Benji Marshall involved in late-night incident

[Guest]

Tigers in crisis as Marshall bites back
Adrian Proszenko and Les Kennedy
March 6, 2011

BENJI MARSHALL says he was provoked into a fight by being racially abused outside a McDonald's restaurant in The Rocks in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The Sun-Herald has been told a group of eight to 10 people baited the Wests Tigers superstar, allegedly calling him a ''black c–-'' and telling him to ''f--- off back to New Zealand''. Marshall's manager, Martin Tauber, confirmed Marshall punched one of his alleged tormenters in the face.

Marshall is the face of rugby league and was given the honour of officially launching the NRL season at Casula during the week.
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The New Zealand Test captain was also awarded the Golden Boot award as the game's best player after a stunning 2010 season.

His mother, Lydia, broke down when told about the incident.

''I just can't believe it,'' she said in tears. ''He's helping out the community of a country he's not even from. I'm dumbfounded - it upsets me immensely people could do that.

''It's not his fault that he's been put up on that pedestal. How can they do that to him? That's what they do, they push him and push him and push him so much. They know he's up there; they're just waiting for a reaction.

''Why can't they leave him alone? I just don't understand. He's trying to do his best for kids and people with sickness and this is what they do.''

The incident occurred just hours after Marshall hosted Footy Rocks, a black-tie dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event was a fund-raising partnership between Marshall's foundation and the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia.

''The boy is not at fault,'' Tauber said. ''When you're baited and racially abused like that - not once, not twice but three times - what else would you do? His girlfriend was with him; there were girls there. To be baited like that, to prove to your mates you have a super ego, is just crazy.''

It is alleged Marshall and another man assaulted a third man at 3.20am at the intersection of Bridge and George streets as dozens of people queued inside and outside the restaurant. The incident is the subject of a briefing note to the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Scipione, and caused a ''holding statement'' to be prepared for release to media outlets on request.

The statement, which did not name Marshall, said detectives were investigating an alleged assault upon a 24-year-old man by two other men who left the scene.

''Police attached to The Rocks Local Area Command are investigating an alleged assault outside a fast food restaurant in Sydney's CBD overnight,'' the statement said.

''About 3.20am [yesterday], a verbal altercation allegedly occurred between a 24-year-old man and a 26-year-old man in George Street, near the intersection with Bridge Street.

''The 26-year-old and another male allegedly assaulted the 24-year-old before leaving the area. The 24-year-old sustained a small facial laceration and reported the alleged incident to The Rocks police station.

''An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, and police are hoping to speak with a 26-year-old man who may be able to assist with inquiries.''

Detectives have seized video from restaurant and City Council security cameras.

Marshall had arranged to meet police last night but cancelled at the last minute, telling them he would speak to officers either today or tomorrow.

Marshall postponed the interview to meet Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden at his manager's home.

 

[Guest]

Don't punish Benji Marshall just because he's the face of the NRL

* Phil Rothfield
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* March 06, 2011 12:00AM
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THE rugby league world will be waiting with interest for the NRL to act on the Benji Marshall case.

Trying to predict player punishment is harder than winning Lotto.

The NRL is the opposite to a court of law in that chief executive David Gallop does not reward players for clean records.

In fact, it's the opposite.

Manly superstar Brett Stewart was suspended for four weeks two years ago because he transgressed when he was the face of the game.

Todd Carney escaped suspension despite being charged with a criminal offence - and he had a shocking list of prior misdemeanours.

Work that out.

Stewart's case went to the NRL board. Carney's didn't.

Work that out.

Stewart didn't get a face-to-face meeting with Gallop. Carney did.

Work that out.

So we move on to Benji, the newly anointed face of the game. Will this latest incident go to the board like Brett Stewart?

Will he get lashed with a feather like Carney?

Surely commonsense will prevail.

Benji should not have reacted, no matter what the provocation.

He should have walked away from it.

But he should not be punished because he is the face of the game.

What happened to Brett Stewart should never be allowed to happen again.

Benji Marshall should be cleared to play next weekend.

 

[NJLM78]

Glad we are not playing until Monday. That will give Benji the maximum amount of time to clear his head from the all media attention that this 'split lip- run to the police' incident is getting.

 

[Gazman]

I have to agree with the forum members calling on us to show support for Benji, it is bad enough that he has to face the media and NRL scrutiny , but at least he should know that the silent majority in this country applaud his stance at his tormentors. I for one could not have taken on someone with those odds (only because I know my fighting limitations), but it must seem obvious that he may have been pushed too far to react the way he did especially if it is as true as the media say it was a group of 10 men.

If there is a poll set up on the forum that we support Benji through this and get his mind back on Football then put me down for a Yes :supporter:

 

[Tommy_Tiger]

Benji will be fine!!!

i will like all 10 of those guy that racially abused the best footballer in the world and called him a black c*** to be named and shamed !!!

i bet ya that the clown that got decked by benji just wanted to be the hero among his mates … funny how when benji gave it to him the other 9 womats looked on ... there either softy's , or hate there so called mate !!

haha ... dw guys thats not going to stop benji from winning the Daily M !

 

[Tiges05]

Front Page of Telegraph tommorrow should be huge photo of the person that allegedly racially abused Benji with the headline OUR UGLY CITY.

I completely agree with you Snake. The Daily Telegraph make significant amounts of money from the NRL and its "face of the game" and should also be protecting their single biggest revenue generater.

It will never happen but the Tele should support our game.

 

[supercoach]

Iam sure he was provoked, had a brain snap and belted the guy end of story. The only trouble weather he likes it or not, he is the biggest name in the NRL and with that tag comes a lot of restrictions and unwritten obligations. He is coached on the football field to ignore sledging and is warned not to retaliate to any physical baiting. The same applies off the field, he has too much to loose, the media dont care who is right or wrong, they just want a big headline with BENJI'S name plastered all over it. These players just cant afford to be anywhere near these places at 3am in the morning, its sad but true they are targets for every two bob d.ckhead.

The most important thing he learns from this is dosnt put himself in the same situation again.

 

[system]

Front Page of Telegraph tommorrow should be huge photo of the person that allegedly racially abused Benji with the headline OUR UGLY CITY.

I completely agree with you Snake. The Daily Telegraph make significant amounts of money from the NRL and its "face of the game" and should also be protecting their single biggest revenue generater.

It will never happen but the Tele should support our game.

Sorry but you can't cross that line.

This incident may turn out to be a guy pressing charges because it was Benji Marshall but you cross that line once and there is nothing to stop media doing it again in every case they see fit

 

[Tommy_Tiger]

Benji can go where ever he wants when ever he wants !! media and the general public just ******** !! leave these high profile players in our country alone !! so what if he is out at 3.30 am in the morning …benji has ticked all the boxes the last week been at every function to support our game

 

[Tiger99]

About 2 years ago I was in the cross for my birthday and benji was at the same club. this one guy kept giving it to benji all night but benji kept ignoring him. It got to a stage were benji you could tel got frustrated and by then had a little bit extra to drink but confronted the bloke but u could tel the bloke was baiting him so I told my brother (who is massive) to help him out so he pretty much went over and belted the bloke and got kicked out. I could have only imagined if benji got into a fight with this bloke what would have happened. But you would never hear the true story. I would hate to think how much it still happens and if he was with his gf and these guys were being rude and punch the blokes lights out too.

 

[Geo]

Some of you people need to pull your heads in. Benji was with his Mrs and was clearly accosted by between 8-10 males. He should be applauded for what he did.

In 2007 I was standing in line at an ATM machine and Benji was at the machine withdrawing some cash. The Lebanese gangsters standing in the line in front of me knew it was Benji and one of them started pushing him in the back as Benji was doing his transaction. Small jabs trying to get Benji to explode into a fight . It was so disgraceful. Benji was the upmost professional and handled it superbly. These blokes then surrounded him and looked like they were gonna bash him in the street. Sonny Bill walked out of the club to see what the delay was and all of a sudden it was 5 on 2 instead of 5 on 1 and the gangsters ran away like startled little rabbits.

Weak hero's. It sickens and disgusts me what these people do.

Well said Bug…it's just sad really

 

[Tommy_Tiger]

About 2 years ago I was in the cross for my birthday and benji was at the same club. this one guy kept giving it to benji all night but benji kept ignoring him. It got to a stage were benji you could tel got frustrated and by then had a little bit extra to drink but confronted the bloke but u could tel the bloke was baiting him so I told my brother (who is massive) to help him out so he pretty much went over and belted the bloke and got kicked out. I could have only imagined if benji got into a fight with this bloke what would have happened. But you would never hear the true story. I would hate to think how much it still happens and if he was with his gf and these guys were being rude and punch the blokes lights out too.

i agree mate !!

mate it happens every blood day .. jealous no bodies getting up our high profile players !

 

[Demps]

Some of you people need to pull your heads in. Benji was with his Mrs and was clearly accosted by between 8-10 males. He should be applauded for what he did.

In 2007 I was standing in line at an ATM machine and Benji was at the machine withdrawing some cash. The Lebanese gangsters standing in the line in front of me knew it was Benji and one of them started pushing him in the back as Benji was doing his transaction. Small jabs trying to get Benji to explode into a fight . It was so disgraceful. Benji was the upmost professional and handled it superbly. These blokes then surrounded him and looked like they were gonna bash him in the street. Sonny Bill walked out of the club to see what the delay was and all of a sudden it was 5 on 2 instead of 5 on 1 and the gangsters ran away like startled little rabbits.

Weak hero's. It sickens and disgusts me what these people do.

I LOVED this story so much. Sonny Bill is the man, one of my old favorites before the controversy - still support him a bit and as for user: tiger05 - Sonny would smoke u !! hahaha, don't even play yourself with such stupid comments. However I do agree I wouldn't just stand there and watch such harassment take place. Uppercut.

 

[ragedmachine]

If the NRL want to be consistent and Benji is punished for this, then ANY fist thrown in a game from now on will have to result in the same punishment or worse. Fights on the field are far worse in exposure, millions of kids are watching it live and the resulting injuries are far worse ala. Anthony Watts.

Benji should be given a medal. Not for what he did, but what he stood for.

 

[AJ1]

There wasn't 10 guys, it was 3 or 4 max. It could have looked like 8 though as other people tried to stop it. Benji was targeted though. Unfortunately Benji got involved when he had a minder to sort it out.

 

[huntertiger]

I dont normally comment on issues such as this as hearsay and speculation just inflame the situation, but i am going to this time and not becaseu it is Benji Marshall but because i am sick and tired of hearing about high profile sports people being attacked both verbally and physically in public..

Whether it be Benji Marshall or the kid coming thru the ranks in the U18's these people are entitled to a life off the field and should not have to put up with the low lives of this world that have and never will make anything of themselves but go out and big note themselves in public to get notoriety

I would believe the racial vilification accusations that are being made in this case as it isnt the first time this has occured. I am also aware through media how proud Benji Marshall is of his homeland and his family heritage and a person can only take so much. The law states you cant hit another person and we have to use the same level of force, well al i can say is if this is the way that it happened then the minute this person opened his mouth he contravened the racial vilification law in this state and deserved more then a split lip. No Benji should not of hit him but enough is enough.

Good luck Benji and all the other sportsmen and women out there that do the right thing but have to put up with the lowlives of our society

 

[Nobby]

I am in SHOCK. I agree with Paul Rothfield. If what happened is reported to have happened. Benji needs to apologise for doing what the grub deserved then we can just move on. If there is strong evidence this low life did racial abuse Benji. He should be charged with that for starting it. In law there is the actual real excuse for "PROVOCATION" as an acceptable defence.

 

[Golden]

If Gallop suspends Benji for this and lets Carney off deadset, the NRL is down the toilet Nothing better come out of this at all or our game is in big trouble, or Gallop has money on the roosters

 

[JimmyTiger88]

Im not fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this altercation but i know for a fact that this maccas is notorious for its violence and drunken behaviour especially 3am on a sat morning …was benj staying at the four seasons that night and felt abit peckish ? or had he had a late one and come from the rocks from a club or pub or restaurant? in any case it seems he has caused abit of commotion out side maccas and subsequently been targeted by a bunch of boozed up kids (probably easts supporters).

he should have just had an early night and gone back to the palace hotel at brekkey point and slapped on a few bets on the tab like he usually does :stuck_out_tongue:

 

[Nobby]

Gallop never knows what to do. He is reactionary with all his desicions. His last critisim was for being soft on Carney compared to Stewart. So if he runs true to form, he will be hard on Benji. But who really knows with him?