized.

Can see him doing something again on Sunday. Good on him but sadly it will detract from our moment.

The build up to that game helped in the atmosphere.
Saints had a break, had 2 weeks head start on us and were snapping up all the tickets, we had to get past brisbane so it was 75% stains fans there
They all expected to go straight thru to the GF....I went with my son who was 9 at the time, had a small sign made up specially for full time ...2 GF TIX WANTED!
Got some nasty looks from saints fans leaving the ground holding that up lol

What an amazing 4 weeks that was, lucky to attend all the games

For me, only a Magpies premiership 78 though 80 would have topped that moment, really wanted that still sometimes watch those games hoping somehow the result may change. Just the era of football, growing up in Sydney the way it was then really wanted a premiership then but they gave it to Manly. Sydney and football are different now.

But that 2005 finals series, I was so confident, remember watching the first semi at Homebush ,then was to be in Melbourne the next weekend so bought top tickets for PF final high up near half way regardless, that's how confident I was against Brisbane and remember posting on here and asking people where to watch the game in Melbourne and was told to try Dickens pub on Collins st.

That saints game in the PF was the first time I was stirred up walking to a game since school days. And it's funny Saints fans were saying Benji is hopeless etc. So he becomes idol like and Gasnier and Cooper just looked at him run past them, the smoke from the fireworks still hadn't cleared. I actually saw two women fighting in the stands near me after he scored, It was fever pitched.
I feel privileged to have been there that day.

On Monday morning, I dove down to Enmore theatre grabbed a bacon and egg roll and joined the queue and picked up decent GF tix.


So ,did you manage to buy any GF tix from any Saints fans on way out? Sounds like you were as confident as I was.

My grand final tix were in the Cowboys supporter bay. What a great night that was.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

I’ll never forget that game. Benji stepping just made you go wow, and you knew you were watching something very special. That’s the game I started to believe, we’ve got this. To top it off Fitzhenry scores !!!!

Those feelings of 2005, the winning efforts, the gutsy never-give-ins, the dazzling play .........

That's what we all crave as Wests Tigers fans - more of the same.

NOT that rubbish we were served up @Leichhardt for Tommy'smemorial etc etc - fans support all the time, but what happens on the field??

Interestingly my partner who's a Kiwi and says there's always this need for the distinct flair and flashiness play from their players, has stated the Wests Tigers (from Benji) have a DNA quite similar to this. That it's seen through our former players such as Papenhuyzen, Moses Suli, Mitch Moses, Marsters, Teddy, Fifita (in his previous form), Sironen...even retired player Te Maire Martin and a few other guys I can't quite recall right now. The ability to play off the cuff and stylised or expansive footy, that it was an innate trait/characteristic that most of those players thrived under and which our coaches have destroyed.
He says it's there and still noticeable from current players such as Nofo(on his day), Talau and Douehi - even the Brooks highlights someone shared a few weeks back showed how he was really in his element playing that style. That we need to get back to this because it was unique to WTs and it's why Madge is struggling to implement the more disciplined or structured style as he's also moving away from where most of their natural abilities lie and what made us competitive, as a team.

Great post Lauren. Getting the team back playing WTs' traditional style of football is very important.

A work colleague told me on the day Maguire signed with WTs. He had links to Souths. I asked him what he thought of Maguire and he said he isn't the coach for the WTs' style of football. He was spot on as I knew he would be. He has no ill feeling toward Maguire and is a professional outside of rugby league while still being involved in the game.

 

[tig_prmz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

I’ll never forget that game. Benji stepping just made you go wow, and you knew you were watching something very special. That’s the game I started to believe, we’ve got this. To top it off Fitzhenry scores !!!!

Those feelings of 2005, the winning efforts, the gutsy never-give-ins, the dazzling play .........

That's what we all crave as Wests Tigers fans - more of the same.

NOT that rubbish we were served up @Leichhardt for Tommy'smemorial etc etc - fans support all the time, but what happens on the field??

Interestingly my partner who's a Kiwi and says there's always this need for the distinct flair and flashiness play from their players, has stated the Wests Tigers (from Benji) have a DNA quite similar to this. That it's seen through our former players such as Papenhuyzen, Moses Suli, Mitch Moses, Marsters, Teddy, Fifita (in his previous form), Sironen...even retired player Te Maire Martin and a few other guys I can't quite recall right now. The ability to play off the cuff and stylised or expansive footy, that it was an innate trait/characteristic that most of those players thrived under and which our coaches have destroyed.
He says it's there and still noticeable from current players such as Nofo(on his day), Talau and Douehi - even the Brooks highlights someone shared a few weeks back showed how he was really in his element playing that style. That we need to get back to this because it was unique to WTs and it's why Madge is struggling to implement the more disciplined or structured style as he's also moving away from where most of their natural abilities lie and what made us competitive, as a team.

Great post Lauren. Getting the team back playing WTs' traditional style of football is very important.

A work colleague told me on the day Maguire signed with WTs. He had links to Souths. I asked him what he thought of Maguire and he said he isn't the coach for the WTs' style of football. He was spot on as I knew he would be. He has no ill feeling toward Maguire and is a professional outside of rugby league while still being involved in the game.

I mentioned in another post.. Sheens focusses on skills whereas Madge focusses on discipline. Amalgamation of both would be great if it happens but can also be a bit of a conflict.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLqb0BSnGGU

I’ll never forget that game. Benji stepping just made you go wow, and you knew you were watching something very special. That’s the game I started to believe, we’ve got this. To top it off Fitzhenry scores !!!!

Those feelings of 2005, the winning efforts, the gutsy never-give-ins, the dazzling play .........

That's what we all crave as Wests Tigers fans - more of the same.

NOT that rubbish we were served up @Leichhardt for Tommy'smemorial etc etc - fans support all the time, but what happens on the field??

Interestingly my partner who's a Kiwi and says there's always this need for the distinct flair and flashiness play from their players, has stated the Wests Tigers (from Benji) have a DNA quite similar to this. That it's seen through our former players such as Papenhuyzen, Moses Suli, Mitch Moses, Marsters, Teddy, Fifita (in his previous form), Sironen...even retired player Te Maire Martin and a few other guys I can't quite recall right now. The ability to play off the cuff and stylised or expansive footy, that it was an innate trait/characteristic that most of those players thrived under and which our coaches have destroyed.
He says it's there and still noticeable from current players such as Nofo(on his day), Talau and Douehi - even the Brooks highlights someone shared a few weeks back showed how he was really in his element playing that style. That we need to get back to this because it was unique to WTs and it's why Madge is struggling to implement the more disciplined or structured style as he's also moving away from where most of their natural abilities lie and what made us competitive, as a team.

Great post Lauren. Getting the team back playing WTs' traditional style of football is very important.

A work colleague told me on the day Maguire signed with WTs. He had links to Souths. I asked him what he thought of Maguire and he said he isn't the coach for the WTs' style of football. He was spot on as I knew he would be. He has no ill feeling toward Maguire and is a professional outside of rugby league while still being involved in the game.

I mentioned in another post.. Sheens focusses on skills whereas Madge focusses on discipline. Amalgamation of both would be great if it happens but can also be a bit of a conflict.

In view of the pretty awful 3 years we've had and the impending appointment of two new assistants independent of Maguire, do you believe we will see a shift to a more skills based game next year?