Marshall's 250th match!

Congratulations to Benji Marshall on reaching 250 first grade appearances. Somewhat ironic that it looks like it will be against the Wests Tigers.

Happy to say I am a fan as are a generation of youngsters you brought through the turnstiles. They all wanted to be like Benji. You certainly made your mark on the game reaching the pinnacle of success. I am happy to have watched on of the greatest players play a brand of football that brought both sponsors and crowds to the matches.

Well done to make 250…
 
Benji was hot and cold for most of his past 249 games,the occasional red hot game, the occasional shocker, but most games in between he was up and down, but he could still pull off a pass that nobody else could get close to achieving.

Father time was his main killer, the speed dropped off and that was a major weapon. He was never a natural organising no7 although Sheens tried to make him into one, he was a fabulous no6 with some magical skills.

Anyway I hope he gives it away soon, so our memories do not get clouded with sub standard games at the back end of his career
 
@stryker said:
@shane2801 said:
Sorry I 100% disagree.
He's the most overrated player ever to play Rugby league. I enjoyed watching him when he came on the scene but after that I just could not see what everyone else could. As the years went on he got worse. The only thing I liked about his later career was his ego to knock back our ridiculous offer to him to stay.

Over to you to smash in Stryker :smiley:

You 100% disagree Shane? 100%? LOL….
His worth to this club transcended the footy field. He brought in millions in sponsorship and PR dollars. He gave this club a profile. Channel 9 were tripping over themselves trying to schedule if the Tiges would play Friday night or Sunday arvo just so that they could get him on telly for the wider audience.

Was he the game's best ever? No. Was he the game's most entertaining? Quite possibly. He was certainly the most entertaining of his era and that's no mean feat when you consider his peers. Could he control a game like Johns, Locky or Freddie? No...could he execute a game plan like JT, Cooper or Foran? Not usually. But....could any of those guys do what he could? We're they capable of making a whole stadium get on its feet as often as he could? His highlights reel seems to have been written and directed by Hollywood's most creative minds. Even the most absurd ways of scoring tries were either achieved or attempted by him. He was a human being playing football against robots and as such he failed regularly however he also succeeded a lot and when he did, the robots had to be reprogrammed to keep up with his thinking as their circuits were fried lmao....

Tough, quick between the ears...an elusive and entertaining visionary. Congrats on 250 games.
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I was thinking of what to write about him, but this is a very good summation.
It was the most exciting few years of going to the footy in the 40 years following the tigers.
And, he was a great human being off the field, he never, ever, not once said no to an autograph or photo when my kids asked..always with a smile.
I still miss him and breaks my heart to see him playing for the dragons.
 
I love Benji. Probably my favourite player. So many great moments.

I remember when Hayne was on fire and we played Parra and Benji put on a show. I think at that point he was the best player in the game.
 
In our family Benji will always be a legend. Some of our fondest family memories associated with the game were shared watching him pull off some extraordinary feats on the field.
And while there was plenty of white knuckle moments - it was worth every minute
 
On a different subject, Benji has been in Australia most of his adult life but he is still Kiwi as..

Hear on him TV and you could swear he just arrived from NZ

God love him, superstar but not arrogant as some have become as they went for stardom
 
Congratulations on a fine achievement Benji …... Arguably the best player to don the black, white and gold .... Used to look forward to watching him play all week at the height of his career. We would not have won the comp in 2005 without him. Shame the way he ended with the club but that's the way Wests Tigers treat their star players at the end of their career as we are unfortunately witnessing again today.
 
@Knuckles said:
Congratulations on a fine achievement Benji …... Arguably the best player to don the black, white and gold .... Used to look forward to watching him play all week at the height of his career. We would not have won the comp in 2005 without him. Shame the way he ended with the club but that's the way Wests Tigers treat their star players at the end of their career as we are unfortunately witnessing again today.
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How was Marshall treated at the end?
 
@shane2801 said:
I know it sounds very harsh but I just wasn't a fan. I understand I am way in the minority here and I mean no disrespect to him as a person. I just never got all the hype. What's even worse, and this is to my detriment, apparently he went well in 2010\. The only thing I remember from 2010 is us losing to the Roosters in the finals as I was there.
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Pretty sure 2010 was the year Benji won the Golden Boot as the best player in the world, so yeah, he went alright that year apparently.
Massive congratulations to Benji on his 250th, great achievement after all of his injuries early on. Was the most exhilarating player to watch of the modern era IMO. Hope he doesn't play too well against us this week but you just get the feeling he will be MOM.
 
I will remember Benji as the most exciting player I have ever seen. To my mind, he revolutionised the game with his incredible skill set and audacious attitude to play what was in front of him. To put it bluntly, if you take the time to watch a utube highlights reel, you will see that noone has and probably ever will come within cooee of his attacking achievements on a Rugby League field. Admittedly, he was a poor defender, was guilty of frittering away possession by going for the miracle play too often and he became somewhat of a prima donna at the end of his tenure at the Tigers. Basically, whether through poor coaching or his own stubbornness, he never really matured as a footballer at Wests, whereas he has learned to pull his head in at Saints. Anyway, back to the main point and I congratulate Benji on reaching this milestone, whenever it might be. Like many others, I will always have a soft spot for him and remember him as a true attacking genius when at his best. We were lucky to have him during his prime and so was the game!
 
Does anyone remember the night at Campbelltown he went back and put that little boy up on his shoulders … The one who was seriously ill .... What a touching moment that was .... Testament to the person he is.
 
@Knuckles said:
Congratulations on a fine achievement Benji …... Arguably the best player to don the black, white and gold .... Used to look forward to watching him play all week at the height of his career. We would not have won the comp in 2005 without him. Shame the way he ended with the club but that's the way Wests Tigers treat their star players at the end of their career as we are unfortunately witnessing again today.
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If we had of kept Benji on the money he was on, we would not of had all these young kids around today.
Where would our future be a burnt out Benji and an aging Robbie and no one else.
It's a business now days, not a sporting club financed by chook raffles.
You most always look to the future, if you stay still and everyone else goes forward you are going backward.
 
@Knuckles said:
Does anyone remember the night at Campbelltown he went back and put that little boy up on his shoulders … The one who was seriously ill .... What a touching moment that was .... Testament to the person he is.
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And that's the other thing - he's a top bloke as well as being, quite possibly, the most exciting player ever.
 
Good luck Benji loved the game against Warriors in NZ few years ago then you pulled the game back for the Tigers I hope today you help the Tigers again a few try assist to Kevvie and Tim would be nice a few kicks out on the full and a cut out pass over the side line

Just like old times at the Tigers brings a tear to my eye

Hope you have a good Benji game
 
Will Karma come back to bite Benji in the arse today for the Auckland manifesto. For me personally it's a win win for Benji - he gets to play his 250th game against the team he put on the map. Hope he razzle dazzles today - but mostly from his side of the half way line.
 
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