Murdoch-Masila out to cement starting spot

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Murdoch-Masila out to cement starting spot
By Emily Jacobs
Wests Tigers

Thursday 6 June 2013 2:02 PM
Murdoch-Masila out to cement starting spot

Ben Murdoch-Masila is looking to make the most of his recall to the starting side at Centrebet Stadium this Sunday.

Coach Mick Potter has named Murdoch-Masila in the back-row to partner Eddy Pettybourne for the vital clash against Penrith Panthers.

"It is always a dream to be in the starting 13\. I've only done it twice this year… hopefully I do a good job,’’ Murdoch-Masila said.

The new number 12 has put in the hard yards, having made his debut for Wests Tigers in the 2010 finals series against the Sydney Roosters.

He's been a constant presence on the interchange since but is looking forward to getting into the thick of the action from the kick-off.

"The past couple of weeks I haven't been getting involved too much,’’ Murdoch-Masila admitted.

“In defence, I'll be talking to the people next to me like Benji Marshall and Joel Reddy.”

His transition from interchange to starting side has not been easy with extra sessions under NRL High Performance Manager Skandalis in an attempt to become an 80 minute player.

Murdoch-Masila knows there is plenty of more hard work ahead of the hard running back-rower who also has an eye on representing Tonga again in the World Cup at the end of the season.

He admits the Tongan culture is very different to that at the club

“In Tongan camp, all we did was sing, pray and eat. I fit right in,’’ he
laughed.

 

[westy81]

Good on him hopefully he has a good game week after week to keep that spot at least he will work hard for his goal

 

[king_sirro]

Doesnt really fill me with confidence.

I thought this guy would be my fave player by now but he just hasnt stepped up. Hopefully this opportunity is what will kick start him…...but ive said that before so im not getting my hopes up.

 

[underdog]

If he can shake the whole "feet for hands" moniker he'll be unstoppable - his handling is the only problem he has in his game.

 

[alexaki]

another who just cant seem to fulfill his potential

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

lets see if starting the next game changes his fortunes and our luck

 

[Goose]

he has been the biggest disappointment along with Pettybourne this year.
I was hoping they would be strong this year

 

[tig_prmz]

yeh with ellis and heighno gone, i was hoping to see bmm really lift his game.

he needs to do a lot of work defensively. personally, i have had high hopes of him ever since he debuted for us and been letdown every single time. i dont think he's up to starting 2nd row and never will be IMO. at best, he can be an impact bacrower on the bench. i really hope he can prove me wrong.

also, he was very close to mosese (as i read in the newspaper article a month ago), so obviously it must've impacted his game as well. hopefully, he is getting over it now and is able to do what he does best.

 

[Shooshmeister]

Your time to shut the talk, and walk the walk. The way he has been playing, he's lucky he isn't playing reserve grade. Hope he take this opportunity and run with it. Good luck big fella.

 

[Winnipeg]

I don't think he's far away from a big game

 

[Snake]

Lazy!

 

[851]

Lazy!

This is his biggest problem.

 

[The_Tooth]

Not sure I would call him lazy, proabaly just not as fit as we would all like. Suffers from concentration problems mostly. I think thats the case with his hands (mostly in the play the ball) and his defensive lapses.
Does anyone think a stint in the front row would be worth considering, where he has less to worry about, especially in defense (ala Blair)?
Would really love to see him reach some of that potential.

 

[bp_tiger]

i really hope he has been put on notice that this his last chance to shine or he should be shown the door.

 

[MacDougall]

He should be a real weapon in the second row but really at the end of the day a 118kg monster like him in the middle of the park aint a bad idea at all. Might be worth it tbh. Potter should just treat our forwards like Bellamy treats his.

You get 30 minutes tonight. If you don't make 8 hitups and 15 tackles you don't get ice cream after the game.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Ben has apparently struggled with the death of Mosese for the best part of the year and hasnt found the spark needed to take his career to the next level…

Hopefully with him now talking about his football, this will drive him on to deliver a stellar performance over the next few weeks.

Fire Up Ben!!!

 

[Shooshmeister]

WHy do the second rowers have to be out on the edge, getting no ball at all. He can come into the middle at any time and help out woods and co..Its rediculous, he stand their most of the game, if the ball doesn't come to him, he doesn't touch it. He become Ben Creagh. But at leaset he has now started going into the middle looking for work. Not good enough. Just have 5 forwards all hitting up the centre, spread the love. Occassionally move it wider. our biggest problem is hitting it up straight at the marker and turning it inside, waste of time. We should be running hitup of the half back the aim at the smaller players alittle wider than in the middle wher ithe bigger boys are. It seems logocal to me, what do people think.