Benji set to play first game

Nor should the Tigers ban Benji from this game. Send him out there and let him tear the Dogs a new one I say.
 
Not sure about this.

Sure he was provoked, but if it was a player from the Bulldogs we would all be calling for him to be banned.

I don't see why he just didn't walk away.
 
We haven't heard from Gallop yet….I wouldn't be surprised after being criticised for being 'soft' on the Carney DUI affair Gallop goes hard on Benji and bans him until the court appearance on April 20th.
 
@Jazza said:
Not sure about this.

Sure he was provoked, but if it was a player from the Bulldogs we would all be calling for him to be banned.

I don't see why he just didn't walk away.
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not neccessarily. Lets postulate that it was Michael Ennis in Benji Marshalls shoes.

same situation - Ennis despite being a niggle on the field is known for doing all the right things regarding fans and outings off the field - the guys it a model ambassador for the doggies.

Same squeaky clean record. Ennis has no previous record of anything untoward.

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, however doesn't mean he wouldn't cop it from the fans on gameday. thats where Marshalls Gameface needs to be on.
 
@alexaki said:
We haven't heard from Gallop yet….I wouldn't be surprised after being criticised for being 'soft' on the Carney DUI affair Gallop goes hard on Benji and bans him until the court appearance on April 20th.
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Gallop has sat on the fence in a article in SMH basically saying that let the legal process play out and if their were any issues they would step in .Also saying that players were responsible for their own actions . Tigers will have to hand the NRL a full report on incident .(Similar to Carney comments before they handled it )
 
@Jazza said:
Not sure about this.

Sure he was provoked, but if it was a player from the Bulldogs we would all be calling for him to be banned.

I don't see why he just didn't walk away.
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If someone marched up to Jamal Idris and called him a black whatever and got a smack in the face, I'd be backing Jamal 100%.

Why didn't he walk away? For one thing, can't the bloke buy a hamburger without being harassed? For another what do we know happened? Maybe Benji felt in danger for himself or his girlfriend what with possibly 8 drunk fools surrounding him? Maybe he thought one of them was about to hit him? Maybe he heard one too many bigoted comment and snapped in his tiredness at 3am? Who knows - its easy for us to say walk away - he's the bloke who has to handle this rubbish day in day out.
 
@Yossarian said:
@Jazza said:
Not sure about this.

Sure he was provoked, but if it was a player from the Bulldogs we would all be calling for him to be banned.

I don't see why he just didn't walk away.

If someone marched up to Jamal Idris and called him a black whatever and got a smack in the face, I'd be backing Jamal 100%.

Why didn't he walk away? For one thing, can't the bloke buy a hamburger without being harassed? For another what do we know happened? Maybe Benji felt in danger for himself or his girlfriend what with possibly 8 drunk fools surrounding him? Maybe he thought one of them was about to hit him? Maybe he heard one too many bigoted comment and snapped in his tiredness at 3am? Who knows - its easy for us to say walk away - he's the bloke who has to handle this rubbish day in day out.
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100% correct mate…when your surrounded by a group of aggro drunks (it doesnt just happen to the famous), sometimes laughing it off and walking away are the worst things to do. Its all about intimidation and if they think they have you, they're not going to let up.
Sometimes you have to be the agressor to escape such situations. You take out the ringleader and the others trail off.

Benji had better be there on Monday as in my mind he is the victim and is getting kicked from pillar to post in the press.
 
Being a high profile player, it makes him worse off by hitting someone then just an average Joe.

Sure if 8 aggro drunks came up to him, surrounded him and threatened violence then I can understand, but so far what has been alleged has been name calling by an intoxicated person. He cops that at every match he plays.

There has been no suggestion that he tried to even leave the store. If he did, but was followed, then my point of view will be different.

And maybe as more details emerge, my point of view will change. But from what Ive read so far, he had to much to lose by allegedly assaulting someone over name calling which I must stress I don't condone either.
 
as a tigers fan, i'm more disappointed that benji put himself in this kind of position, only a week out from the first game of the season.

that upset me more than him giving the bloke one on the chin
 
Not so convinced that he will play first game. It doesn't really matter what we think, the bloke he hit could have been the lowest form of life, fact is Benji could & should have just walked away. Not easy I grant you that. It was a bad decision on his part after making a poor decision just before it - to go for a hamburger at a known trouble spot at 3.20am. Now the chances are in the same position I would clock the guy, but I'm not Benji a well paid footballer who by now should know he a target for all the jobbos - and there are places that would perhaps not be so smart to go at certain times - just like every other high profile player.
I hope like hell he doesn't get a suspension, I don't think he deserves one, hopefully his recent clean skin will work in his favour, but don't be too surprised if he does.
 
Iam very sympathetic for Benji, because I think he is genuine "nice guy" and isnt a mug like plenty of other players running around in the NRL. In saying that it was a really dumb thing to do and he should never ever put himself in that situation no matter how badly he was provoked. I dont think it deserves a few week on the sidelines but we have to apply the same rules across the board. So if another player gets himself in the same situation we cant been seen crying for his head.

Their is a chance that Gallop will say enough is enough and impose a suspension and their would be plenty of people who would agree with him that a message has to be sent out to the players
 
@Tigerdale said:
as a tigers fan, i'm more disappointed that benji put himself in this kind of position, only a week out from the first game of the season.

that upset me more than him giving the bloke one on the chin
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You mean buying a hamburger on his way back to a hotel after hosting a charity function? How dare he!!?

Whatever your take on what happened at McDonalds, the bloke is surely entitled to order some fast food in peace? It's not like he was at a pub or nightclub…
 
@supercoach said:
Iam very sympathetic for Benji, because I think he is genuine "nice guy" and isnt a mug like plenty of other players running around in the NRL. In saying that it was a really dumb thing to do and he should never ever put himself in that situation no matter how badly he was provoked. I dont think it deserves a few week on the sidelines but we have to apply the same rules across the board. So if another player gets himself in the same situation we cant been seen crying for his head.

Their is a chance that Gallop will say enough is enough and impose a suspension and their would be plenty of people who would agree with him that a message has to be sent out to the players
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i will be very surprised if he is given a susoension from NRL as a point i just made on another thread you can't compare the Brent Stewart situation as he had been thrown out of at least 1 establishment before incident occurred . According to witnesses Benji's behaviour had been exemplary up to alledged incident so at this stage i think it will be left to the club and after he goes to court if further action needs to be taken it will then
 
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