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'Different Marshall' keen to step out from brother Benji's shadow at Wests Tigers
December 1, 2013
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
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Jeremy Marshall-King will blow out the candles on his 18th birthday cake on Monday. What he wishes for is anybody's guess but it could well be the chance to make a name - his own name - for himself in the NRL.
This is no easy feat given he plays for the same club - and occasionally in the same position - as his big brother, Benji Marshall.
The fact that Benji has moved on and another sibling, Jordan, has done likewise means he is the last Marshall at Wests Tigers. Not that Marshall-King is concerned.
''I just want to make my own name,'' he said. ''He's my brother but you can't just keep following him, you've got to do your own thing. It's given me a bit of inspiration, the stuff he's done for the NRL and the club. Me coming through, it would be good to make my own footsteps through the club and not follow his, to do my own stuff.''
While there are similarities in playing style - Marshall-King is also a noted goalkicker - there are differences on and off the field.
''I'm a bit shy at times,'' Marshall-King said. ''We sort of play the same but we're different. He's a bit louder than me, he's got a bit more communication than me. I'm going to have to work on that.''
But then, he joked: ''There's a different Marshall coming through. A better one.''
While the older Marshall made the Tigers No.6 jersey his own, Marshall-King has played predominantly at halfback. After being left out of the opening three rounds, he forced his way into a Balmain S. G. Ball side that went on to win the title for the second consecutive year.
His emergence - along with fellow young guns Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and the Sironen brothers, Curtis and Bayley - gives the Tigers arguably the most exciting young halves talent in the NRL.
''It's exciting because we are all mates there at the Tigers - everyone knows each other,'' he said. ''To go out and play with your mates would be good, a lot of fun.''
The New Zealand-born playmaker will train with the Tigers' under-20s squad and has set himself the goal of making his debut in the under-20s competition this year. He is hoping to further develop a game that has been refined under S.G. Ball coach and former Dragons halfback Mathew Head.
''It's good because he's a half as well so he's taught me a few things I can do kicking-wise,'' he said. ''That's good because my kicking wasn't that good at the start but doing practice with him has taught me a few things.''
The Hills Sports High graduate arrived in Australia at the age of 10 but considers himself a proud Kiwi, solving any potential eligibility issues. For now, however, he is hoping to work his way through the grades with the ambition of making it to the NRL. He does so knowing advice from Benji is just a phone call away.
''He says nothing comes easy, you've got to work hard,'' Marshall-King said. ''That you can't worry about anything else, just train hard and work hard.''
December 1, 2013
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
\
\
Jeremy Marshall-King will blow out the candles on his 18th birthday cake on Monday. What he wishes for is anybody's guess but it could well be the chance to make a name - his own name - for himself in the NRL.
This is no easy feat given he plays for the same club - and occasionally in the same position - as his big brother, Benji Marshall.
The fact that Benji has moved on and another sibling, Jordan, has done likewise means he is the last Marshall at Wests Tigers. Not that Marshall-King is concerned.
''I just want to make my own name,'' he said. ''He's my brother but you can't just keep following him, you've got to do your own thing. It's given me a bit of inspiration, the stuff he's done for the NRL and the club. Me coming through, it would be good to make my own footsteps through the club and not follow his, to do my own stuff.''
While there are similarities in playing style - Marshall-King is also a noted goalkicker - there are differences on and off the field.
''I'm a bit shy at times,'' Marshall-King said. ''We sort of play the same but we're different. He's a bit louder than me, he's got a bit more communication than me. I'm going to have to work on that.''
But then, he joked: ''There's a different Marshall coming through. A better one.''
While the older Marshall made the Tigers No.6 jersey his own, Marshall-King has played predominantly at halfback. After being left out of the opening three rounds, he forced his way into a Balmain S. G. Ball side that went on to win the title for the second consecutive year.
His emergence - along with fellow young guns Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and the Sironen brothers, Curtis and Bayley - gives the Tigers arguably the most exciting young halves talent in the NRL.
''It's exciting because we are all mates there at the Tigers - everyone knows each other,'' he said. ''To go out and play with your mates would be good, a lot of fun.''
The New Zealand-born playmaker will train with the Tigers' under-20s squad and has set himself the goal of making his debut in the under-20s competition this year. He is hoping to further develop a game that has been refined under S.G. Ball coach and former Dragons halfback Mathew Head.
''It's good because he's a half as well so he's taught me a few things I can do kicking-wise,'' he said. ''That's good because my kicking wasn't that good at the start but doing practice with him has taught me a few things.''
The Hills Sports High graduate arrived in Australia at the age of 10 but considers himself a proud Kiwi, solving any potential eligibility issues. For now, however, he is hoping to work his way through the grades with the ambition of making it to the NRL. He does so knowing advice from Benji is just a phone call away.
''He says nothing comes easy, you've got to work hard,'' Marshall-King said. ''That you can't worry about anything else, just train hard and work hard.''
