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Benji Marshall believes older and wiser Wests Tigers have what it takes to win the NRL Premiership this season. The Tigers fell to eventual winners St George Illawarra at the preliminary final stage last year and the 26-year-old New Zealand captain said the team learned many lessons in 2010. "We have always had the talent in the side, but we lacked the experience, but getting to the finals was a big breakthrough for us as a team and we grew from it," Marshall told AAP. "I am not going to say, 'we will win it', but we feel we have the players and the coach to go all the way, but I do think this season is going to be the toughest year ever. Every team is strong." Marshall, who has been tagged the face of the NRL after launching the 2011 campaign in Sydney on Wednesday, played down his role and admitted he was slightly embarrassed. "I am one of many faces who play our game and we have some unbelievable talent, it was obviously a big honour to be asked, but I am just one player in the NRL," he said. The Tigers open their season against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Monday March 14 and Marshall believes the bad blood between the sides in last year's clash will not resurface. An incident involving Bryce Gibbs and Ben Hannant, where the Tigers prop was accused of making religious slurs against the now Brisbane frontrower, led to angry scenes after the game. "It may add some extra spice for supporters, but as players, we are not focusing on last year," he said. "We haven't discussed it at all, and I am sure they are not worrying about it. "It should be a great game, they have signed some great players and we are expecting a tough game, but I am sure it will be an entertaining one."
