BENJI TO REMAIN FIRST CHOICE KICKER

[Guest]

BENJI TO REMAIN FIRST CHOICE KICKER
By Wayne Cousins
14/08/2010 1:30:10 PM

Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens says Benji Marshall will continue to be the team’s first choice kicker despite the five-eighth copping a fair share of criticism in recent weeks.

Prior to last weekend’s match against South Sydney, Marshall had kicked 48 goals from 80 attempts for a 60 per cent record, prompting fans and sections of the media to question why he should remain the kicker.

In kicking five from six goals last week, Marshall has now kicked 53 goals from 86 attempts, a record Sheens is comfortable with heading into tomorrow’s big clash against Penrith at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

“No one can give him any credit for kicking five out of six. Everyone wanted to bag him for the past two weeks,’’ Sheens fired.

“Against the Gold Coast, he kicked two out of two from the sideline and won us the game only a month ago at Campbelltown.

“I don’t give a damn about stats, its the week in, week out thing that matters and I am happy the way he is striking the ball.

“If the ball is missing, it is not missing by much. We seem to score 90 per cent of our tries a metre from the touchline, so they are not easy kicks at the best of time.

“When we got a couple of reasonable options against Souths last weekend, he kicked five from six and he didn’t miss the last one by much.

“I’m not concerned about it, I am more worried about getting the team playing well as a team.”

 

[ragedmachine]

5 from 6, all were in front of the posts….

 

[innsaneink]

Same sheet - different week

 

[tiger05]

I think Benji looks to be our best option but I wish we had another option.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Pig headed arrogance.

Look at how someone like Gordon or Croke strike the ball when kicking. Clean, low trajectory. Then look at Marshall. He skies them everytime and most of the ones from the sideline miss by miles.

 

[TIGER]

Sheens Sheens Sheens!

 

[prattenpark]

Just imagine if instead of spending money on a bunch of fringe first graders and a has been or two we'd spent it on keeping Hodgson for 09-10\. We would have had a great fullback, who defends well and chime into the attack, and oh, yeah, he can also kick a goal from anywhere on the park.

 

[DrewPeacock]

….The Golden Child

 

[Jazza]

Ohh deary.

That's exactly what he said about Morris and Fitzhenry when they had their only good game for us and called us 'so fans'.

Maybe that's why we haven't made the finals for 4 years straight, he doesn't look at stats, who says he looks at the ladder either? :wink:

Also, doesn't good goalkicking come under playing well for you're team? If you're not doing your job as a kicker you are not doing your job for the team.

 

[farahfan]

anyone watch the cowboys game tonight?
the cowboys kicker (williams, their winger i think) kicked them sweeter than benji ever could, and hes obvously second string!!