The Madge factor has Marshall torn between signing off and playing on

[851]

@Tiger_Steve reading between the lines Marshall yes Farah no

That was my take on it as well, but not at all happy if that's the case, another year of a $700k plus player playing CC while a 35 year old tries to hang on to past glories in the NRL team


The reason the $700K player is in CC is a) his body and b) his form. It has nothing todo with what Benji wants. I want the best players available in first grade. If that means a $700K player is in CC then so be it.

He has played 2 games back now, whilst his form is not brilliant, neither is Benji's

 

[TheDaBoss]

Anyone able to give me a brief summary of what Madge said on nrl 360? I missed it

 

[TieDye]

@TheDaBoss it’s online mate 🙂

 

[matchball]

@Tiger_Steve
Positive influences around the team doesn't really equate into wins.
We need youth, we need speed.

 

[Geo]

**Benji Marshall’s big rap for Wests Tigers star of the future**

As Benji Marshall weighs up whether or not this season will be his last, the Kiwi Test ace reveals Wests Tigers’ playmaking future is in good hands.

Fatima Kdouh, The Daily Telegraph
July 5, 2019 9:11am

Benji Marshall has anointed the Wests Tigers ready to step up when he finally hangs up his boots — and it’s not Josh Reynolds.

Marshall insists he is still undecided about his playing future beyond 2019 but believes rising talent Jock Madden has what it takes to develop into an NRL star.

“He hasn’t had an opportunity yet but I feel like he has a lot of potential,” he has a lot of potential,” Marshall said.

“I’m really impressed with how he is travelling. He’s a tough young guy. He’s really keen to learn, really determined and he’s a good listener.”

Last year, Madden, 19, was leading point scorer in SG Ball; was selected in the NSW under-18s; and captained the Australian Schoolboys on a tour of England.

The Scone Thoroughbreads junior is on coach Michael Maguire’s roster as a development player but under NRL rules, he’ll be eligible to make his top-grade debut from this weekend. Marshall has been working closely with Madden to help nurture the teenager’s game.

“I’m pretty hands-on … as I am with all the halves, though,” Marshall said.

“I take a role in developing what Luke Brooks does as well.

“I feel like I have gained a lot of knowledge over all the years I have been playing and I can offer advice and help to the young guys. It’s not in my job description but it’s what I like doing. I get a kick out of seeing those guys improve.”

While Marshall is tipping Madden to make his mark, the club legend backed Reynolds to find a way back into the first-grade side.

Reynolds joined the Tigers on a lucrative four-year deal believed to be worth about $750,000 a season in 2018 but has only played nine games.

Injury has hampered the former Canterbury Bulldog and this year he has not been a part of Maguire’s plans, leaving him languishing in reserve grade.

“We’ve got a good couple of young guys coming through, a guy called Josh Reynolds, you might have heard of him,” Marshall said.

“With Josh and Luke here, if I decide not to play on then the club is in pretty good hands.”

Marshall will play his 299th game of top-flight football tonight against Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium and, despite being in his 17th season of NRL, the New Zealand international isn’t willing to rush into a decision about his future.

 

[BZN]

G'day @Geo : shut up and take my money. I don't know if I can handle all this positive news coming through [yes I can] 1. the possible new Wests Tigers jersey 2. Twal and Matterson 3. IMO Chris Lawrence 4. Jock Madden 5. Madge challenging Josh Reynolds to fight his way back into Our NRL side 6. Benji Marshall a future coach of Our Wests Tigers IMO. WOW...we are "on the cusp of becoming the Powerhouse of the West" IMO.

 

[rustycage]

@kiwitiger he’s obviously no longer playing NRL. No longer looked after by Todd and the boys like other average RL crims but yeh mate, great point when packer is clearly responding so well?

Tbh, Laurie was great under sheens and just never excelled in the off-field dept. purely his fault and a shame at the time for all tigers fans - think you’d agree- he had the mongrel and gained metres that ^ in my original post clearly stated is more of what we are missing now under Madge. In their primes, Laurie or A Bryce Gibbs wouldn’t go astray right now.

It’s a moot point though, and doubt we’ll be signing any quality bookends from outside the club within next couple of years... merely saying Madge needs better pigs than he does outside backs to be capable of results (disclaimer: it is obviously a fine balance) but a half decent centre should prove to be cheaper. Where’s Phats or Collis when you need them?

You lost me at Collis

 

[851]

@Geo if Benji reckons we have all these players ready to carry us forward, then retire and let them have a go, how are they supposed to get any experience when you are in the 6 jumper every week.
You will get your 300th game this week, retire already and stay on as a coaching advisor if you want to help moving forward.

 

[TieDye]

@rustycage hahaha admitted collis wasn’t the best centre ever but he did a damn job!

Don’t tell me you preferred Ayshford :|

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Benji is holding up better than Reynolds. I trust the judgement of the coach and Benji. Reynolds surely knew his future was in the EPL on softer grounds while at the Bulldogs. That he didn't make that call then is a little disappointing.

 

[Jimmy]

@851
You really hate benji don’t you😂

 

[Geo]

@Geo if Benji reckons we have all these players ready to carry us forward, then retire and let them have a go, how are they supposed to get any experience when you are in the 6 jumper every week.
You will get your 300th game this week, retire already and stay on as a coaching advisor if you want to help moving forward.

Do you think Benji really picks himself not the coach...?

 

[851]

@851
You really hate benji don’t you😂

I don't hate him, he is not the player the media thinks he is anymore, and if we want to play finals and move forward as a club we can't keep hanging on to the past, and Benji is now the past.
He was signed for 2018 and I was happy he could come and play one final year back at the WestsTigers, that has stretched in to 2 years, now he is saying I want a 3rd year, well I say no way champ, others are happy to see him run around again, I am not.

 

[851]

@Geo if Benji reckons we have all these players ready to carry us forward, then retire and let them have a go, how are they supposed to get any experience when you are in the 6 jumper every week.
You will get your 300th game this week, retire already and stay on as a coaching advisor if you want to help moving forward.

Do you think Benji really picks himself not the coach...?

This is my problem, he is picked every week regardless of form, it looks like the JT not picking Farah to force him out is happening again with Grub, and I am not happy with that.

 

[avocadoontoast]

@851
You really hate benji don’t you?

I don't hate him, he is not the player the media thinks he is anymore, and if we want to play finals and move forward as a club we can't keep hanging on to the past, and Benji is now the past.
He was signed for 2018 and I was happy he could come and play one final year back at the WestsTigers, that has stretched in to 2 years, now he is saying I want a 3rd year, well I say no way champ, others are happy to see him run around again, I am not.

I totally get where you are coming from, but to be honest I don't think many on here or the media think he's half the player he was. Without Benji being here in 2018/2019 we would have been in massive trouble. Our only backup half was Gamble and on his best day he wasn't as good as Marshall on his worst imo. Madden appears to have ability but is he up to an NRL starting role? I think he's a ways off.

So that means if we don't re-sign Marshall we'll be heading into 2020 expecting Reynolds to stay healthy all year. Given what we've seen over this year and last year I reckon it would be an unrealistic expectation.

 

[851]

@851
You really hate benji don’t you?

I don't hate him, he is not the player the media thinks he is anymore, and if we want to play finals and move forward as a club we can't keep hanging on to the past, and Benji is now the past.
He was signed for 2018 and I was happy he could come and play one final year back at the WestsTigers, that has stretched in to 2 years, now he is saying I want a 3rd year, well I say no way champ, others are happy to see him run around again, I am not.

I totally get where you are coming from, but to be honest I don't think many on here or the media think he's half the player he was. Without Benji being here in 2018/2019 we would have been in massive trouble. Our only backup half was Gamble and on his best day he wasn't as good as Marshall on his worst imo. Madden appears to have ability but is he up to an NRL starting role? I think he's a ways off.

So that means if we don't re-sign Marshall we'll be heading into 2020 expecting Reynolds to stay healthy all year. Given what we've seen over this year and last year I reckon it would be an unrealistic expectation.

Grub played 17 games the year before he joined us, and that was about average for him, he got a little unlucky with a few injuries at the very start of his time with us, and it has compounded. I don't think it is unrealistic he can get a decent run with injuries, he has had a few games back in CC now without an injury.
And on Gamble he showed plenty when paired with Drinkwater, he got one lone game in the NRL and the whole team played bad that day, he was dropped and never given another go, Benji was preferred as usual.
If Benji was actually dropped back to CC when deserved, I might change my view, but he hasn't been dropped, and doesn't look like he ever will be, which is my whole argument for moving him on.
I mean Madge picked him for the kiwis this year, that and the Marsters selection were undeserved, so how can I expect him to play CC when our coach picks him for the kiwis.

 

[TheDaBoss]

I am very excited for maden

 

[kiwitiger]

@851 I think it's more he doesn't rate Reynolds tbh. Or more Reynolds is not Maguire's sort of half. Remember preseason when madge said he wanted Josh to work on his ball playing. Madge has always wanted his halves to be ball players. Reynolds is not a ball player. He is not what madge wants. Reynolds and gamble are both runners. That's why one has gone and I expect that the other will too.

 

[rustycage]

@rustycage hahaha admitted collis wasn’t the best centre ever but he did a damn job!

Don’t tell me you preferred Ayshford :|

We haven't had centres since Whatawira. Collis was another one that was all hype courtesy of Sheens. And no, I never said ayshford was better. But he has had a much longer career in the nrl, so maybe there's something in that or maybe not.

 

[TieDye]

@rustycage fair point, I’m inclined to agree B. A did do more to deliver on potential - but never really had centres since before him, as u say... interested to see Simona back for Blacktown workers this weekend, approved by the NRL 😂