Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire to lean heavily on the experience of Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall
Dean Ritchie, The Daily Telegraph
December 13, 2018 7:00am
They won a premiership together in 2005 as fresh-faced kids who inspired a generation of Wests Tigers fans.
Now Benji Marshall, 33, and Robbie Farah, 34, have been given the green light to inspire the next generation of Tigers players on and off the field.
Coach Michael Maguire plans to use the experience gained from a combined 571 NRL games and knows he has them firmly seated on the bus and ready to provide direction.
“They will play a major part,” Maguire said. “Not only as players but also as mentors, coaches, how to be professional off the field, they will add a hell of a lot. A big impact that they’ll have is what they do off the field.
“Those two are what this club is all about.
“Senior players have a lot of knowledge and years of playing, Benji will work with the halves closely, with Robbie, we have a number of young hookers here so I see him getting around to those younger guys.
“And talking to the forwards, the lines they have to run. That’s what senior players do.
This seems like an eternity ago.
“When you talk about playing, we’ll keep assessing them as they go throughout the season but they will be there. As a group, we know it’s about performances and they are no different but they are buying right into what we’re doing.
“Both of them are talking in meetings. You can see they understand where we’re going. I will utilise them through their leadership. Experience gives you understanding and that’s a big part of what brings success. They have both won comps.
“Being able to impart that knowledge into the younger ones and to tell them what it takes week in, week out. They will help immensely in the things I do on and off the park.
“In this day and age, with the way players are looked after, careers are getting longer and longer. They way they’re training at the moment, they definitely aren’t showing any signs of that (getting old).
“They will play a big part, even moving ahead into the future. They have tasted success and success is something they want again. That’s what we’re trying to build.”
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Sharks standing by Flanagan
Maguire, in his role as the New Zealand Test coach, had wanted Marshall to tour England in October and November. Marshall opted to stay at home and rest to prepare for next season.
Maguire also said he had a strong relationship with Farah through their days together at Souths.
“I have known both of them for quite some time,” Maguire said. “I spoke to Benji about potentially coming on the Kiwi tour, but he wanted to get his body right for one more year, to have another crack.
“In Robbie’s case, I had some good times when he came to Souths. He understands how I work and the systems. He is really good with the younger guys.”
Marshall and Farah have been training strongly at Concord since Wests Tigers returned from an off-season break last month.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/wests-tigers-coach-michael-maguire-to-lean-heavily-on-the-experience-of-robbie-farah-and-benji-marshall/news-story/8bcdd0d83e36893f39e50d3b3bfbf218?fbclid=IwAR3OHoiYDoOZW8HSjxiI6AeZmkv3KCYCBOj0zupxV7aPD1oDFgqHJTyGT-g
Dean Ritchie, The Daily Telegraph
December 13, 2018 7:00am
They won a premiership together in 2005 as fresh-faced kids who inspired a generation of Wests Tigers fans.
Now Benji Marshall, 33, and Robbie Farah, 34, have been given the green light to inspire the next generation of Tigers players on and off the field.
Coach Michael Maguire plans to use the experience gained from a combined 571 NRL games and knows he has them firmly seated on the bus and ready to provide direction.
“They will play a major part,” Maguire said. “Not only as players but also as mentors, coaches, how to be professional off the field, they will add a hell of a lot. A big impact that they’ll have is what they do off the field.
“Those two are what this club is all about.
“Senior players have a lot of knowledge and years of playing, Benji will work with the halves closely, with Robbie, we have a number of young hookers here so I see him getting around to those younger guys.
“And talking to the forwards, the lines they have to run. That’s what senior players do.
This seems like an eternity ago.
“When you talk about playing, we’ll keep assessing them as they go throughout the season but they will be there. As a group, we know it’s about performances and they are no different but they are buying right into what we’re doing.
“Both of them are talking in meetings. You can see they understand where we’re going. I will utilise them through their leadership. Experience gives you understanding and that’s a big part of what brings success. They have both won comps.
“Being able to impart that knowledge into the younger ones and to tell them what it takes week in, week out. They will help immensely in the things I do on and off the park.
“In this day and age, with the way players are looked after, careers are getting longer and longer. They way they’re training at the moment, they definitely aren’t showing any signs of that (getting old).
“They will play a big part, even moving ahead into the future. They have tasted success and success is something they want again. That’s what we’re trying to build.”
\
\
Sharks standing by Flanagan
Maguire, in his role as the New Zealand Test coach, had wanted Marshall to tour England in October and November. Marshall opted to stay at home and rest to prepare for next season.
Maguire also said he had a strong relationship with Farah through their days together at Souths.
“I have known both of them for quite some time,” Maguire said. “I spoke to Benji about potentially coming on the Kiwi tour, but he wanted to get his body right for one more year, to have another crack.
“In Robbie’s case, I had some good times when he came to Souths. He understands how I work and the systems. He is really good with the younger guys.”
Marshall and Farah have been training strongly at Concord since Wests Tigers returned from an off-season break last month.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/wests-tigers-coach-michael-maguire-to-lean-heavily-on-the-experience-of-robbie-farah-and-benji-marshall/news-story/8bcdd0d83e36893f39e50d3b3bfbf218?fbclid=IwAR3OHoiYDoOZW8HSjxiI6AeZmkv3KCYCBOj0zupxV7aPD1oDFgqHJTyGT-g
