weststigers4life
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http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/new-wests-tigers-coach-mick-potter-to-lay-down-the-law-to-playmaker-benji-marshall/story-e6frexnr-1226504914501?reg=1
WESTS Tigers coach Mick Potter will this morning sit down with star player Benji Marshall for the first time and atop the agenda will be the mercurial half's on-field leadership and cutting out the "trick shots".
In a revealing radio interview yesterday, Potter also said new recruit Braith Anasta will be considered at lock instead of halfback.
And he declared the Tigers' maligned forward pack wasn't aggressive enough last season.
"I don't want to tread on anyone's toes, but I thought they could have got forward a bit more, with a bit more vigour," he told Sky Sports Radio yesterday.
How Potter juggles the dominant personalities of Marshall and captain Robbie Farah in his first season at Concord Oval remains one of his main tasks.
He said upon his appointment last week that nobody was bigger than the team. Yesterday, he said he would challenge the pair to become stronger leaders on the field.
"I'll be demanding on him, and I think he will be demanding on himself as well," Potter said of Marshall. "About how he gets around the park, how he cracks the whip on other people, and how he leads. I want him to lead by example. I think he does a good job at that, but I will reinforce what he does on the field every week.
"I don't see them (Marshall and Farah) as being a problem. It's a case of letting them know that they are leaders. They are influential players and everyone looks towards them, the young players look towards them.
"They have to set an example all the time. They have done a good job up until now, but I want them to take it to another step. When it gets tough, they are the ones the young guys look at to get them through."
Potter remains undecided about his halves for next year. Anasta was signed from the Roosters, with sacked head coach Tim Sheens suggesting the veteran would play halfback to take pressure off Marshall.
But under-20s star Jacob Miller is highly regarded, attracting interest from Super League powerhouse Hull.
"Braith can play halfback, but he can also play five-eighth," Potter said. "He's not unaccustomed to lock either. I want to see how they scrub up in the pre-season and where they fit best for the team."
As for the Tigers' signature attacking style of play, Potter said he would be looking for more discipline.
"The style they played was very good but they tilted the balance to being too flamboyant down their own end, not getting out of jail with a really hot kick-chase game," he said. "They would come up with a little trick play they tried once or twice too often."
Asked about the Sheens situation, chief executive Stephen Humphreys said: "There's no update in regards to Tim. I would suspect that it will take some time to resolve and we've said that we'll give him the time and space he needs to consider things."
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_
WESTS Tigers coach Mick Potter will this morning sit down with star player Benji Marshall for the first time and atop the agenda will be the mercurial half's on-field leadership and cutting out the "trick shots".
In a revealing radio interview yesterday, Potter also said new recruit Braith Anasta will be considered at lock instead of halfback.
And he declared the Tigers' maligned forward pack wasn't aggressive enough last season.
"I don't want to tread on anyone's toes, but I thought they could have got forward a bit more, with a bit more vigour," he told Sky Sports Radio yesterday.
How Potter juggles the dominant personalities of Marshall and captain Robbie Farah in his first season at Concord Oval remains one of his main tasks.
He said upon his appointment last week that nobody was bigger than the team. Yesterday, he said he would challenge the pair to become stronger leaders on the field.
"I'll be demanding on him, and I think he will be demanding on himself as well," Potter said of Marshall. "About how he gets around the park, how he cracks the whip on other people, and how he leads. I want him to lead by example. I think he does a good job at that, but I will reinforce what he does on the field every week.
"I don't see them (Marshall and Farah) as being a problem. It's a case of letting them know that they are leaders. They are influential players and everyone looks towards them, the young players look towards them.
"They have to set an example all the time. They have done a good job up until now, but I want them to take it to another step. When it gets tough, they are the ones the young guys look at to get them through."
Potter remains undecided about his halves for next year. Anasta was signed from the Roosters, with sacked head coach Tim Sheens suggesting the veteran would play halfback to take pressure off Marshall.
But under-20s star Jacob Miller is highly regarded, attracting interest from Super League powerhouse Hull.
"Braith can play halfback, but he can also play five-eighth," Potter said. "He's not unaccustomed to lock either. I want to see how they scrub up in the pre-season and where they fit best for the team."
As for the Tigers' signature attacking style of play, Potter said he would be looking for more discipline.
"The style they played was very good but they tilted the balance to being too flamboyant down their own end, not getting out of jail with a really hot kick-chase game," he said. "They would come up with a little trick play they tried once or twice too often."
Asked about the Sheens situation, chief executive Stephen Humphreys said: "There's no update in regards to Tim. I would suspect that it will take some time to resolve and we've said that we'll give him the time and space he needs to consider things."
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_
