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Face-off: Marshall and Farah go to war
Josh Rakic | October 11, 2009
New Zealand skipper Benji Marshall has sent an ominous warning to Tigers teammate Robbie Farah as the two prepare to face off against each other for the first time in their careers: friendship means nothing.
Farah is all but set to make his international debut after being selected in Tim Sheens's touring squad for this month's Four Nations. But Marshall told The Sun-Herald should the two meet he'll be doing everything in his power to make sure his club captain's experience is just as painful as his ill-fated State of Origin II match for the Blues this year.
''To have a disappointment by not getting picked for the last Origin and have a massive second half of the season the way he did and just kill it, I think it's awesome for him and he should be proud,'' Marshall said.
''I think it's great for him. He was disappointed earlier in the year not to play the last Origin, so just to get selection and go on tour is a big plus and a big confidence booster for him. In saying that, there won't be any favours or tips from me.
''I'm the New Zealand captain and he's a Kangaroo. I haven't even spoken with him. I'm focused on the Kiwis and keeping the No.1 title in New Zealand.
''I'll get to see him over there and when we come across each other we'll say our hellos then. But we're opponents now.''
Farah is just as wary of his teammate and friend of seven years, describing him as the key to New Zealand's success at the Four Nations, in which France and England are the other rivals.
He agreed club loyalties would be put aside throughout the tournament and he'd more than happily share Marshall's secrets with his Kangaroos teammates.
''But it's one thing knowing what Benji's going to do and another thing trying to stop it,'' Farah said.
''It's going to be very interesting coming up against Benji for the first time. If I do get a game against New Zealand I know what Benji is capable of so there might be a little advantage for us.
''He's one of those players who you'd rather have on your team than play against him but we'll do everything we can to try and stop him. I might try to get a few sneaky texts and sledges away if it happens.''
Marshall or not, Farah is relieved just to make another representative squad after being dropped from the Blues side following an ''out-of-character'' performance in Origin II.
''I've got the chance to make up for that and I'm hopeful for a bit of redemption,'' Farah said.
''You never know if you're ever going to get a chance to represent again and every time you do you need to make the most of it. After my last game for NSW, I didn't know if that would happen.''
Meanwhile, Marshall has declared he'll revert to his favoured No.6 jumper after an unsuccessful experiment at halfback in New Zealand's Anzac Test loss to Australia in May this year.
World Cup-winning halfback Nathan Fien looks set to resume his all-conquering partnership with Marshall but the 24-year-old skipper said positions were yet to be finalised as the Kiwis prepare to defend their title as the world's best team.
''I'll definitely be playing five-eighth, for sure,'' Marshall said.
''We haven't decided on our halves combination or the team yet, we've just been all training as a squad but I'll be wearing No.6 - not No.7 like the Anzac Test.
''That's where I'm most comfortable and play my best football I think. And our preparation as a team has been pretty solid. Nothing's been taken lightly. We're getting punished over here in the rain.
''I think it's very important we're not going there to make up the numbers.''
Josh Rakic | October 11, 2009
New Zealand skipper Benji Marshall has sent an ominous warning to Tigers teammate Robbie Farah as the two prepare to face off against each other for the first time in their careers: friendship means nothing.
Farah is all but set to make his international debut after being selected in Tim Sheens's touring squad for this month's Four Nations. But Marshall told The Sun-Herald should the two meet he'll be doing everything in his power to make sure his club captain's experience is just as painful as his ill-fated State of Origin II match for the Blues this year.
''To have a disappointment by not getting picked for the last Origin and have a massive second half of the season the way he did and just kill it, I think it's awesome for him and he should be proud,'' Marshall said.
''I think it's great for him. He was disappointed earlier in the year not to play the last Origin, so just to get selection and go on tour is a big plus and a big confidence booster for him. In saying that, there won't be any favours or tips from me.
''I'm the New Zealand captain and he's a Kangaroo. I haven't even spoken with him. I'm focused on the Kiwis and keeping the No.1 title in New Zealand.
''I'll get to see him over there and when we come across each other we'll say our hellos then. But we're opponents now.''
Farah is just as wary of his teammate and friend of seven years, describing him as the key to New Zealand's success at the Four Nations, in which France and England are the other rivals.
He agreed club loyalties would be put aside throughout the tournament and he'd more than happily share Marshall's secrets with his Kangaroos teammates.
''But it's one thing knowing what Benji's going to do and another thing trying to stop it,'' Farah said.
''It's going to be very interesting coming up against Benji for the first time. If I do get a game against New Zealand I know what Benji is capable of so there might be a little advantage for us.
''He's one of those players who you'd rather have on your team than play against him but we'll do everything we can to try and stop him. I might try to get a few sneaky texts and sledges away if it happens.''
Marshall or not, Farah is relieved just to make another representative squad after being dropped from the Blues side following an ''out-of-character'' performance in Origin II.
''I've got the chance to make up for that and I'm hopeful for a bit of redemption,'' Farah said.
''You never know if you're ever going to get a chance to represent again and every time you do you need to make the most of it. After my last game for NSW, I didn't know if that would happen.''
Meanwhile, Marshall has declared he'll revert to his favoured No.6 jumper after an unsuccessful experiment at halfback in New Zealand's Anzac Test loss to Australia in May this year.
World Cup-winning halfback Nathan Fien looks set to resume his all-conquering partnership with Marshall but the 24-year-old skipper said positions were yet to be finalised as the Kiwis prepare to defend their title as the world's best team.
''I'll definitely be playing five-eighth, for sure,'' Marshall said.
''We haven't decided on our halves combination or the team yet, we've just been all training as a squad but I'll be wearing No.6 - not No.7 like the Anzac Test.
''That's where I'm most comfortable and play my best football I think. And our preparation as a team has been pretty solid. Nothing's been taken lightly. We're getting punished over here in the rain.
''I think it's very important we're not going there to make up the numbers.''
