redemption
New member
I know that this has been discussed in a previous thread - but according to the SMH today he officially signed a contract with the Tigers yesterday:
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JORDAN MARSHALL believes he has come of age in recent years by not trying to be like his brother, Benji. But after officially joining Wests Tigers yesterday, he moved a step closer to following in his older sibling's fancy footsteps.
The Tigers yesterday secured the middle Marshall brother on a one-year deal, having an option for a second in their favour. He will begin training with the club on Monday, attempting to force his way into the Tigers' under-20s team at some stage this season.
And so Jordan joins the stable that has brought Benji a premiership as well as his status as the world's best. ''People expected me, as Benj's brother, to be exactly like him, but growing up and maturing more, I've found out that I've just got to be myself and play my own game,'' Jordan told the Herald yesterday.
''That's helped a lot. I'm pretty excited, but this is just the start. I've got a lot of hard work to come.''
Jordan has endured a bumpier ride than Benji, who was playing first grade by his age. Jordan moved to Australia almost seven years ago with the dream of following in his brother's footsteps. Like Benji, he attended Gold Coast's Keebra Park High School, but moved back to Sydney after just a year because he was homesick.
Jordan has spent the past few years playing rugby union and touch football, recently emulating his brother by representing Australia - against the country of his birth, New Zealand. Unlike his brother, Jordan is a fullback.
''There's a lot of similarities there between both of us. I've got the flick, I've got the step too, but when it comes down to it, that's not everything in a game,'' Jordan said.
''Defence wins you games. I regard myself as an all right defender. If I can work on that then the attack comes along with it.''
Doing demolition work on the side while he attempts to forge his own career, Jordan will train with the under-20s, and will attempt to put some meat on his light frame with the help of conditioner John Skandalis, the prop who won a premiership with Benji in 2005.
''The kid's got a lot of potential, which is sometimes a nasty thing to say about someone,'' Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell said. ''He's got some hard work ahead of him, but if he's determined to do it, we'll see what happens.''
Jordan, too, isn't expecting miracles. ''The goal is to play under-20s, but for now I've got a lot of training to do - weights, fitness,'' he said. ''I've got to put a bit of size on. I've still got a bit more to do to get to that stage. If I get the training done, put the weight on, hopefully I can get a start or even off the bench this year. That would be good.''
Mother Lydia is happy just to have another son at Wests Tigers.
''I feel ecstatic,'' Lydia said. ''I've been waiting for this for a while. The boys have come a long way since they left New Zealand.''
While watching his youngest brother Jeremy, who attends Hills Sports High School, play touch football in Wollongong recently, Jordan spoke at length with Benji about what it would take for him to succeed at the Tigers. ''He's always been there for me, he always will be,'' Jordan said of the Kiwis captain. ''When I'm a bit down I just ask him for help, and he's always there.''
Now he'll be that little bit closer.
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JORDAN MARSHALL believes he has come of age in recent years by not trying to be like his brother, Benji. But after officially joining Wests Tigers yesterday, he moved a step closer to following in his older sibling's fancy footsteps.
The Tigers yesterday secured the middle Marshall brother on a one-year deal, having an option for a second in their favour. He will begin training with the club on Monday, attempting to force his way into the Tigers' under-20s team at some stage this season.
And so Jordan joins the stable that has brought Benji a premiership as well as his status as the world's best. ''People expected me, as Benj's brother, to be exactly like him, but growing up and maturing more, I've found out that I've just got to be myself and play my own game,'' Jordan told the Herald yesterday.
''That's helped a lot. I'm pretty excited, but this is just the start. I've got a lot of hard work to come.''
Jordan has endured a bumpier ride than Benji, who was playing first grade by his age. Jordan moved to Australia almost seven years ago with the dream of following in his brother's footsteps. Like Benji, he attended Gold Coast's Keebra Park High School, but moved back to Sydney after just a year because he was homesick.
Jordan has spent the past few years playing rugby union and touch football, recently emulating his brother by representing Australia - against the country of his birth, New Zealand. Unlike his brother, Jordan is a fullback.
''There's a lot of similarities there between both of us. I've got the flick, I've got the step too, but when it comes down to it, that's not everything in a game,'' Jordan said.
''Defence wins you games. I regard myself as an all right defender. If I can work on that then the attack comes along with it.''
Doing demolition work on the side while he attempts to forge his own career, Jordan will train with the under-20s, and will attempt to put some meat on his light frame with the help of conditioner John Skandalis, the prop who won a premiership with Benji in 2005.
''The kid's got a lot of potential, which is sometimes a nasty thing to say about someone,'' Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell said. ''He's got some hard work ahead of him, but if he's determined to do it, we'll see what happens.''
Jordan, too, isn't expecting miracles. ''The goal is to play under-20s, but for now I've got a lot of training to do - weights, fitness,'' he said. ''I've got to put a bit of size on. I've still got a bit more to do to get to that stage. If I get the training done, put the weight on, hopefully I can get a start or even off the bench this year. That would be good.''
Mother Lydia is happy just to have another son at Wests Tigers.
''I feel ecstatic,'' Lydia said. ''I've been waiting for this for a while. The boys have come a long way since they left New Zealand.''
While watching his youngest brother Jeremy, who attends Hills Sports High School, play touch football in Wollongong recently, Jordan spoke at length with Benji about what it would take for him to succeed at the Tigers. ''He's always been there for me, he always will be,'' Jordan said of the Kiwis captain. ''When I'm a bit down I just ask him for help, and he's always there.''
Now he'll be that little bit closer.
