Watching videos of his glory days in a Wests Tigers and New Zealand jumper was the inspiration behind Benji Marshall's outstanding display for St George Illawarra last Saturday, the playmaker has revealed.
Marshall set up three of his side's six tries in the 30-0 win over Cronulla and had a hand in two more as he showed glimpses of his old form.
The former Kiwi skipper has endured a difficult return to the NRL since calling time on his ill-fated stint in Super Rugby with the Blues in April, and admitted his confidence was dented by the experience.
But after playing some DVDs of some old games last week, it made him realise he had gone away from the things that once made him the world's best player.
"I wasn't performing how I wanted to and I had to figure out why," Marshall said.
"I watched some old footage to see what made me a good player and I figured out a few things on the way and put them into place at the weekend."
Marshall made his name as a brilliant runner of the ball and, as he demonstrated, albeit against a weakened Sharks side, he can still use that speed to good effect.
"I think when you are a ball player, and believe you are a ball player, you forget what made you good," he said.
"For me that was my running game. Running into the line and combining that with playing a bit earlier.
"I wasn't attracting defenders and not doing anything for the outside.
"I just watched a bit of tape and saw the more I got myself into contact and played the ball, the better I played. I just need to try and keep doing that."
Marshall arrived at the Dragons with the side struggling to win games and with coach Steve Price under huge pressure to keep his job. He said he tried too hard to make an early impression – something he conceded was a mistake.
Price was sacked after Marshall's first game – a 36-0 loss to Parramatta – and the 29-year-old admitted it was not something he had expected.
"It was a difficult situation, not just for me but for the whole club … Pricey fought for me to come here so I felt sorry for him. He was one of the reasons I signed.
"The first few weeks I was guilty of trying to be good straight away ... trying to score off every play.
"At the weekend, I just wanted to build on the game a bit better, not put people under too much pressure.
"It was always going to take time, but I am not kidding myself. It was an under-strength Cronulla side we beat, but it was a step in the right direction."
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/old-glories-help-dragons-benji-marshall-find-nrl-feet-again-20140611-zs4cb.html#ixzz34KDLVMJc
**I am 100% certain Marshall said the exact same thing last year when he was playing like a busted for us..**.maybe he found a different set of tapes...last week Marshall was diamonds...this week he will be rocks...yawn...
Marshall set up three of his side's six tries in the 30-0 win over Cronulla and had a hand in two more as he showed glimpses of his old form.
The former Kiwi skipper has endured a difficult return to the NRL since calling time on his ill-fated stint in Super Rugby with the Blues in April, and admitted his confidence was dented by the experience.
But after playing some DVDs of some old games last week, it made him realise he had gone away from the things that once made him the world's best player.
"I wasn't performing how I wanted to and I had to figure out why," Marshall said.
"I watched some old footage to see what made me a good player and I figured out a few things on the way and put them into place at the weekend."
Marshall made his name as a brilliant runner of the ball and, as he demonstrated, albeit against a weakened Sharks side, he can still use that speed to good effect.
"I think when you are a ball player, and believe you are a ball player, you forget what made you good," he said.
"For me that was my running game. Running into the line and combining that with playing a bit earlier.
"I wasn't attracting defenders and not doing anything for the outside.
"I just watched a bit of tape and saw the more I got myself into contact and played the ball, the better I played. I just need to try and keep doing that."
Marshall arrived at the Dragons with the side struggling to win games and with coach Steve Price under huge pressure to keep his job. He said he tried too hard to make an early impression – something he conceded was a mistake.
Price was sacked after Marshall's first game – a 36-0 loss to Parramatta – and the 29-year-old admitted it was not something he had expected.
"It was a difficult situation, not just for me but for the whole club … Pricey fought for me to come here so I felt sorry for him. He was one of the reasons I signed.
"The first few weeks I was guilty of trying to be good straight away ... trying to score off every play.
"At the weekend, I just wanted to build on the game a bit better, not put people under too much pressure.
"It was always going to take time, but I am not kidding myself. It was an under-strength Cronulla side we beat, but it was a step in the right direction."
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/old-glories-help-dragons-benji-marshall-find-nrl-feet-again-20140611-zs4cb.html#ixzz34KDLVMJc
**I am 100% certain Marshall said the exact same thing last year when he was playing like a busted for us..**.maybe he found a different set of tapes...last week Marshall was diamonds...this week he will be rocks...yawn...
