Sheens remains optimistic over return of Marshall

[Discussion_Bot]

Benji Marshall could be a late addition to the Wests Tigers side to face Parramatta on Friday night, subject to how he pulls through today’s final training session.

Head Coach Tim Sheens remains cautious as to whether the brilliant five-eighth will take to the field at Parramatta Stadium in round 18 of the Telstra Premiership. Marshall suffered a knee injury against Melbourne in round 15.

Sheens has named Jacob Miller at five-eighth to partner the talented Robert Lui at half.

“We will have a look at him this morning but I will have to reserve an opinion until after the session. He hasn’t run for a week and a half so we will need to be 100 per cent sure,’’ Sheens said.

“My leaning is that it will be the week after. There is no use playing him if he is not going to be ready to play.

“He wants to play but unless you are actually prepared, there is no use thinking you can do it. You have got to practise it and do it. I’m not going to put the team or him at risk by playing him if he is not 100 per cent.”

Sheens confirmed centre Chris Lawrence and prop Todd Payten would definitely play after recovering from injury.

[Source](http://www.weststigers.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=38892&title=sheens-optimistic-over-the-return-of-benji-marshall) (by Wayne Cousins)

 

[tigersrule4life]

Im sure he will play benjii and will amke lawrence score 3 tries :smiley:😀

 

[happy_tiger]

I think most of us knew this headline was coming . Bet next story will be giving him up to game time to be fit . Still unsure if he will play but Shifty's playing games with Kearney's head I think Kearney will probably come out and say he thought Benji would play all along .

 

[Centaur]

The Eels are drifting in the betting. Maybe some people know more than us.

 

[happy_tiger]

Wonder how Hayne's ribs and back are after Smith accidently got him

 

[parratigerman]

Just drove past concord oval and saw Marshall training and running. IMO he's playing from what I saw.
\
\
Posted using RoarFEED

 

[smoking_gun]

Lui "may" make way if Marshall plays…. Just a "rumor"

 

[Tiger_heart]

Sheens has named Jacob Miller at five-eighth to partner the talented Robert Lui at half.

Talented??? :bash :bash :bash

 

[Knuckles]

I'm with Tim all the way …........ Benji has to be able to show he can handle the rigours of 80 minutes of first grade football. Its just too bigger risk to take. But if the club pass him fit, then there are no excuses.
I hope he plays but support the club 100% on whatever it decides.

 

[smoking_gun]

The "rumor" depends on mckinnons fitness

 

[stryker]

The "rumor" depends on mckinnons fitness

God is he injured again?

 

[tiger05]

McKinnon has broken ribs. That explains his poor performance last week. It doesn't explain his poor performances prior to that and it doesn't make sense that he has been named in the squad this week but hey I'm just a dumb punter.

 

[Guest]

Marshall could take on Eels

David Beniuk AAP Thu, Jul 07, 2011 - 5:21 PM

Wests Tigers' superstar Benji Marshall could be a late inclusion in the side to play Parramatta in Friday night's NRL clash.

Marshall was due to run with the Tigers on Thursday after suffering a knee injury three weeks ago in the loss to Melbourne.

The Kiwi captain wasn't named by coach Tim Sheens this week but the Tigers' boss is considering playing Marshall in the crucial Parramatta Stadium showdown.

"He hasn't run for a week-and-a-half so we'll need to be 100 per cent sure," Sheens told reporters on Thursday.

"My leaning is it will be the week after.

"If he's fit, yeah (he'll play), but if he's not fit, no.

"He wants to play but, unless you're actually prepared, there's no use thinking you can do it. You've got to practise it and do it."

If Marshall is out, his place at five-eighth will again be taken by youngster Jacob Miller, although Eels' coach Stephen Kearney said his side is preparing as if Marshall will play.

State of Origin trio Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah (Eels) and Keith Galloway (Tigers) are expected to to back up for a clash which takes on must-win proportions for Parramatta.

Plenty of interest will surround Tigers' centre Chris Lawrence's comeback from a horrendous injury.

The Test back dislocated his hip in the Tigers' round three clash with Canberra, an injury which at the time was considered career-threatening.

Sheens is putting no pressure on Lawrence, who has been sorely missed by a Tigers side in an intense battle for positions in the lower half of the top eight.

"You've got to understand he's had more than a three-month layoff so you're not just going to say 'score four tries, Chris'," Sheens said.

"I just want him to do his job. He'll bring some strength to the side, some speed on the left edge but again I'm making sure we're not concerning ourselves with expecting the world from him.

"It's physically, let alone psychologically, hard what he's going to go through."

Sheens said Lawrence could have been ready to play before the Tigers' bye last weekend but the club wasn't taking any risks.

"I'm very happy with where he's at," Sheens said.

"He is too but he'll still need to make the first few tackles and the first few runs before he's confident."