Marshall
- Thread starter hybrid_tiger
- Start date
@TJL0811 said:
True he is a great player as I stated earlier. The thing is: he goes for the throat all the time. Dumb to not play for the field goal and not run his winger into touch on the first tackle. This attitude goes back years. Its like a little kid who just wont learn.
His short kicking game is just woeful and has been for many years. A few times in the first half his kicks to the ingoal were way too strong. Is there no one in the side who can do better?
tigertales
New member
Going for the throat sometimes means playing a controlled set and getting a repeat set or going for a field goal when you are in front of the sticks and 12 up. I figure if 10 000+ Tiger supporters at the ground and another couple of hundred thousand at home are all thinking drop goal Benji drop goal then surely the supposed 'best player in the world' should be thinking the same thing.
Its ok to say he had a hand in three tries today, but so what, he also had a major hand in losing us the game as well. Running Ryan into the crowd on tackle 1\. Chip and chase from inside our 10 on the buzzer, major dumb play, we had 3 blokes in front of the kicker and with the refs going the way they were they could have pinged any one of them and given Souths a penalty right in front after the buzzer - major dumb play. First set of 6 in golden point - 3 passes to ground, he should have taken control without Farah on the park - major dumb play.
Its ok to say he had a hand in three tries today, but so what, he also had a major hand in losing us the game as well. Running Ryan into the crowd on tackle 1\. Chip and chase from inside our 10 on the buzzer, major dumb play, we had 3 blokes in front of the kicker and with the refs going the way they were they could have pinged any one of them and given Souths a penalty right in front after the buzzer - major dumb play. First set of 6 in golden point - 3 passes to ground, he should have taken control without Farah on the park - major dumb play.
There is a very simple solution to this problem.
If we are that far in front with only 5 or 10 minutes to go- TAKE HIM OFF.
He is all about trying to score and nothing else - if Sheens has any sense he wouldn replace him.
If he thought it would hurt his ego he could tell him he didn't want him getting hurt :unamused:
If we are that far in front with only 5 or 10 minutes to go- TAKE HIM OFF.
He is all about trying to score and nothing else - if Sheens has any sense he wouldn replace him.
If he thought it would hurt his ego he could tell him he didn't want him getting hurt :unamused:
Merlot_Tiger
New member
His best game this year, and will get better now with Farrah back on board and Humble showing he can be a genuine No.7 for the rest of the year. Some ordinary kicks from Marshall however but that's what happens when his involvement rate is extremely high. There were many calls on this forum during the week for Marshall to handle the ball more often in each set and he did just that so of course there are going to be some errors. The only thing that lost us this game were 2, yes 2 dummy half tries. That's it, nothing else not dumb kicks, or passes that put a winger out, just 2 very soft, lazy tries from the dummy half. The tigers looked sharpe, Marshall was on fire, every player stepped it up a notch, scambling, running angles, 40/20 kicks, regaining from a line drop out, tackling with controlled aggression only to lose a game with 2 dumb inept moments. I think with Farrah back next week, an aggressive confident halfback in Humble who can also throw a long pass and Blair taking on more of a workman role rather than a flashy ball player, we will beat the Broncos.
bigsiro
Well-known member
@Tigerdave said:
Agree. That bonehead play on the first tackle off the scrum cost us. I love Benji and he largely engineered the tries we scored on Sunday, but he also cost us this time.
InBenjiWeTrust
Well-known member
@Merlot Tiger said:
x^2
tigertales
New member
If you are talking about NYC footy where defence doesnt matter and its all about scoring points then fine, those two dummy half tries lost us the game. However when you are talking about First Grade NRL footy and closing out a game is integral well Marshall's error putting Beau over the sideline lost us that game - no question. We set up for a field goal or get a repeat set we win, simple.
jirskyr
Well-known member
I think Benji deserves the criticism, but it isn't just him, it is a whole team type thing. As a team we don't really know how to close out a match.
The real disappointment with that last set is that Benji had an opportunity to halt the play once it broke down. He clearly stops his stride and his runners slow down. But instead of taking the tackle he jinks right again and flicks to Beau, who had no option but to go for it.
I know it is what we do etc. but you don't make those plays with 7 to go. Sure go nuts and do it earlier in the game, but when you are up at the end, you lock the game up.
But like I said it isn't just him, it is a weakness of the team. Farah puts a deep kick in vs Warriors 2011 and we probably win. Benji doesn't kick out on the full 2010 and Saints don't get to set for a FG.
Small unprofessional things that no amount of flair or fancy footwook can undo.
The real disappointment with that last set is that Benji had an opportunity to halt the play once it broke down. He clearly stops his stride and his runners slow down. But instead of taking the tackle he jinks right again and flicks to Beau, who had no option but to go for it.
I know it is what we do etc. but you don't make those plays with 7 to go. Sure go nuts and do it earlier in the game, but when you are up at the end, you lock the game up.
But like I said it isn't just him, it is a weakness of the team. Farah puts a deep kick in vs Warriors 2011 and we probably win. Benji doesn't kick out on the full 2010 and Saints don't get to set for a FG.
Small unprofessional things that no amount of flair or fancy footwook can undo.
Tiger_Watto
New member
@cktiger said:
I like it… Although, with no Farah yesterday, You leave him out there.
Chunky_love_machine
New member
@cnx_tigers said:
No chance! I seem to remember Tim Moltzen putting a premature end to our finals drive last year.
As the main play maker and team captain Benji must realise that with only a few minutes to go he has already created enough for us to win! He simply does not need to try to win it all over again with a hospital pass to a winger that was never going to get through three sliding defenders and score - let alone on the first tackle.
I can accept taking the good with the bad when it comes to Benji during most of the game, but it just doesn't wash with me in this situation. There is a big difference. He simply needs to realise that closing the game out is all that is required. It is not that hard to pull the horns in and show some maturity.
If it is not within him to do so, at that point give him a rest and give the decision making to someone who will make the right call.
I can accept taking the good with the bad when it comes to Benji during most of the game, but it just doesn't wash with me in this situation. There is a big difference. He simply needs to realise that closing the game out is all that is required. It is not that hard to pull the horns in and show some maturity.
If it is not within him to do so, at that point give him a rest and give the decision making to someone who will make the right call.
yeah when Farah is there we seem to do much better in pressure situations and golden point etc. Like when he kicked the winning field goal against Newy last year.
There's the world cup final, and that time he destroyed Newcastle with 2-3 tries in 10 mins, but I reckon Benji's got a losing record in pressure situations like that.
But having said that he set up the rest of our tries and we might not have even been in the lead without him, I still would rather the Tiges play with him than against him
There's the world cup final, and that time he destroyed Newcastle with 2-3 tries in 10 mins, but I reckon Benji's got a losing record in pressure situations like that.
But having said that he set up the rest of our tries and we might not have even been in the lead without him, I still would rather the Tiges play with him than against him
For all his brillance he does some very dumb things which has been clearly outlined in other's blogs.
Love watching him play but wish he would use his brain a bit more and learn to make decisions that allows us to close out games.
Not a bad suggestion to take him off the field if we are in the lead to allow someone else to give us field position and take the field goal on offer.
For a player of his talent he might only end up with one premiership ring. Sad to think but a real possibility.
Love watching him play but wish he would use his brain a bit more and learn to make decisions that allows us to close out games.
Not a bad suggestion to take him off the field if we are in the lead to allow someone else to give us field position and take the field goal on offer.
For a player of his talent he might only end up with one premiership ring. Sad to think but a real possibility.
