Benji Marshall - Mega Thread

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Could it be that Benji is injured?

I don't think there's any could about it. Benji was brought back in a month from an injury that could have taken three. He has to have his whole foot basically immobilised in strapping to be able to run. Given that he's not producing match turning performances, Potter is doing what he should have done a fortnight ago and giving a struggling player the option of playing half a game.

 

[neville]

You guys ever consider that benching Benji was part of the plan for coach and Benji?

It serves two purposes -

1\. Souths has the largest forward pack and will be running at Benji if he started. Everyone, including Benji, knows his defence is not up to scratch. The first 20 mins of the game will be the most physical. So what do you do? Stick in Fulton who is defensively stronger to take the brunt of the force. Once the Souths forward pack settle down a bit, move Fulton for Benji. This protects Benji from being demolished in the first 20, and the tigers racking up multiple tries against them early on.

2\. Using strategy above will then make it appear as though Potter has the courage to bench Benji, sending a (false) warning to other players, and making a (false) bold statement to fans alike.

As Potter said in his interview in the DT ;

"Well, given the team we are playing against there is going to be some heavy traffic potentially coming at Benji," Potter said.

"That is not to say Benji can't handle that but I thought it would just take a little bit of sting out of it early and Fults defensively is very, very competent.

Well said. Everyone needs to take a long cold shower. Sounds more like a defensive ploy in the opening minutes, having an extra forward on the field against a giant souths pack.

If another half such as Luke Brooks was chosen to start ahead of Benji, then all this hooha would be warranted. But thats not whats happened, so everyone should take it for what it is, a different game plan than what we're used to.

 

[underdog]

Footy show was interesting - Beau Ryan abolsutely leaping to benji's defense here. Really gave him a massive massive rap.

 

[tigsta]

:blah

Has anyone stopped and thought for a minute that Potter may have benched Benji because he is still carrying an injury? It's not the first time he has played from the bench due to injury. Perhaps all this media hoo ha over Benji's 'demotion' is much ado about nothing!

Not many people "stop for a minute" when it comes to footy teams.

Well he should be sacked then for jeopardizing 4 comp points. If he was injured he should not have played and let a fully fit player have a go. But he makes the rules I guess and ended playing like a busted behind missing 15 tackles in two weeks.

However I don't dismiss it because he has been so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if someone if an injured player did a better job.

But it's not the case because potter has already said benchy has been benched for poor form.

 

[Chris]

BENJI Marshall has begun early-morning MMA-style cardio sessions in a bid to shed at least 3kg and regain his place in the Tigers' starting side.Despite whispers suggesting Marshall is up to 10kg overblown, it's understood their marquee man is adopting his own Biggest Loser regimen to shed about a third of that.

On Monday, the playmaker was in the gym from 6.30am - more than 90 minutes before required - to do an extra session with strength coach Luke Portese.

WE hear the most outstanding gym performance in recent weeks belongs not to Marshall or Fijian winger Marika Koroibete, who benches 60kg dumbbells in repetitions of 15, but assistant coach Royce Simmons. Quizzed recently on whether he still had it, the Panthers' premiership rake promptly dropped to the ground, punched out 50 push-ups, then jumped back to his feet.

From the Telecrap

 

[Tbone]

**You guys ever consider that benching Benji was part of the plan for coach and Benji?**

It serves two purposes -

1\. Souths has the largest forward pack and will be running at Benji if he started. Everyone, including Benji, knows his defence is not up to scratch. The first 20 mins of the game will be the most physical. So what do you do? Stick in Fulton who is defensively stronger to take the brunt of the force. Once the Souths forward pack settle down a bit, move Fulton for Benji. This protects Benji from being demolished in the first 20, and the tigers racking up multiple tries against them early on.

2\. Using strategy above will then make it appear as though Potter has the courage to bench Benji, sending a (false) warning to other players, and making a (false) bold statement to fans alike.

As Potter said in his interview in the DT ;

"Well, given the team we are playing against there is going to be some heavy traffic potentially coming at Benji," Potter said.

"That is not to say Benji can't handle that but I thought it would just take a little bit of sting out of it early and Fults defensively is very, very competent.

Except that Potter is quoted in the article as saying "“We certainly are not the best of friends this week". If benji had a say in the decision, this wouldnt be the case.

 

[NT_Tiger]

I'm comfortable with the decision Mick Potter has taken and, from what I can see from the outside, I'm confident in him as a coach. I like his calm no BS approach, even though I have to think that he's screaming inside his head at what he sees. He has a huge task ahead of him and he is tackling it sensibly and methodically.

But this is a Benji Marshall thread. I am one that hopes Marshall will get on top of his game and fire, although I don't think it will happen over night. I also think (as I've said previously) that he needs a solid half beside him to be truly dangerous. I have doubts that I will discern much of an an improvement in Marshall in the rabbits game but hopefully Potter will. He knows what he's looking for.

For me, It's time to be patient. I'm not going to sit here flogging either Marshall or Potter with my keyboard.

 

[NT_Tiger]

AND FURTHERMORE!! Just to explain, I'm not at all happy with what I see from Marshall's performance, but I'm not going to belittle the man as he is truly a star and has done wonders for my team.

 

[pHyR3]

Has anyone stopped and thought for a minute that Potter may have benched Benji because he is still carrying an injury? It's not the first time he has played from the bench due to injury. Perhaps all this media hoo ha over Benji's 'demotion' is much ado about nothing!

Not many people "stop for a minute" when it comes to footy teams.

adam blair does…stops for about 60 then takes a hit up and stops for the last 20.

 

[Guest]

Wests Tigers must choose between re-signing current star Benji Marshall or future stars

Matthew Johns
The Daily Telegraph
May 17, 2013 12:00AM
\
\
THE Wests Tigers are faced with one of the most crucial and difficult decisions in their history - whether to re-sign Benji Marshall.

Marshall's request for a four-year extension couldn't have come at a more awkward time, when his form, by his own admission, is at a career low. He finds himself on the bench and the Tigers' next crop of young stars are ready to make their own mark.

Young five-eighth Curtis Sironen, along with Holden Cup half sensations, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, are earmarked to be the future of the Tigers.

But it's unlikely all three will remain if Benji gets his four-year deal, believed to be around $1 million a year.

So for the Tigers it's a matter of "The Present" vs "The Future", as well as taking a gamble in trusting that Benji will return to the peak of his powers.

This is a situation which is much more than just a business decision because there's so much emotion involved. Marshall is more than just a player for this club.

Let's not forget the Wests Tigers were a highly troubled merger before Benji's magic and charisma united the two tribal clubs, delivered them a premiership, mountains of sponsorship dollars and a huge legion of fans to the once unfashionable team.
Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks

Benji remains one of the game's most recognisable and bankable faces off the field. Understandably he wants to be paid like an "elite player". The only problem is he's playing second-rate football.

Yet, if the Tigers hesitate, there are a couple of clubs who will gladly "show him the money".

The Warriors will be monitoring the situation closely. He would give the Aucklanders a huge profile lift, sponsors would be drawn to the club, fans would flock and if he could return close to peak form, he would be teamed up in a dream halves partnership with Shaun Johnson.

They offered Todd Carney $1 million a year. They will offer Benji at least the same.

Another club which threw the bank at Carney are the Penrith Panthers. Phil Gould is a huge Marshall fan and would back himself and his coaching staff to return Benji to his best. Benji Marshall has a lot of what Penrith need. Profile and charisma. And a huge number of young fans would follow him wherever he went.

I'm certain the Panthers are preparing to table a bid.

One way or another I get the feeling the Tigers may need to make a decision on Benji very, very soon.

But Benji himself can make the Tigers' decision easy by taking steps back toward his best football. And tonight against the competition's favourites, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, is the perfect stage to start.

I'm a believer, I believe Benji can get back to playing at a level which will once again see him as one of the game's elite.

All halves, at some point, lose their way.

But getting back requires hard work and some important adjustments.

This is what I've noticed about Benji. He is dropping out of games and disappearing right when his side needs him most. This usually comes down to a couple of things: one, the player is struggling for confidence, or two, the player is well short of fitness.

With Benji I think it's a combination of both, but it begins with his fitness and his weight. Michael Potter has placed Benji on the bench tonight because he knows Marshall hasn't got 80 minutes in him at the moment. Potter wants Benji still with petrol in his tank when the crucial minutes arrive.

But if Benji is serious about discovering his finest football in the coming months, he needs to remove some of the bulk from his frame. Benji's greatest gift is his footwork and acceleration, but the extra kilos are robbing him of both.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily saying Benji is fat. It may be rock-hard muscle, but at the end of the day, weight is weight, and when some of the kilos start to disappear, suddenly his feet will start to make him move like the Benji we knew.

Too often strength and conditioning coaches tell footballers that extra muscle and the extra weight that it brings won't hurt their speed.

These conditioners record a player's 40m sprint times and point to improved results as evidence of this.

But rugby league is not played in a straight line. The agility our game requires and the subtlety of movement and footwork means three or four extra kilos feel like you're carrying cement by the time the second half arrives.

A month of solid training and no injuries will get Benji back towards his best playing weight and watch his footwork return.

But Benji also needs to make some crucial adjustments to his play. He needs to simplify his ball-playing, play straighter and play tougher.

He needs to stop skimming across a defence and start penetrating it.

Rather than relying on no-look passes, flicks and tricks, Benji needs to start telling his ball runners to hit gaps and he needs to be running at defenders, pulling them out of shape with a willingness to be hit, to create that space. Very traditional, very simple, but the most effective form of ball-playing.

 

[happy_tiger]

Can somone leave a copy of the above story next to Benji's Fruit Loops this morning

Read it Benji and do something about it

Shove mine and everyone elses words back down our throats PLEASE 😛ray:

 

[Furious1]

Can somone leave a copy of the above story next to Benji's Fruit Loops this morning

Read it Benji and do something about it

Shove mine and everyone elses words back down our throats PLEASE 😛ray:

I'm sure thats what we all want, Benji to make us eat our words. This is the time we get to see Benji's real character.

 

[Tigerpete]

Geez this is a real serious question for the club and I don't think there's an easy answer to it either. Brooks and Moses have achieved nothing yet whilst Sironen is only a couple of years ahead. The 3 no doubt have the talent to make it and will make it here or somewhere else. Then you got Benji. Benji is the club's juggernaught, the PR wagon. He's done heaps for the club and attracts plenty to the club too. The question is that with Benji's form down and down for quite a while, which way to go??

If we let Benji go, we've got the cover, filling his shoes will not be a problem. With it, the club probably reinvents itself. Sterlo said it last night. Benji basically IS the Wests Tigers. Quite often we play as well as Benji does. To be honest i'm torn. I want to give Benji every opportunity to recover his form. On the other hand I do see the window of opportunity for the club. It can go one of two ways here. Question is , which??

 

[Justo]

I've been thinking about this a bit over the past 24hrs and I thing it's the perfect week to drop Benji. The truth of it is, we are a very low chance of winning. Benji on the field or off the field isnt going to impact the final result. If were playing penrith or warriors this weekend it may be a gamble.

Least with this action he can send the message to no disadvantage of a result of the game.

Tough call, but smart call imo.

 

[TiggaPlease]

He's not worth the money. I wouldn't even consider a contract extension until this season is done.

 

[Justo]

He's not worth the money. I wouldn't even consider a contract extension until this season is done.

Ahh but then you run the risk of him finding form and being snapped up by another club while we wait. Penrith and warriors are keen to spend some coin on him according to various sources. Re-sign him, but not for 5 years.

 

[stryker]

I've been thinking about this a bit over the past 24hrs and I thing it's the perfect week to drop Benji. The truth of it is, we are a very low chance of winning. Benji on the field or off the field isnt going to impact the final result. If were playing penrith or warriors this weekend it may be a gamble.

Least with this action he can send the message to no disadvantage of a result of the game.

Tough call, but smart call imo.

Dont you think the players are smart enough to realise this? People are praising Potter for his stance…in my eyes he has made a half hearted attempt at this. The timing is all wrong. If he was really serious, he would stand Benji down over the bye weekend and use that 2 weeks off to bring in Brooks and Moses. I personally do not think they will be anywhere near ready, but if he wants to send a message, Benji should be replaced by players who are seen as the future of this club. As it turns out, he replaced Benji with a bloke who has no desire to play 5/8th. Its a dumb move that will not achieve the desired effect. As for the timing, we need every man on deck with experience for this game. We should never go into any game thinking we have no chance at all. We are a professional football club and the mindset should be we can win any game, anywhere, at any time and in any conditions. Negativity is for the fans, not the team.

 

[Justo]

You may be right Stryker. I suppose only Potter knows what Potter is doing. May work, may backfire. All we can do on this slow day at work is come on here and speculate.

 

[Furious1]

I've been thinking about this a bit over the past 24hrs and I thing it's the perfect week to drop Benji. The truth of it is, we are a very low chance of winning. Benji on the field or off the field isnt going to impact the final result. If were playing penrith or warriors this weekend it may be a gamble.

Least with this action he can send the message to no disadvantage of a result of the game.

Tough call, but smart call imo.

Dont you think the players are smart enough to realise this? People are praising Potter for his stance…in my eyes he has made a half hearted attempt at this. The timing is all wrong. If he was really serious, he would stand Benji down over the bye weekend and use that 2 weeks off to bring in Brooks and Moses. I personally do not think they will be anywhere near ready, but if he wants to send a message, Benji should be replaced by players who are seen as the future of this club. As it turns out, he replaced Benji with a bloke who has no desire to play 5/8th. Its a dumb move that will not achieve the desired effect. As for the timing, we need every man on deck with experience for this game. We should never go into any game thinking we have no chance at all. We are a professional football club and the mindset should be we can win any game, anywhere, at any time and in any conditions. Negativity is for the fans, not the team.

If it's had no effect, then why has Marshall all of a sudden (reportedly) been putting in an extra hour or so in the gym? The penny has dropped mate, whether you accept it or not, the players are on notice, below average, no matter who you are, will not be tolerated. Benji is reportedly trying to lose 3 kegs,so obviously in his own mind he realises work needs to be done. It's a shame Potter has had to bench him for that to happen.

 

[pHyR3]

Starting to disagree with you stryker, its good timing. What could benji possibly do to affect the scorline against the Souths? Score one try? that's the maximum on his current form. We could bench him this week or during the bye week and then risk losing a MUST WIN game against the panthers where he can do something due to weaker opposition.

Good stance and everyone including benji is on notice now. He will either respond and get some form, else he will piss off to Japan or the Warriors. Same with a couple of the other non-workers like Blair. He will lift or leave.

If Benji and Blair DONT lift we still have the option of bringing in brooks during the bye week.