OFFICIAL Esan Marsters [Discussion]

Totally understand the prestige that playing for the All Blacks would bring for a Kiwi youngster. But in reality they are that far ahead of every other Test rugby side it would be like being a team of 18 year olds beating up on a team of under-8's every week, surely the satisfaction levels would be ho-hum? Would've thought playing in a competition where it is a more even playing field would keep the motivation and interest levels flowing.
 
"I never played rugby at the elite level"

I like Marsters and you've got to have a dream but he's up against it.
 
Benji pep talk propels Marsters towards Kiwis debut
Author Dan Walsh Timestamp Tue 12 Jun 2018, 03:51 PM

Wests Tigers centre Esan Marsters has credited a private pep talk with childhood idol turned teammate Benji Marshall for the club performance whch is set to propel him into a New Zealand Test debut.

Marsters is expected to be named in Michael Maguire's first Kiwi side on Sunday for New Zealand's historic clash with England in Denver on June 23, capping a meteoric 12-month rise for the 21-year-old.

The Auckland-born tyro has not missed a single minute of the Tigers' season and clocked a career-high 21 runs for 193 metres in their round 14 loss to Cronulla.

With more involvement than ever before in his 27-game career, Marsters revealed a pre-game rev-up from Marshall, just a day after the veteran five-eighth went down with a six-week hamstring injury, was behind his whirlwind efforts against the Sharks.

"I still pinch myself playing outside Benji and he's been massive for us around the club," Marsters told NRL.com.

"He's really helped me with my game, especially this weekend. He spoke to me before the game, he wanted me to get into the game early and go looking for the ball, get myself really involved.

"I hadn't been doing that the past couple of weeks and Benji pushed me to get back into it. I think I had a career high - something like 21 carries - which is massive for me at NRL level."

A little more than one year after making his first-grade debut with the Tigers, he is in line for his first Kiwi call-up as Maguire works around a number of representative retirements (Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Simon Mannering) and high profile injuries (Jesse Bromwich, Kieran Foran, Jordan Rapana, Marshall and possibly Roger Tuivasa-Sheck).

Marsters will push established Test stars Peta Hiku and Dean Whare for a start out wide in the black and white, and has no issue with the scheduling of the Denver fixture that has so many concerned throughout clubland.

The youngster's first port of call is a crunch clash against Canberra on Sunday which comes as the Wests Tigers sit outside the top eight for just the second time this season.

While his Tigers teammates Matulino and Packer have called time on their Kiwi careers to focus on club commitments and their young families, Marsters is confident Ivan Cleary will not push him to sit out the Test amid player welfare concerns.

"I haven't heard anything yet, I just want to play good footy for the Tigers and then that puts me in the picture and hopefully gets me picked for that side," Marsters said.

"Knowing Ivan I think he's one of those guys that will encourage you to go represent your country.

"That is important to your heritage, it's not only representing your country for yourself but your family as well.

"That's what we're about here, family is really important and that's what Ivan has installed here at the Tigers."
 
I have it on good authority that most players are pulling out of the game because of such low pay (3k for the game).

Many opportunities will open…
 
…that goes nowhere!!

I’m a big fan of Esan but he needs to grab the ball and run hard. He continually gets to the line and tries a little shuffle to get through but rarely does.

I know some are calling for him to move to second row but personally I think he will end up a very good centre, just needs to back himself. He has a great build and speed for a centre and if he attacks the line with some vigour and keeps his offload he will be very damaging player with plenty of attacking prowess!!
 
100% agree.

However, I used to think that he would stay a centre but after today I've come around and think he will transition into the backrow at some stage.
 
4 from 4 with 2 from the sideline were crucial in the victory..always attracts defenders and bends the line..

Good game from him..
 
He’s still learning, nothing to see here.

I tell you what though, he’s a damn underrated goal kicker.
 
I've noticed as of recently his only input into the game at the moment is a pick up from dummy half with a shuffle or two. Not the hard-running, offloading centre he was at the start of the year.
 
@ said:
4 from 4 with 2 from the sideline were crucial in the victory..always attracts defenders and bends the line..

Good game from him..
Click to expand...

Don’t get me wrong he did play well but I just think he could be more damaging and effective. Goal kicking was great and definitely one of his major improvements.
 
Ive been saying all season that Esan needs to back himself run hard at the opposition defensive line, he's over 100kgs with a turn of speed .. if he runs hard at the gap between two defenders .. I'm gonna back him breaking the line at 60% of the time. At the moment he's dancing just before the line and losing all momentum and is an easy target to bring down. With time he'll learn to break the line with his size and speed .. if not .. back into the back rowers. If we had another decent centre, he'd probably learn a lot from him.
 
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