Marshall's column in the Sydney Morning Herald
**If Wests Tigers want to stand me down for the rest of the season, I would accept their decision.** If that's the path the club wants to take, and they feel they need to do that for the future, I would stand aside.
**Two-hundred games is 200 games. It's a statistic, and I don't play the game for statistics. I play for my teammates.** The reason I wouldn't want to finish up now is so I can end the season with my mates in my team.
But if the club sees things differently, and they want to try the younger guys, I could not be bitter. I don't have the time to be angry or resentful about anything. I have made my decision to move on - although my heart is very much in the rest of the season with Wests Tigers. People have been saying that I look like I don't care. But I do care.
The last few weeks have been difficult. But I have been trying my hardest. It would be wrong of me to say that everything going on off the field hasn't been a distraction, because it probably has. But with my future confirmed, over the final rounds of the competition, my final rounds in the NRL, I want to show what I can do. And I want to win. Losing's not good enough.
I have signed a two-year deal with the Auckland Blues, and I do feel like I'm coming home. The reaction from the public when I flew to Auckland a week or so ago, to meet the Blues, was phenomenal. The positivity and the vibe from the people, who were so welcoming, was overwhelming. Everyone seemed to be excited about me coming home. I am certainly excited, although nervous at the same time.
I haven't lived in New Zealand for 14 years. I've spent half my life in Australia, which is my home away from home. But New Zealand is always home. I have a block of land in Whakatane which my dad left me. I know my mum is looking forward to me returning, as well as my grand-father, and my aunties and uncles.
On the sporting field, I am going into the unknown. I really don't know what to expect, in terms of training, and lifestyle. But they're things I'm looking forward to learning. The club's presentation to me was extremely professional. They've got some very good people around them. Sir John Kirwan is coach, Graham Henry is assistant coach, so the opportunity is there, if I'm good enough, to represent the All Blacks or represent New Zealand in Sevens. Reaching that level will not be easy. I'm not expecting to walk into the All Blacks side. That is a dream, but certainly not a priority. If I can have success with the Blues, and learn through my transition, hopefully I can take what I do in rugby league and make it work in rugby. I feel like I have a lot to offer, and I believe I can add to the Blues team. The club has a young squad, and I hope I can be a bit of a leader for the younger players, and help take the club to the finals.
I haven't played rugby since I was 16\. I used to play five-eighth or fullback in those days. I'm not sure which position I will play in, and I won't know until I start training, and get a feel for the game plans and structures, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I feel a bit like I will be the new kid at school. I love learning new things.
Where this decision leaves me with the rugby league World Cup still remains to be seen. The Blues have been comfortable with me going to the World Cup, so the decision about whether I go or not will be mine. I will, of course, speak with John Kirwan, as well as Stephen Kearney, before I do. What I will say is this - I don't think I deserve to be selected. I don't think I have been playing good enough football. Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson deserve the spots in that team. **I haven't been playing to my potential for the Tigers.**
Hopefully that changes over the final few rounds. It will be emotional to leave the club. I love the Tigers, and always will. But players come and go and the clubs remain. Wests Tigers is bigger than me, and bigger than anyone else. I'll always have a soft spot for the club, and it will always be the club I support in league. Who knows? **I might even return as an assistant coach, or a skills coach**. Before that, I'll be having a decent crack at rugby.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/no-complaints-if-im-dropped-but-id-love-to-finish-on-a-high-20130810-2rorn.html#ixzz2bZP7dmgH
**If Wests Tigers want to stand me down for the rest of the season, I would accept their decision.** If that's the path the club wants to take, and they feel they need to do that for the future, I would stand aside.
**Two-hundred games is 200 games. It's a statistic, and I don't play the game for statistics. I play for my teammates.** The reason I wouldn't want to finish up now is so I can end the season with my mates in my team.
But if the club sees things differently, and they want to try the younger guys, I could not be bitter. I don't have the time to be angry or resentful about anything. I have made my decision to move on - although my heart is very much in the rest of the season with Wests Tigers. People have been saying that I look like I don't care. But I do care.
The last few weeks have been difficult. But I have been trying my hardest. It would be wrong of me to say that everything going on off the field hasn't been a distraction, because it probably has. But with my future confirmed, over the final rounds of the competition, my final rounds in the NRL, I want to show what I can do. And I want to win. Losing's not good enough.
I have signed a two-year deal with the Auckland Blues, and I do feel like I'm coming home. The reaction from the public when I flew to Auckland a week or so ago, to meet the Blues, was phenomenal. The positivity and the vibe from the people, who were so welcoming, was overwhelming. Everyone seemed to be excited about me coming home. I am certainly excited, although nervous at the same time.
I haven't lived in New Zealand for 14 years. I've spent half my life in Australia, which is my home away from home. But New Zealand is always home. I have a block of land in Whakatane which my dad left me. I know my mum is looking forward to me returning, as well as my grand-father, and my aunties and uncles.
On the sporting field, I am going into the unknown. I really don't know what to expect, in terms of training, and lifestyle. But they're things I'm looking forward to learning. The club's presentation to me was extremely professional. They've got some very good people around them. Sir John Kirwan is coach, Graham Henry is assistant coach, so the opportunity is there, if I'm good enough, to represent the All Blacks or represent New Zealand in Sevens. Reaching that level will not be easy. I'm not expecting to walk into the All Blacks side. That is a dream, but certainly not a priority. If I can have success with the Blues, and learn through my transition, hopefully I can take what I do in rugby league and make it work in rugby. I feel like I have a lot to offer, and I believe I can add to the Blues team. The club has a young squad, and I hope I can be a bit of a leader for the younger players, and help take the club to the finals.
I haven't played rugby since I was 16\. I used to play five-eighth or fullback in those days. I'm not sure which position I will play in, and I won't know until I start training, and get a feel for the game plans and structures, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I feel a bit like I will be the new kid at school. I love learning new things.
Where this decision leaves me with the rugby league World Cup still remains to be seen. The Blues have been comfortable with me going to the World Cup, so the decision about whether I go or not will be mine. I will, of course, speak with John Kirwan, as well as Stephen Kearney, before I do. What I will say is this - I don't think I deserve to be selected. I don't think I have been playing good enough football. Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson deserve the spots in that team. **I haven't been playing to my potential for the Tigers.**
Hopefully that changes over the final few rounds. It will be emotional to leave the club. I love the Tigers, and always will. But players come and go and the clubs remain. Wests Tigers is bigger than me, and bigger than anyone else. I'll always have a soft spot for the club, and it will always be the club I support in league. Who knows? **I might even return as an assistant coach, or a skills coach**. Before that, I'll be having a decent crack at rugby.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/no-complaints-if-im-dropped-but-id-love-to-finish-on-a-high-20130810-2rorn.html#ixzz2bZP7dmgH
