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Benji Marshall and Tim Sheens to put 'father-son' relationship to side as Kangaroos take on Kiwis
* Paul Crawley
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* May 06, 2011 12:00AM
AS player-coach friendships go, they don't come much closer than this.
Benji Marshall reckons Tim Sheens is more like a father than a coach. Sheens says Benji would make any dad proud.
This is a story behind tonight's rugby league Test on the Gold Coast.
How a Kiwi captain and a Kangaroo coach will always support each other - even when they are privately plotting each other's demise.
"He is pretty much like a father," Marshall says of his Wests Tigers coach. "Since I signed with the Tigers back in 2002, I don't know, we just had this bond - if I have a problem off the field he is one of the first people I will call.
"When I got in a bit of strife [with the alleged assault earlier this year] I had my court case last week and I was a little bit stressed out.
"He calmed me down.
"I can ring him at three in the morning and tell him I need to be picked up somewhere and he will come and get me."
Sheens says of his star playmaker - who tonight shapes as his biggest danger: "He works hard, he trains hard he is always striving to improve himself as a footy player and as a person. I think he is getting better and better."
Sheens wonders if Benji's best will be ever good enough for critics.
"Last year we got beat by South Sydney and people threw jerseys at him," the coach recalls.
"And one group of kids came up and gave him their jerseys back. Obviously they'd been spurred on by their parents.
"It's pretty upsetting, particularly for a kid like [Benji].
"Well, he's no kid anymore, but for two youngsters to come up and do something like that.
"Benj has never spoken about it but I thought it was pretty average. Then by the end of the year he is the Golden Boot winner and he takes us to within one point of a grand final.
"And all of a sudden everyone loves him again.
"And then he takes [New Zealand] to a Four Nations final."
Sheens shakes his head in disbelief.
They call themselves fans.
"I think he found it a bit harder when he was younger, you don't like to be criticised," Sheens continues.
"But he has learned to realise he is not going to please everyone.
"His main job is to keep me happy and play for his team and do the best you can. Sometimes the best you can is better than people expect, sometimes it's not."
In last year's Four Nations Final, Benji's best left Sheens and Australia devastated.
Remember?
That final moment, a double-play of Benji magic that led to Nathan Fien's match-winning try.
Sheens gave his Kangaroos a reminder yesterday morning at the team's final defensive video session ahead of tonight's Test.
For many it was the first time they had seen the horror show since that heartbreaking moment at Suncorp Stadium last year.
"The theme was not to switch off," Sheens explains.
"We had to look at that try, even though it was uncomfortable for the guys who played in that game.
"It wasn't done to fire us up but show if you don't work for 80 minutes it can happen.
"It reminds you that Test matches are 80 minute efforts."
And if you switch off, Benji will kill you - dead.
Darren Lockyer hadn't watched the replay until yesterday.
It still hurts, the Kangaroo captain says: "He [Sheens] said I don't think you will want to see it but we have got to show you it. I don't think it was shown because he was trying to motivate us, it was shown because it is an example of what Benji does.
"It was hard to watch, put it that way."
Lockyer reckons there is no more dangerous player on the planet.
"I think he is [the best player in the world]," Lockyer says.
"I think that is a fair assessment.
"He is just playing really good footy. He was the difference in the Four Nations so we need to do a better job this time."
Only last week Marshall was one of the main reasons why Sheens turned his back on a big-money approach to coach Penrith Panthers.
Benji explains: "When I was going through my contract negotiations he never pushed me in any direction he always just said to me do what you think is best for yourself.
"But I do remember him saying that just because you are getting signed for more money doesn't mean it is going to make your life any better or happier or make your footy any better.
"And I just quietly reminded him of that because I know he could have got more money going to Penrith, but I quietly reminded him of that."
Just as Sheens quietly reminded his players yesterday of what can happen if you underestimate that Benji magic.
He will kill you dead.
Tonight friendships are on hold - just for tonight.
* Paul Crawley
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* May 06, 2011 12:00AM
AS player-coach friendships go, they don't come much closer than this.
Benji Marshall reckons Tim Sheens is more like a father than a coach. Sheens says Benji would make any dad proud.
This is a story behind tonight's rugby league Test on the Gold Coast.
How a Kiwi captain and a Kangaroo coach will always support each other - even when they are privately plotting each other's demise.
"He is pretty much like a father," Marshall says of his Wests Tigers coach. "Since I signed with the Tigers back in 2002, I don't know, we just had this bond - if I have a problem off the field he is one of the first people I will call.
"When I got in a bit of strife [with the alleged assault earlier this year] I had my court case last week and I was a little bit stressed out.
"He calmed me down.
"I can ring him at three in the morning and tell him I need to be picked up somewhere and he will come and get me."
Sheens says of his star playmaker - who tonight shapes as his biggest danger: "He works hard, he trains hard he is always striving to improve himself as a footy player and as a person. I think he is getting better and better."
Sheens wonders if Benji's best will be ever good enough for critics.
"Last year we got beat by South Sydney and people threw jerseys at him," the coach recalls.
"And one group of kids came up and gave him their jerseys back. Obviously they'd been spurred on by their parents.
"It's pretty upsetting, particularly for a kid like [Benji].
"Well, he's no kid anymore, but for two youngsters to come up and do something like that.
"Benj has never spoken about it but I thought it was pretty average. Then by the end of the year he is the Golden Boot winner and he takes us to within one point of a grand final.
"And all of a sudden everyone loves him again.
"And then he takes [New Zealand] to a Four Nations final."
Sheens shakes his head in disbelief.
They call themselves fans.
"I think he found it a bit harder when he was younger, you don't like to be criticised," Sheens continues.
"But he has learned to realise he is not going to please everyone.
"His main job is to keep me happy and play for his team and do the best you can. Sometimes the best you can is better than people expect, sometimes it's not."
In last year's Four Nations Final, Benji's best left Sheens and Australia devastated.
Remember?
That final moment, a double-play of Benji magic that led to Nathan Fien's match-winning try.
Sheens gave his Kangaroos a reminder yesterday morning at the team's final defensive video session ahead of tonight's Test.
For many it was the first time they had seen the horror show since that heartbreaking moment at Suncorp Stadium last year.
"The theme was not to switch off," Sheens explains.
"We had to look at that try, even though it was uncomfortable for the guys who played in that game.
"It wasn't done to fire us up but show if you don't work for 80 minutes it can happen.
"It reminds you that Test matches are 80 minute efforts."
And if you switch off, Benji will kill you - dead.
Darren Lockyer hadn't watched the replay until yesterday.
It still hurts, the Kangaroo captain says: "He [Sheens] said I don't think you will want to see it but we have got to show you it. I don't think it was shown because he was trying to motivate us, it was shown because it is an example of what Benji does.
"It was hard to watch, put it that way."
Lockyer reckons there is no more dangerous player on the planet.
"I think he is [the best player in the world]," Lockyer says.
"I think that is a fair assessment.
"He is just playing really good footy. He was the difference in the Four Nations so we need to do a better job this time."
Only last week Marshall was one of the main reasons why Sheens turned his back on a big-money approach to coach Penrith Panthers.
Benji explains: "When I was going through my contract negotiations he never pushed me in any direction he always just said to me do what you think is best for yourself.
"But I do remember him saying that just because you are getting signed for more money doesn't mean it is going to make your life any better or happier or make your footy any better.
"And I just quietly reminded him of that because I know he could have got more money going to Penrith, but I quietly reminded him of that."
Just as Sheens quietly reminded his players yesterday of what can happen if you underestimate that Benji magic.
He will kill you dead.
Tonight friendships are on hold - just for tonight.
