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WHILE not wishing to insult his Tigers teammates, the question must be asked: Is Benji Marshall a one-man band?
The Daily Telegraph can reveal unprecedented statistics that show Marshall has virtually carried his team in the opening two rounds this year.
He has recorded eight tackle busts, five try assists, six line-break assists, one line break and scored one try himself.
They are Superman-like stats.
Marshall has also been involved in the three tries scored this year by outstanding young centre Chris Lawrence.
Most agree that Wests Tigers would not have come from behind to topple New Zealand last Saturday night had Marshall not been playing.
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"And I think Benji will only get better," Tigers legend Steve 'Blocker' Roach said.
"Benji is the type of player who sets himself a high standard - he is the Tigers' go-to guy.
"These stats don't surprise me. He won the Golden Boot last year but I think he can actually get better this year. Benji seems bigger and more powerful.
"He seems to understand the game so well and reads the opposition defence well too.
"He got the Tigers home on the weekend. He is a pure footballer."
Marshall's supreme form comes despite him being charged with assault outside a McDonald's in the city earlier this month.
It appears his mental strength is beginning to match his physical brilliance.
Ian Collis, the statistics manager for Fox Sports, yesterday rated Marshall alongside some of the greats in rugby league.
"There is a question that might soon have to be asked: is Benji Marshall developing into a one-man show for the Tigers?" Collis said.
"Of course he is not, with so many other very good players in their squad, but his ability to create a try for his supports is at an all-time high for the team.
"In the first two rounds, Benji Marshall has become a prolific try creator for the Tigers, scoring one himself and directly creating five more.
"Considering the Tigers have scored seven tries in total over the opening two rounds, that is an amazing strike rate of almost 86 per cent of the Tigers' tries coming from his brand of magic.
"Watching some of the game's great backline stars over the years, from the mid-1960s to now - players like Gasnier, Langlands, Fulton, Lewis and Johns to name a few - Marshall's ability is definitely of that calibre of dominant player."
Another Marshall admirer is Benny Elias, the former great Balmain Tigers, NSW and Australian hooker.
"Those stats show why he is the best player in the world," Elias said.
"That's why he won the Golden Boot award and that's why he is paid the big bucks.
"Benji is the most exciting player I have seen in many, many years. I go to the football to watch Benji Marshall. He does things on the football field that are truly amazing.
"He has set a very high bar but he continues to jump over it week in, week out.
"He is constantly brilliant - something that is very hard to do in the NRL."
Marshall's Tigers play Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow night.
[Source](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/stats-show-benji-marshalls-a-one-man-team/story-e6frfgbo-1226027681849)
The Daily Telegraph can reveal unprecedented statistics that show Marshall has virtually carried his team in the opening two rounds this year.
He has recorded eight tackle busts, five try assists, six line-break assists, one line break and scored one try himself.
They are Superman-like stats.
Marshall has also been involved in the three tries scored this year by outstanding young centre Chris Lawrence.
Most agree that Wests Tigers would not have come from behind to topple New Zealand last Saturday night had Marshall not been playing.
\
\
"And I think Benji will only get better," Tigers legend Steve 'Blocker' Roach said.
"Benji is the type of player who sets himself a high standard - he is the Tigers' go-to guy.
"These stats don't surprise me. He won the Golden Boot last year but I think he can actually get better this year. Benji seems bigger and more powerful.
"He seems to understand the game so well and reads the opposition defence well too.
"He got the Tigers home on the weekend. He is a pure footballer."
Marshall's supreme form comes despite him being charged with assault outside a McDonald's in the city earlier this month.
It appears his mental strength is beginning to match his physical brilliance.
Ian Collis, the statistics manager for Fox Sports, yesterday rated Marshall alongside some of the greats in rugby league.
"There is a question that might soon have to be asked: is Benji Marshall developing into a one-man show for the Tigers?" Collis said.
"Of course he is not, with so many other very good players in their squad, but his ability to create a try for his supports is at an all-time high for the team.
"In the first two rounds, Benji Marshall has become a prolific try creator for the Tigers, scoring one himself and directly creating five more.
"Considering the Tigers have scored seven tries in total over the opening two rounds, that is an amazing strike rate of almost 86 per cent of the Tigers' tries coming from his brand of magic.
"Watching some of the game's great backline stars over the years, from the mid-1960s to now - players like Gasnier, Langlands, Fulton, Lewis and Johns to name a few - Marshall's ability is definitely of that calibre of dominant player."
Another Marshall admirer is Benny Elias, the former great Balmain Tigers, NSW and Australian hooker.
"Those stats show why he is the best player in the world," Elias said.
"That's why he won the Golden Boot award and that's why he is paid the big bucks.
"Benji is the most exciting player I have seen in many, many years. I go to the football to watch Benji Marshall. He does things on the football field that are truly amazing.
"He has set a very high bar but he continues to jump over it week in, week out.
"He is constantly brilliant - something that is very hard to do in the NRL."
Marshall's Tigers play Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow night.
[Source](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/stats-show-benji-marshalls-a-one-man-team/story-e6frfgbo-1226027681849)