Benji training stoush
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* By James Hooper
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* January 31, 2010 12:01AM
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Fiery training … Benji Marshall copped some friendly fire at training. Source: The Daily Telegraph
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WESTS Tigers superstar Benji Marshall almost came to blows with a team-mate at training yesterday as tempers flared in a heated opposed session at Concord Oval.
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Marshall and 114kg rookie prop Andrew Fifita had to be separated by forward Chris Heighington during a tense face-off.
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The problems came after Fifita put a shoulder shot on Marshall, who was clearly upset by the treatment from a player trying to make his mark at the club.
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Fifita, who with identical twin brother David played in the Toyota Cup last year, confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph that Marshall had taken offence at the tackle.
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But Fifita, the nephew of St George's 1980s prop John Fifita, stressed there was no malice intended in the tackle. The 20-year-old said the hit was just a rookie prop trying to impress the coaching staff.
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"Benji was going off and we just had a little push and shove and that ... but that happens you know," Fifita said. "I'm just a kid learning the game. I can't wait to get a run in the first trial and try to impress the right judges and go from there. It's unreal."
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Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah missed the flare-up, but he was sporting a cut in the corner of his right eye and a swollen left hand after the heavy training session.
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There is no suggestion the Tigers hooker was involved in the incident, but the Kangaroos tourist confirmed the Tigers had stepped up the intensity in the past month.
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"I didn't see anything like that (the Marshall showdown), but I can tell you we've been ripping in, mouthguards and all," Farah said.
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"It's a good thing to see at this time of the year. Now is the time of year when you do all the hard work to prepare for the season ahead."
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Fifita made a name for himself monstering opponents in the Toyota Cup and was a key member of the Tigers side beaten 24-22 by Melbourne in the grand final.
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Last October, both Andrew Johns and Wendell Sailor labelled the front-rower, who originally hails from Griffith, as the best player in the decider.
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The rookie prop is set to serve as a back-up for regular props Keith Galloway, Jason Cayless, Bryce Gibbs and Todd Payten.
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Fellow Tigers rookie Robert Louis confirmed Heighington rushed in to stand up for Marshall and cool the situation.
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"Yeah, Fifita got Benji with a pretty good shot and he wasn't too happy about it," Louis said. "Then Heighno (Heighington) came running in to stand up for Benji."
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The flare-up will be welcome news to Tigers fans as the 2005 premiers hope to play their first finals series since the watershed premiership - as long as Marshall doesn't get hurt fighting out of his weight division.
I love it ! Bring on 2010 ! :sunglasses:
>
* By James Hooper
* From: The Sunday Telegraph
* January 31, 2010 12:01AM
>
Fiery training … Benji Marshall copped some friendly fire at training. Source: The Daily Telegraph
>
WESTS Tigers superstar Benji Marshall almost came to blows with a team-mate at training yesterday as tempers flared in a heated opposed session at Concord Oval.
>
Marshall and 114kg rookie prop Andrew Fifita had to be separated by forward Chris Heighington during a tense face-off.
>
The problems came after Fifita put a shoulder shot on Marshall, who was clearly upset by the treatment from a player trying to make his mark at the club.
>
Fifita, who with identical twin brother David played in the Toyota Cup last year, confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph that Marshall had taken offence at the tackle.
>
But Fifita, the nephew of St George's 1980s prop John Fifita, stressed there was no malice intended in the tackle. The 20-year-old said the hit was just a rookie prop trying to impress the coaching staff.
>
"Benji was going off and we just had a little push and shove and that ... but that happens you know," Fifita said. "I'm just a kid learning the game. I can't wait to get a run in the first trial and try to impress the right judges and go from there. It's unreal."
>
Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah missed the flare-up, but he was sporting a cut in the corner of his right eye and a swollen left hand after the heavy training session.
>
There is no suggestion the Tigers hooker was involved in the incident, but the Kangaroos tourist confirmed the Tigers had stepped up the intensity in the past month.
>
"I didn't see anything like that (the Marshall showdown), but I can tell you we've been ripping in, mouthguards and all," Farah said.
>
"It's a good thing to see at this time of the year. Now is the time of year when you do all the hard work to prepare for the season ahead."
>
Fifita made a name for himself monstering opponents in the Toyota Cup and was a key member of the Tigers side beaten 24-22 by Melbourne in the grand final.
>
Last October, both Andrew Johns and Wendell Sailor labelled the front-rower, who originally hails from Griffith, as the best player in the decider.
>
The rookie prop is set to serve as a back-up for regular props Keith Galloway, Jason Cayless, Bryce Gibbs and Todd Payten.
>
Fellow Tigers rookie Robert Louis confirmed Heighington rushed in to stand up for Marshall and cool the situation.
>
"Yeah, Fifita got Benji with a pretty good shot and he wasn't too happy about it," Louis said. "Then Heighno (Heighington) came running in to stand up for Benji."
>
The flare-up will be welcome news to Tigers fans as the 2005 premiers hope to play their first finals series since the watershed premiership - as long as Marshall doesn't get hurt fighting out of his weight division.
I love it ! Bring on 2010 ! :sunglasses:
