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I want to pay tribute to our pack - they have been our rock
Benji Marshall
September 19, 2010
So we meet again. Yes, I know it's a preliminary final, and I know it's the Dragons. But I've got to say, I'm sick of the comparisons to 2005 already.
I'm going to be ignoring the similarities as much as I can this week. I'm over it already.
We know a lot is going to be made of the link; it was certainly a great atmosphere and a great game back in the corresponding fixture of 2005, and we got the right result on the night. It might be the same two teams competing for a spot in the grand final, but this time around is totally different.
Just look at St George Illawarra. They're a completely different team.
They've got a different coach in Wayne Bennett, and they play a different game. They are a great side, and they'll be favourites. They've dominated this year on the back of their defence and their attack hasn't been too bad, either.
A lot of people have criticised their attack, and the fact that they kept taking penalty goals against Manly last weekend at Kogarah, but they're playing winning football, and it's hard to be critical of that. They did beat the Sea Eagles 28-0\. They're going to be very hard to beat.
That said, we're a completely different team too, and I'm quietly confident of giving them a good show.
I really still think we're building. There is no way we've peaked yet. I think we can probably improve our defence a bit more.
And obviously we need to work on putting it together for 80 minutes.
It's only been a matter of hours since the win against the Raiders at Canberra Stadium, and I've got to say, it feels a bit different to what it did immediately after full-time.
Everyone was just so drained and fatigued on the night, and I don't think it really sank in. It was hard to take everything in. But it feels pretty good, knowing we're only one game away from a grand final.
To come back and win after the extra-time loss to the Sydney Roosters the week before, it was really special. Obviously it's difficult to ever say it was a good thing that we lost that game, but I really think it brought us closer, and it may just help us now that we have been able to put it behind us.
During Friday night's game, we certainly used the feeling we had against the Roosters to our advantage, especially in the dying stages when the Raiders were putting pressure on us. Everyone really stood up in defence. We really toughed it out. And I've got to pay credit to some of the guys who played 100 minutes against the Roosters - to play the entire 80 minutes straight again a week later, it's an incredible effort.
I really want to pay tribute to our pack. They've copped a lot of criticism in the past for being soft and for being too small, but over the last eight weeks, they've been the rock of our team. It makes my job so much easier, as well as those of Robbie Farah and Robert Lui. Everyone always talks about us playmakers, but we've done everything of the back of the forwards' hard work.
I'm so proud of everyone, the courage that everyone showed. It really was one of our great wins.
Obviously a lot was made about my knee injury before the game. I was 50-50 during the week, but I didn't feel it at all during the game. It's 100 per cent. There was no major ligament damage, just a bit of bone bruising. I don't expect any more problems from it.
Hopefully everyone is fit and firing for Saturday night. I can't wait.
Benji Marshall
September 19, 2010
So we meet again. Yes, I know it's a preliminary final, and I know it's the Dragons. But I've got to say, I'm sick of the comparisons to 2005 already.
I'm going to be ignoring the similarities as much as I can this week. I'm over it already.
We know a lot is going to be made of the link; it was certainly a great atmosphere and a great game back in the corresponding fixture of 2005, and we got the right result on the night. It might be the same two teams competing for a spot in the grand final, but this time around is totally different.
Just look at St George Illawarra. They're a completely different team.
They've got a different coach in Wayne Bennett, and they play a different game. They are a great side, and they'll be favourites. They've dominated this year on the back of their defence and their attack hasn't been too bad, either.
A lot of people have criticised their attack, and the fact that they kept taking penalty goals against Manly last weekend at Kogarah, but they're playing winning football, and it's hard to be critical of that. They did beat the Sea Eagles 28-0\. They're going to be very hard to beat.
That said, we're a completely different team too, and I'm quietly confident of giving them a good show.
I really still think we're building. There is no way we've peaked yet. I think we can probably improve our defence a bit more.
And obviously we need to work on putting it together for 80 minutes.
It's only been a matter of hours since the win against the Raiders at Canberra Stadium, and I've got to say, it feels a bit different to what it did immediately after full-time.
Everyone was just so drained and fatigued on the night, and I don't think it really sank in. It was hard to take everything in. But it feels pretty good, knowing we're only one game away from a grand final.
To come back and win after the extra-time loss to the Sydney Roosters the week before, it was really special. Obviously it's difficult to ever say it was a good thing that we lost that game, but I really think it brought us closer, and it may just help us now that we have been able to put it behind us.
During Friday night's game, we certainly used the feeling we had against the Roosters to our advantage, especially in the dying stages when the Raiders were putting pressure on us. Everyone really stood up in defence. We really toughed it out. And I've got to pay credit to some of the guys who played 100 minutes against the Roosters - to play the entire 80 minutes straight again a week later, it's an incredible effort.
I really want to pay tribute to our pack. They've copped a lot of criticism in the past for being soft and for being too small, but over the last eight weeks, they've been the rock of our team. It makes my job so much easier, as well as those of Robbie Farah and Robert Lui. Everyone always talks about us playmakers, but we've done everything of the back of the forwards' hard work.
I'm so proud of everyone, the courage that everyone showed. It really was one of our great wins.
Obviously a lot was made about my knee injury before the game. I was 50-50 during the week, but I didn't feel it at all during the game. It's 100 per cent. There was no major ligament damage, just a bit of bone bruising. I don't expect any more problems from it.
Hopefully everyone is fit and firing for Saturday night. I can't wait.
