Benji Marshall - Mega Thread
- Thread starter Black_amp_Gold
- Start date
yep, and it made me more hesitant about throwing him in the deep end so quickly. If braith was healthy I would definitely want brooks in NSW Cup for a while longer but there are no other options and his body should be able to take FG. But i dunno how his confidence will go; whether he can overrule people like Farah and Benji at 18 years of age.
It's a 50-50 call and potter will be able to make it far better than I, or most others will.
It's a 50-50 call and potter will be able to make it far better than I, or most others will.
PYMBLEPETE
New member
@slick said:
People are saying that Sutton and Fulton will not match up, which is probably true. But that misses the point that we are substituting a very strong defender in the line for a, well, lesser defender.
Not many stop GI but Fulton is one of the best defenders in the NRL; I am constantly amazed at how little this guy is appreciated in our team.
G
Guest
Guest
Mick Potter argues sending Benji Marshall to the bench may be just what the out of form superstar needs
Paul Crawley
The Daily Telegraph
May 16, 2013 12:00AM
MICK Potter wants Benji Marshall to finish his career at the Wests Tigers - but admits that Marshall's future in the team will be determined by form.
In a wide-ranging and candid interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers coach opened up about why he dumped his star five-eighth to the bench for the first time since 2006 ahead of tomorrow night's crucial game against competition leaders South Sydney.
And with speculation Marshall is about to sign an upgraded extension until the end of 2017 for a reported $4 million over five years, Potter said: "I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal. Potentially that should be the case with Benji. I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
AXING BENJI
This is Potter's first year in charge at the Wests Tigers - and he has come up with probably the toughest call ever made at the joint-venture club.
He said he did it for one reason.
"Ultimately it is about the team, it is not about Benji," Potter said. "I am looking for a spark in the team and sometimes a change-up like this does help."
Marshall admitted last week he was a shadow of his former self and he spoke openly about how he had he lost his confidence.
But you can still imagine he wouldn't have been tickled pink when Potter broke the news at training on Tuesday that he would be starting off the bench against the Bunnies.
"I spoke to him at training before we did video," Potter said. "He wasn't happy.
"I can understand that given his status at the club and in the game.
"I suppose it was like when anyone receives bad news.
"It is not taken well but actions speak louder than words and when we went out and trained he could not have performed any better.
"He was just outstanding.
"Yes it was a tough decision, probably one of the toughest I have had to do in my coaching.
"But I don't shy away from making those decisions and I felt it was the right thing for our team at this particular stage.
"Moving forward I am confident Benji will react in a positive way for the team and we will get the best out of our team this weekend because of it."
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WILL HE BE BACK
Potter wants to make this point clear. While Benji is on the bench for now, that is not to say he can't fight his way back into the starting team.
"Yes, I want Benji Marshall back in the starting team," Potter said.
So why dump him for a stop-gap five-eighth?
With all due respect to Liam Fulton, he has played pretty much his entire NRL career in the back row - so what does he offer at five-eighth Benji doesn't?
"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.
"Attack-wise he would probably be the first to admit he is no Benji Marshall but he can certainly catch and pass and he can kick the ball. I don't envisage within this game it will be a long-term solution."
By that he means Marshall will get plenty of game-time against the Rabbitohs tomorrow night.
"It is a 17-man game and he will still play a massive part in the game," Potter said.
THE FUTURE
If Benji is struggling for form and we are not even halfway through 2013, how can the club sign him up until the end of 2017 as the highest paid player?
This is the question fans have a right to ask and to his credit when fronted on it Potter didn't duck for cover.
"I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal," he said.
"Potentially that should be the case with Benji.
"I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
But he said the final decision on how much Benji is paid would be determined by the club's executive.
"My job is having the best possible players at the club. (The money) is for upstairs to sort out.
"I want Benji here as long as possible. I will leave the other part of it for the executives to sort out."
IS BENJI FAT?
Told there is talk that Benji is weighing 101kg (almost 10kg above his peak playing weight) the Tigers coach broke out laughing.
"He is not 101kg. I think he is 94 off the top of my head. That is just Chinese whispers by the sound of it."
And as for the club's crippling injury toll, Potter said both he and skipper Robbie Farah had told the squad excuses won't wash.
"Look, I don't want to make any excuses for anyone," he said.
"Our job is to win games.
"Sometimes you get injuries, sometimes you don't. We just need to perform better. I want to win every single game. Unfortunately that hasn't happened. Sure, there is reasons for it but I just don't want to stand behind excuses. There is opportunities here for some young guys to do some special things, that is what we are trying to do.
"We are trying to win a game. I thought on the weekend we were looking okay at halftime but things just slipped away.
"The game is 80 minutes and we are not hanging in for 80 minutes."
Paul Crawley
The Daily Telegraph
May 16, 2013 12:00AM
MICK Potter wants Benji Marshall to finish his career at the Wests Tigers - but admits that Marshall's future in the team will be determined by form.
In a wide-ranging and candid interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers coach opened up about why he dumped his star five-eighth to the bench for the first time since 2006 ahead of tomorrow night's crucial game against competition leaders South Sydney.
And with speculation Marshall is about to sign an upgraded extension until the end of 2017 for a reported $4 million over five years, Potter said: "I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal. Potentially that should be the case with Benji. I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
AXING BENJI
This is Potter's first year in charge at the Wests Tigers - and he has come up with probably the toughest call ever made at the joint-venture club.
He said he did it for one reason.
"Ultimately it is about the team, it is not about Benji," Potter said. "I am looking for a spark in the team and sometimes a change-up like this does help."
Marshall admitted last week he was a shadow of his former self and he spoke openly about how he had he lost his confidence.
But you can still imagine he wouldn't have been tickled pink when Potter broke the news at training on Tuesday that he would be starting off the bench against the Bunnies.
"I spoke to him at training before we did video," Potter said. "He wasn't happy.
"I can understand that given his status at the club and in the game.
"I suppose it was like when anyone receives bad news.
"It is not taken well but actions speak louder than words and when we went out and trained he could not have performed any better.
"He was just outstanding.
"Yes it was a tough decision, probably one of the toughest I have had to do in my coaching.
"But I don't shy away from making those decisions and I felt it was the right thing for our team at this particular stage.
"Moving forward I am confident Benji will react in a positive way for the team and we will get the best out of our team this weekend because of it."
\
\
WILL HE BE BACK
Potter wants to make this point clear. While Benji is on the bench for now, that is not to say he can't fight his way back into the starting team.
"Yes, I want Benji Marshall back in the starting team," Potter said.
So why dump him for a stop-gap five-eighth?
With all due respect to Liam Fulton, he has played pretty much his entire NRL career in the back row - so what does he offer at five-eighth Benji doesn't?
"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.
"Attack-wise he would probably be the first to admit he is no Benji Marshall but he can certainly catch and pass and he can kick the ball. I don't envisage within this game it will be a long-term solution."
By that he means Marshall will get plenty of game-time against the Rabbitohs tomorrow night.
"It is a 17-man game and he will still play a massive part in the game," Potter said.
THE FUTURE
If Benji is struggling for form and we are not even halfway through 2013, how can the club sign him up until the end of 2017 as the highest paid player?
This is the question fans have a right to ask and to his credit when fronted on it Potter didn't duck for cover.
"I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal," he said.
"Potentially that should be the case with Benji.
"I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
But he said the final decision on how much Benji is paid would be determined by the club's executive.
"My job is having the best possible players at the club. (The money) is for upstairs to sort out.
"I want Benji here as long as possible. I will leave the other part of it for the executives to sort out."
IS BENJI FAT?
Told there is talk that Benji is weighing 101kg (almost 10kg above his peak playing weight) the Tigers coach broke out laughing.
"He is not 101kg. I think he is 94 off the top of my head. That is just Chinese whispers by the sound of it."
And as for the club's crippling injury toll, Potter said both he and skipper Robbie Farah had told the squad excuses won't wash.
"Look, I don't want to make any excuses for anyone," he said.
"Our job is to win games.
"Sometimes you get injuries, sometimes you don't. We just need to perform better. I want to win every single game. Unfortunately that hasn't happened. Sure, there is reasons for it but I just don't want to stand behind excuses. There is opportunities here for some young guys to do some special things, that is what we are trying to do.
"We are trying to win a game. I thought on the weekend we were looking okay at halftime but things just slipped away.
"The game is 80 minutes and we are not hanging in for 80 minutes."
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
It is refreshing to hear Potter talk about this. I really admire his balls, it isbexactly what needed to happen. Yes, I would have liked a better replacement at 6 than Fulton, but throwing one of the kids to the wolves against Souths is madness so I can see exactly where he is coming from.
The jury is still out on Potter. He's made some mistakes (benching Farah the main one) and some of his selections have puzzled me, but I said since day one that he needs at least two years to cleanup this mess. It is a massive job and he has been left with the garbage that Sheens created and allowed to thrive.
The jury is still out on Potter. He's made some mistakes (benching Farah the main one) and some of his selections have puzzled me, but I said since day one that he needs at least two years to cleanup this mess. It is a massive job and he has been left with the garbage that Sheens created and allowed to thrive.
happy_tiger
Well-known member
@hybrid_tiger said:
But thats only half of it Hybrid
Will the board stand in Potters way if he says he wants to let Marshall and Blair go ??
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
Straight to your plate from the Telecrap
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MICK Potter wants Benji Marshall to finish his career at the Wests Tigers - but admits that Marshall's future in the team will be determined by form.
In a wide-ranging and candid interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers coach opened up about why he dumped his star five-eighth to the bench for the first time since 2006 ahead of tomorrow night's crucial game against competition leaders South Sydney.
And with speculation Marshall is about to sign an upgraded extension until the end of 2017 for a reported $4 million over five years, Potter said: "I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal. Potentially that should be the case with Benji. I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
**AXING BENJI**
This is Potter's first year in charge at the Wests Tigers - and he has come up with probably the toughest call ever made at the joint-venture club.
He said he did it for one reason.
"Ultimately it is about the team, it is not about Benji," Potter said. "I am looking for a spark in the team and sometimes a change-up like this does help."
Marshall admitted last week he was a shadow of his former self and he spoke openly about how he had he lost his confidence.
But you can still imagine he wouldn't have been tickled pink when Potter broke the news at training on Tuesday that he would be starting off the bench against the Bunnies.
"I spoke to him at training before we did video," Potter said. "He wasn't happy.
"I can understand that given his status at the club and in the game.
"I suppose it was like when anyone receives bad news.
"It is not taken well but actions speak louder than words and when we went out and trained he could not have performed any better.
"He was just outstanding.
"Yes it was a tough decision, probably one of the toughest I have had to do in my coaching.
"But I don't shy away from making those decisions and I felt it was the right thing for our team at this particular stage.
"Moving forward I am confident Benji will react in a positive way for the team and we will get the best out of our team this weekend because of it."
**WILL HE BE BACK**
Potter wants to make this point clear. While Benji is on the bench for now, that is not to say he can't fight his way back into the starting team.
"Yes, I want Benji Marshall back in the starting team," Potter said.
So why dump him for a stop-gap five-eighth?
With all due respect to Liam Fulton, he has played pretty much his entire NRL career in the back row - so what does he offer at five-eighth Benji doesn't?
"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.
"Attack-wise he would probably be the first to admit he is no Benji Marshall but he can certainly catch and pass and he can kick the ball. I don't envisage within this game it will be a long-term solution."
By that he means Marshall will get plenty of game-time against the Rabbitohs tomorrow night.
"It is a 17-man game and he will still play a massive part in the game," Potter said.
**THE FUTURE**
If Benji is struggling for form and we are not even halfway through 2013, how can the club sign him up until the end of 2017 as the highest paid player?
This is the question fans have a right to ask and to his credit when fronted on it Potter didn't duck for cover.
"I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal," he said.
"Potentially that should be the case with Benji.
"I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
But he said the final decision on how much Benji is paid would be determined by the club's executive.
"My job is having the best possible players at the club. (The money) is for upstairs to sort out.
"I want Benji here as long as possible. I will leave the other part of it for the executives to sort out."
**IS BENJI FAT?**
Told there is talk that Benji is weighing 101kg (almost 10kg above his peak playing weight) the Tigers coach broke out laughing.
"He is not 101kg. I think he is 94 off the top of my head. That is just Chinese whispers by the sound of it."
And as for the club's crippling injury toll, Potter said both he and skipper Robbie Farah had told the squad excuses won't wash.
"Look, I don't want to make any excuses for anyone," he said.
"Our job is to win games.
"Sometimes you get injuries, sometimes you don't. We just need to perform better. I want to win every single game. Unfortunately that hasn't happened. Sure, there is reasons for it but I just don't want to stand behind excuses. There is opportunities here for some young guys to do some special things, that is what we are trying to do.
"We are trying to win a game. I thought on the weekend we were looking okay at halftime but things just slipped away.
"The game is 80 minutes and we are not hanging in for 80 minutes."
\
\
\
\
MICK Potter wants Benji Marshall to finish his career at the Wests Tigers - but admits that Marshall's future in the team will be determined by form.
In a wide-ranging and candid interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers coach opened up about why he dumped his star five-eighth to the bench for the first time since 2006 ahead of tomorrow night's crucial game against competition leaders South Sydney.
And with speculation Marshall is about to sign an upgraded extension until the end of 2017 for a reported $4 million over five years, Potter said: "I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal. Potentially that should be the case with Benji. I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
**AXING BENJI**
This is Potter's first year in charge at the Wests Tigers - and he has come up with probably the toughest call ever made at the joint-venture club.
He said he did it for one reason.
"Ultimately it is about the team, it is not about Benji," Potter said. "I am looking for a spark in the team and sometimes a change-up like this does help."
Marshall admitted last week he was a shadow of his former self and he spoke openly about how he had he lost his confidence.
But you can still imagine he wouldn't have been tickled pink when Potter broke the news at training on Tuesday that he would be starting off the bench against the Bunnies.
"I spoke to him at training before we did video," Potter said. "He wasn't happy.
"I can understand that given his status at the club and in the game.
"I suppose it was like when anyone receives bad news.
"It is not taken well but actions speak louder than words and when we went out and trained he could not have performed any better.
"He was just outstanding.
"Yes it was a tough decision, probably one of the toughest I have had to do in my coaching.
"But I don't shy away from making those decisions and I felt it was the right thing for our team at this particular stage.
"Moving forward I am confident Benji will react in a positive way for the team and we will get the best out of our team this weekend because of it."
**WILL HE BE BACK**
Potter wants to make this point clear. While Benji is on the bench for now, that is not to say he can't fight his way back into the starting team.
"Yes, I want Benji Marshall back in the starting team," Potter said.
So why dump him for a stop-gap five-eighth?
With all due respect to Liam Fulton, he has played pretty much his entire NRL career in the back row - so what does he offer at five-eighth Benji doesn't?
"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.
"Attack-wise he would probably be the first to admit he is no Benji Marshall but he can certainly catch and pass and he can kick the ball. I don't envisage within this game it will be a long-term solution."
By that he means Marshall will get plenty of game-time against the Rabbitohs tomorrow night.
"It is a 17-man game and he will still play a massive part in the game," Potter said.
**THE FUTURE**
If Benji is struggling for form and we are not even halfway through 2013, how can the club sign him up until the end of 2017 as the highest paid player?
This is the question fans have a right to ask and to his credit when fronted on it Potter didn't duck for cover.
"I am pretty much like most people, having a player at one club his whole career is a big deal," he said.
"Potentially that should be the case with Benji.
"I just want him to be back to his best and playing at his best every week."
But he said the final decision on how much Benji is paid would be determined by the club's executive.
"My job is having the best possible players at the club. (The money) is for upstairs to sort out.
"I want Benji here as long as possible. I will leave the other part of it for the executives to sort out."
**IS BENJI FAT?**
Told there is talk that Benji is weighing 101kg (almost 10kg above his peak playing weight) the Tigers coach broke out laughing.
"He is not 101kg. I think he is 94 off the top of my head. That is just Chinese whispers by the sound of it."
And as for the club's crippling injury toll, Potter said both he and skipper Robbie Farah had told the squad excuses won't wash.
"Look, I don't want to make any excuses for anyone," he said.
"Our job is to win games.
"Sometimes you get injuries, sometimes you don't. We just need to perform better. I want to win every single game. Unfortunately that hasn't happened. Sure, there is reasons for it but I just don't want to stand behind excuses. There is opportunities here for some young guys to do some special things, that is what we are trying to do.
"We are trying to win a game. I thought on the weekend we were looking okay at halftime but things just slipped away.
"The game is 80 minutes and we are not hanging in for 80 minutes."
happy_tiger
Well-known member
Welcome to the real world Benji ,this is what happens at the other 15 clubs when you don't play well and don't even try and step it up
And if it keeps up , you can get excited by the thought of getting quality ball from Masada Iosefa and being coached by Fletch
And if it keeps up , you can get excited by the thought of getting quality ball from Masada Iosefa and being coached by Fletch
Again, I applaud Potter for making the bold call. Would've been easy given our injury list to play the conservative card and try ride out. But 2 things have occurred. He's not tolerating the injury situation. He's adopting the approach that if you're here, you're good enough. And if you're here, there's no excuses. We must improve! The other relates to Marshall, Potter's showing a hard line by dropping Benji. Reputations mean little and the team is number 1\. If this is the mantra of how our coach is going to operate, then we're going in the right direction long term and away from the so called "boys club" Sheens seemed to conduct.
Had to be done and the way I see it and I think Benji should see it this way too is that Mick has handed Benji a challenge now. Start performing and I'll give you your position back. The ball is in Benji's court now and we'll see how fairdinkum he has been all these years with his gob. All the times he's said he loves this club and will never leave and play for another team against the Tigers. Let's see if he'll put in or walk away because it's too hard.
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
@happy tiger said:
If it's a footballing decision they should not stand in his way. But that's another issue altogether, unfortunately.
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
@Chris said:
Agreed 1000 per cent.
Really admire Potter making this call. It's all up to Benji now. The ball is in his court.
How refreshing is it to hear our coach refuse to use excuses like injuries etc.
People read way too much into the way Potter talks at press conferences. The reality is we have no idea about what he is thinking, saying or doing behind the scenes.
We get too used to seeing Bellyache spray the coach's box with spittle during a telecast. Or Ricky jumping up and down on the sideline.
There is more than one way to coach successfully, and hopefully Potter is going to achieve success his way. I see absolutely no point in speculating let alone riding him at the moment, he has a mess of a team on his hands.
We get too used to seeing Bellyache spray the coach's box with spittle during a telecast. Or Ricky jumping up and down on the sideline.
There is more than one way to coach successfully, and hopefully Potter is going to achieve success his way. I see absolutely no point in speculating let alone riding him at the moment, he has a mess of a team on his hands.
really what has potter done he has but him on the bench, so that means he gets a free ride for 20 min till the souths players get a little tired.if potter really had any BALLS at all benji would be playing in the NSW cup this week and for a weeks.
so please dont make this out to be something that will change benji he got punted from the kiwi side and that has had no effect on him at all, he has even got worst.
so please dont make this out to be something that will change benji he got punted from the kiwi side and that has had no effect on him at all, he has even got worst.
Yeah but it is a real balancing act bp - that's what I'm saying we really don't know half of the story of what he is dealing with.
At the end of the day he knows better what is going on internally than 99% of the people on this forum, so the least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt.
It'd be like a bloody minefield at Concord!!
At the end of the day he knows better what is going on internally than 99% of the people on this forum, so the least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt.
It'd be like a bloody minefield at Concord!!
Tiger_heart
Well-known member
The aftermath of Benji axing will be known at around 9PM on Friday night. Period.
