Get marshall out, now!

[mtd]

Reactionary is an understatement. There are often calls on these threads to even drop him.

Fact is Benji is the best attacking player most of us have ever seen.

He may be one of the worst defenders but if our messiah has a few shockers here and there we need to get behind him.

Prince was a horrible defender too, but what we would have given not to have lost him…...

you clearly havent read this thread really well..

we all agree he is a brilliant attacker, natural born player… but he is not a 6 or 7\. we have tried to force his hand there and after 6 years its still not working. compare him to thurston...... thurston dominates him and has for a long time as a playmaker... benji is a runner... which is why centres or fullback would suit him and the team more...

 

[barra]

Benji back to 5/8 asap, but we need more than just an average 1/2… anyone remember the Morris experiment?!

Lui showed what was required, that is what we need to aim for. One day perhaps we'll find out why Miller was not given a proper opportunity not just a few games under restrictive instructions.

But no, we try to re-invent the wheel.

Heck, I'd even go for Robbie at 1/2 and Isoefa at hooker instead of what we are being forced to take right now!

That's how bad it is.

 

[bigsiro]

we all agree he is a brilliant attacker, natural born player… but he is not a 6 or 7

mtd - As misleading as the topic title is, I get it that the thread is more about getting Benji out of the halves and not out of the team.
I don't agree with your point that he is not a 6 or 7.

Not three weeks ago there were threads here saying that Benji had played so well for a few games at halfback and that 7 is his true position moving forward. Now he has a few average games at 7 and there are calls to move him?
FICKLE! Even opposing teams would laugh if we moved Benji.
Tooth is right - it would be absolute stupidity to even entertain the idea of moving him.

Johns had a few bad games in his time too. Do you think they even _thought_ about moving him to centre?
It's an insult!This whole thread is an insult.

 

[system]

Ahh yes but lets be realistic Benji doesn't play 7.

Farah plays 7 and 9, he and Fulton are the only players in our side with game plan football vision. Benji is an opportunistic freak who can do truly amazing things but is not the guy who will dig you out of trouble through organising a grafting set up the field.

I am happy to delay young Sirros career and play Anasta as our halfback if need be. Someone with a strong sense of organisation, ability to see the big picture, good defender can pass well and kick the bejesus out of a ball. Let Benjo go back to what he does best and release Farah from the dual role that overpressures him and often sees him overplay his hand

 

[tigerlogic]

If you all want to bash someone thats easy Mr Sheens …Benji should be playing 5/8 and the lower grade player in Miller or the like should be at 1/2.Make no mistake this is Sheens fault very lazy as also going into this year cutting 2 props without replacements. Benji has sucked it up and bowed to the master the problem is the Master gets no critisism ...the constant movement of players out of position is crazy,just for one minute think how the players are feeling getting bagged weekly because the Master wants them to produce out of position,I know what I would be saying and maybe they are with there performances unhappy campers maybe.Start to channel the critisism in the right direction.

R u kidding mate? Aside from Moltzen sheens gets the biggest bagging on the forum, much more than anyone!
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[supporterwithlogic]

i was originally calling for fullback, but i dont like the idea of him under the high ball. i know barba managed, but i dont think marshall will be quite the same. he pretty much defends in the centres anyway (or atleast in the front line) so i think centre would be an easier transition.

Benji not a good 5/8???
Wow, plays a few bad games and the ridiculous calls come out! He is brilliant in the halves, if he ran the ball more then it would be great!
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

Of course he's not playing to expectations but really - does anyone really think the WestsTigers will go forward if he's not in the halves? I agree his game against the dogs was poor - defence lacks confidence and the 'bombs' just aren't part of the way we play (previously). Big game required this week though - He's a champion and he'll deliver! Need all the supporters to make the trip to Campbelltown!

 

[tigerkaz]

"Snake"as a Moltzen fan and a Sheens fan i'm always copping crap on here for defending them, so i think you need to read a few more posts if you think that Sheens cops no criticism on this forum.

 

[supporterwithlogic]

Time to unleash the shackles Tim - let Benji run AGAIN!
\

i was originally calling for fullback, but i dont like the idea of him under the high ball. i know barba managed, but i dont think marshall will be quite the same. he pretty much defends in the centres anyway (or atleast in the front line) so i think centre would be an easier transition.

Benji not a good 5/8???
Wow, plays a few bad games and the ridiculous calls come out! He is brilliant in the halves, if he ran the ball more then it would be great!
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

I think you've got it right, tigerlogic.
Benji is one of, if not the best runner of the ball in the whole NRL competition. That's what he needs to do because that's what he does best
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[supporterwithlogic]

If you all want to bash someone thats easy Mr Sheens …Benji should be playing 5/8 and the lower grade player in Miller or the like should be at 1/2.Make no mistake this is Sheens fault very lazy as also going into this year cutting 2 props without replacements. Benji has sucked it up and bowed to the master the problem is the Master gets no critisism ...the constant movement of players out of position is crazy,just for one minute think how the players are feeling getting bagged weekly because the Master wants them to produce out of position,I know what I would be saying and maybe they are with there performances unhappy campers maybe.Start to channel the critisism in the right direction.

R u kidding mate? Aside from Moltzen sheens gets the biggest bagging on the forum, much more than anyone!
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

Yeah that's right let's all give it to Sheens! The way he kicked the 'bomb' over the dead ball line on the full and the way he missed that tackle on Barba were terrible.

 

[happy_tiger]

Ahh yes but lets be realistic Benji doesn't play 7.

Farah plays 7 and 9, he and Fulton are the only players in our side with game plan football vision. Benji is an opportunistic freak who can do truly amazing things but is not the guy who will dig you out of trouble through organising a grafting set up the field.

I am happy to delay young Sirros career and play Anasta as our halfback if need be. Someone with a strong sense of organisation, ability to see the big picture, good defender can pass well and kick the bejesus out of a ball. Let Benjo go back to what he does best and release Farah from the dual role that overpressures him and often sees him overplay his hand

OMG someone else who agrees that Anasta could play 7

Thanks Smeg I thought I was losing it

 

[Guest]

The funny thing in all of this, although it could also be looked at as bewildering, is that despite Benji NOT running the football and resorting to a catch-pass-kick game, he still leads the comp in try assists.

 

[mtd]

we all agree he is a brilliant attacker, natural born player… but he is not a 6 or 7

mtd - As misleading as the topic title is, I get it that the thread is more about getting Benji out of the halves and not out of the team.
I don't agree with your point that he is not a 6 or 7.

Not three weeks ago there were threads here saying that Benji had played so well for a few games at halfback and that 7 is his true position moving forward. Now he has a few average games at 7 and there are calls to move him?
FICKLE! Even opposing teams would laugh if we moved Benji.
Tooth is right - it would be absolute stupidity to even entertain the idea of moving him.

Johns had a few bad games in his time too. Do you think they even _thought_ about moving him to centre?
It's an insult!This whole thread is an insult.

what is misleading? i think we need to get him out of the halves.its a fair enough topic name imo.

i completely disagree with you. he can play 6 or 7 and get away with it because of his natural ability. but compare him to a cronk, thurston, johns, lockyer… he seriously is not in the same ball park as these guys... not even close...

its like barba, he could have gotten away with playing in the halves (as benji has for years) but its better for the dogs and himself that he is now at fullback..

please elaborate what exactly about moving him is 'stupid'... like give me reasons, not 'other teams would laugh'... support your thoughts with some evidence, some examples, what makes benji so great in the halves... not just 'because everyone says so'... dont mean to be picking on u, but no one can justify keeping him there with valid reasons... break it down, get technical.... because if you do, i know i am right... and he should be playing 1, 3 or 4\. especially now we have both moltzen and sirronen as a valid combination.

 

[bigsiro]

Don't worry, I don't feel picked on - always happy to have a friendly debate over my mancrush.

We have to agree to disagree though mate. While I realize that Benji is not yet a great number 7, IMO he is one of the greatest ever 6's. Don't forget Brett Kenny was not necessarily an organizer but was a great 5/8\. Great.

If Benji had a competent 7 with him (e.g. Prince) he would be able to unleash his running game. But! Marshall is not only a runner, he is so much more. So centre or fullback are not right for him IMO. He needs to be in the middle, involved. My gripe is that he doesn't get involved enough. He puts fear in opponents but often doesn't touch the ball until the last tackle. Parra fail to exploit Hayne in the exact same way. That is a waste. Thurston touches the ball every second play, so did Johns. Benji also needs to too - and he can't do that from fullback or centre.

Sure he is unconventional, but Benji just needs a good halves partner. (We should break the bank for Thurston IMO.)

BTW - how on earth you would be satisfied with moltzen and sirro as halves combo is way beyond me…

 

[mtd]

Don't worry, I don't feel picked on - always happy to have a friendly debate over my mancrush.

We have to agree to disagree though mate. While I realize that Benji is not yet a great number 7, IMO he is one of the greatest ever 6's. Don't forget Brett Kenny was not necessarily an organizer but was a great 5/8\. Great.

If Benji had a competent 7 with him (e.g. Prince) he would be able to unleash his running game. But! Marshall is not only a runner, he is so much more. So centre or fullback are not right for him IMO. He needs to be in the middle, involved. My gripe is that he doesn't get involved enough. He puts fear in opponents but often doesn't touch the ball until the last tackle. Parra fail to exploit Hayne in the exact same way. That is a waste. Thurston touches the ball every second play, so did Johns. Benji also needs to too - and he can't do that from fullback or centre.

Sure he is unconventional, but Benji just needs a good halves partner. (We should break the bank for Thurston IMO.)

BTW - how on earth you would be satisfied with moltzen and sirro as halves combo is way beyond me…

Benji Marshall is 27 years of age. He has been playing Rugby League for the Tigers since he debuted in 2003 and has played in the halves ever since 05\. You have said in your post that he just needs to get his hands on the ball more, well, after this many years experience – he still doesn’t get it. Its 2012 fella!!

Sure, he puts some sort of ‘fear’ in the opponents, but how much? I mean he is a 90kg fella up against 100-110kg forwards/backrowers etc. They aren’t scared of him. They rush up on him to shut him down. If occasionally he breaks through (been rare in recent years), well sure, he embarrasses the defence. But as I said, its very rare for him to do so these days. Ben Barba however does it on a weekly basis…..

Your post makes reference to Brett Kenny, a player from the 80’s. The game was a lot different then and comparing five eights between different decades I don’t think is fair to either player. I don’t know who was better or not, they are different types of players.

I don’t think Benji needs his hands on the ball ‘all the time’… I think he just needs effective touches instead of hundreds of meaningless ones.

Moltzen trained in the halves all season and has show us in the past that he CAN perform there. He just needs a little bit of time. I mean we have spent how many years on benji?? Sirronen has been solid so far and only needs to shift the ball. To me it makes perfect sense. Try forget about the individuals for the moment and think about the team. If we have that spread across the park (from my first post), its dangerous. Currently we are not.

 

[rossop]

His defence has been awful

Center is the hardest position to defend in.

Why not fullback, he has a licence to roanm, chime in when he sees something, do some ball playing, be creative…call for an ovrlap....dunno defensively tho at #1

His defence has been terrible recently..I like him at 5/8 best

 

[balmain boy]

Fullback is Benjis best position. He isn't a natural playmaker or organiser so if we can put two halves in there who can, and move benji to the back he can focus on running the ball and chiming in with a great pass in a backline movement at the right time a la Slater, Bowen, Barba etc…..

All those players still set up tries and score them. Benji can't direct a team around the field so let's let his natural talent rise to the surface again before it's gone for good! Benji needs to run in broken play!

 

[barra]

The funny thing in all of this, although it could also be looked at as bewildering, is that despite Benji NOT running the football and resorting to a catch-pass-kick game, he still leads the comp in try assists.

Willow that shows how talented he is I guess! But it's not hard to reason that he could still make very high numbers of try assists from #6, renew his running game and perhaps be even more effective by not having to be involved in almost every play.

HT I've been thinking about the roster for next year and came up with the same ie Anasta in #7\. So maybe we're all mad?

Re the fullback idea, I can't understand how some can say that is his best position when he hasn't played there? I understand the reasoning why he could be good there, however it is removing him from his best situation, which is keeping the opposition guessing whether he is going to pass or run - and that is what we have been lacking.

Get someone else to play fullback and run off him properly (hopefully Tedesco next year), and someone else to play half back (maybe Anasta, by default) and allow Benj to position himself another pass wider of the ruck. After all the kicking he's had to do this season it'll be another string to his bow.

 

[Charman]

Pfft! Great player, great play maker. Been coached away from his natural flamboyant game. 5/8 is his spot and he needs to be allowed to run more. Lawrence outside of him works brilliantly. I accept some mediocre moments in exchange for the sheer brilliance he can produce.
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[mtd]

Been coached away from his natural flamboyant game. _Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

this….

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Who do you think would be a better fullback - Benji or barber ( probably almost same weight division)?
\
\
_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_