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New Zealand coach tells captain Benji Marshall to stop being a larrikin off the field
Exclusive by James Phelps From: The Daily Telegraph May 04, 2010 12:00AM
NEW Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has warned Benji Marshall to stop being a "larrikin" if he wants to continue captaining his country.
In a bombshell revelation on the week of the Anzac Test, Kearney revealed he was disappointed with Marshall's captaincy during last year's Four Nations tour and ordered the Tigers superstar to rein in his off-field behaviour.
"There were issues that we faced while we were away on the trip," Kearney said. "In terms of his leadership, I didn't think it was as good as it should have been. There were areas that certainly could be improved."
Preparing to square off against Darren Lockyer at the unveiling of AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday night, Marshall admitted Kearney hauled him into a meeting during last year's tour of the UK and told him to stop being a larrikin, with his young teammates distracted by his off-field behaviour.
"We had a meeting during the Four Nations and we have spoken on the phone a fair bit about it," Marshall said. "You have to know what you need to do and what you shouldn't be doing. He sat me down and told me what he wanted. I have been a bit of a larrikin and I have joked around a lot.
"He told me he didn't want that."
As the Kiwis prepared for another against-the-odds showdown with the Kangaroos, Marshall admitted he had struggled with the responsibility of leading his country.
"I mean, it is hard when you've done it all your life [been a larrikin], and the captaincy is new to me," Marshall said.
"I don't mind being a leader but when you captain your country you have to go to another level, and that's what he told me. I have to grow up a bit.
"I think the more you get to do it the more you learn. When I was first captain it was all new and I didn't know how to react to things or how to act. I took the wrong road instead of leading by example."
New Zealand's No. 1 strike weapon, Marshall denied the extraordinary meeting was triggered by any one event.
"No, not really," he said.
"I was giving off mixed signals and I didn't realise the young players looked up to me so much. They look at what I'm doing and I was giving off the wrong impression.
"I have always been the young guy in the team and I had to grow up."
The first player picked in the Kiwis team, Marshall said he would not throw in the role and had taken the criticism of his leadership in his stride. "It is a hard job but I want it," he said. "I need to find the right balance and it will take time.
"No one is instantly a good captain and I have to earn that respect. They have told me what I need to work on. There were things I needed to know.
"I could have [thrown it in]. But it's the ultimate honour in the game.
"Getting the chance to captain your country is a big deal. To come from where I have come from is something special and I'm not going to let it go."
Kearney was adamant Marshall would develop into a world-class leader given time.
"He has got a lot of the other things covered," he said.
Exclusive by James Phelps From: The Daily Telegraph May 04, 2010 12:00AM
NEW Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has warned Benji Marshall to stop being a "larrikin" if he wants to continue captaining his country.
In a bombshell revelation on the week of the Anzac Test, Kearney revealed he was disappointed with Marshall's captaincy during last year's Four Nations tour and ordered the Tigers superstar to rein in his off-field behaviour.
"There were issues that we faced while we were away on the trip," Kearney said. "In terms of his leadership, I didn't think it was as good as it should have been. There were areas that certainly could be improved."
Preparing to square off against Darren Lockyer at the unveiling of AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday night, Marshall admitted Kearney hauled him into a meeting during last year's tour of the UK and told him to stop being a larrikin, with his young teammates distracted by his off-field behaviour.
"We had a meeting during the Four Nations and we have spoken on the phone a fair bit about it," Marshall said. "You have to know what you need to do and what you shouldn't be doing. He sat me down and told me what he wanted. I have been a bit of a larrikin and I have joked around a lot.
"He told me he didn't want that."
As the Kiwis prepared for another against-the-odds showdown with the Kangaroos, Marshall admitted he had struggled with the responsibility of leading his country.
"I mean, it is hard when you've done it all your life [been a larrikin], and the captaincy is new to me," Marshall said.
"I don't mind being a leader but when you captain your country you have to go to another level, and that's what he told me. I have to grow up a bit.
"I think the more you get to do it the more you learn. When I was first captain it was all new and I didn't know how to react to things or how to act. I took the wrong road instead of leading by example."
New Zealand's No. 1 strike weapon, Marshall denied the extraordinary meeting was triggered by any one event.
"No, not really," he said.
"I was giving off mixed signals and I didn't realise the young players looked up to me so much. They look at what I'm doing and I was giving off the wrong impression.
"I have always been the young guy in the team and I had to grow up."
The first player picked in the Kiwis team, Marshall said he would not throw in the role and had taken the criticism of his leadership in his stride. "It is a hard job but I want it," he said. "I need to find the right balance and it will take time.
"No one is instantly a good captain and I have to earn that respect. They have told me what I need to work on. There were things I needed to know.
"I could have [thrown it in]. But it's the ultimate honour in the game.
"Getting the chance to captain your country is a big deal. To come from where I have come from is something special and I'm not going to let it go."
Kearney was adamant Marshall would develop into a world-class leader given time.
"He has got a lot of the other things covered," he said.
