Wests Tigers faction saw Benji Marshall as waste of money

[galahs]

I read this article this morning, but thought it was very interesting that nobody had posted this before. On the back page of the Tele it says:

"Sheens would not divulge which elements he was talking about, but it is known the **Western Suburbs side of the joint venture** did not want to retain Marshall as he eyed rugby deals in Europe and Japan"

Now this raises massive concerns about this side of the joint venture, particularly since it was reported that they were the reason that Noyce left, and were the side which pushed for Sheens, the Australian coach, to be punted this year as well whilst Longmuir was in charge. I think that in the end it was then who supported Longmuir and the others who thought he should be gone, and the result is potentially the best CEO we have had.

Is this a sign of the lacking business acumen mentioned earlier where one side wanted the biggest star, both on and off the field, out of the culb?

Mate why shouldn't Sheens be put under the pump. 1 finals appearance in 7 years.
And until he moved back into the number 6 jersey, Benji was losing us games. Games that in the end, cost us a finals birth.

Longmuir wanted the coach to have accountability. Something Western Suburbs supported. Those in the Wests Tigers having a 'cooshy' ride didn't want their junket spoiled.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

BB DO US ALL A FAVOUR AND CHANGE THE BROKEN RECORD.

I SAY TYPICAL BUG DRIBBLE.

Bug dont go causing a arguement over wests or balmain.

If you want a history lesson let me know.

Geo your Wests and i know you know what im talking about.

Short memory you have bug

Hey mate the last thing I will ever do is try and cause trouble between Wests and Balmain. I was just responding to someone who actually was trying to start trouble. I have a memory too mate and I know Wests owe Balmain alot for giving them the opportunity to be part of the joint venture.

I know the history Inside out mate. What dribble are you refering to ?

 

[tiger05]

I'm of the view that Benji had a great year and the reason the side improved was that Morris was eventually moved out of the halves.

I think if he had played with Moltzen in the halves all season the team would have performed better and possibly made the finals.

Off topic - Bug has never been one to start the Wests vs Balmain dribble and although I disagree with a lot of his points on this topic Sheens has made plenty of bad decisions over the last couple of years.

 

[TurnStyle]

on topic, im really not sure what sheens has to gain (in the bigger picture) by saying such things in the first place?
but as for sheens, i have to say that i was very happy with his change of tack regarding team selections in 09 and he gave guys a go when they deserved it, and got rid of laurie because he deserved it, and i respect him for that. it was a definite change from shuffling the same players around week in week out.
also, i have to disagree that marshal had a great YEAR. he was very ordinary at times… he finished off well, but a cynic could point out that expectations had dropped by that time....

 

[Geo]

Geo, Benji is reading from an autocue with that comment mate. That is standard Fonz dribble. It is like when they made him and farah say to the media they supported the idea of Morris in the halves. What hogwash. Benji even said on the Footy show he prefers playing at 5/8 and when he gets the ball out a bit wider.

I can watch the tapes with you and I can show you that when he was at 7 he never had a chance to get the ball at third receiver like he does now. That is the difference. Sure there are times when he demands the ball first up with the 6 on his back but playing a halfback at halfback opens up Benji's game to its full potential. That is the point that I am trying to make. That is why before Moltzen shifted there I was begging the club to sign ANY 1st grade halfback because I knew it would take the prssure off and let Benji play at 6.

I think you are missing my point Bug…I think Benji plays better wider as well....the NUMBER on his back means nothing because, he along with Farah, is the one LEADING this team around the park.....I think Benji is a special talent and is now up to that task ....something I had my doubts on at the start of the year...his time in the halfback postion improved his game no doubt in my mind....For that we have Sheens to thank....that's how I see it....

the first 2 wins of the streak came with Benji primarily at first receiver....Moltzen took over against the Raiders...then it was back to Benji against the Sharks when Lui debuted.....He set up just as many tries up and breaks up the meat of the ruck as he did wider........the best of both worlds......he is also 1st or 2nd choice kicker .......something that is easily done with a 6 or a 7 on his back....

Marshall_magic also made a good point and I'm starting to see a pattern....Moltzen 5/8th.Lui 5/8th/Ayshford 5/8th and who will every forget the Lawrence to 5/8th at the start of the year.it;s quite disturbing actually...

Oh and as for Benji reading from Sheens autocue..... I must be dumb........ cause I actually believe he means what he says on this occasion...to bring up the Morris affair is irrelevant.......

 

[PYMBLEPETE]

You can rationalise the whole thing however you like; but anyone who says Benji wasn't playing a different game when he had a 6 on his back to when he had a 7 is delusional. Maybe some of that is down to the fact that Morris wasn't there, but Sheen's "its only a change of numbers" line = hilarious.

 

[tiger05]

You can rationalise the whole thing however you like; but anyone who says Benji wasn't playing a different game when he had a 6 on his back to when he had a 7 is delusional. Maybe some of that is down to the fact that Morris wasn't there, but Sheen's "its only a change of numbers" line = hilarious.

I thought he was playing the same game personally. He did improve but he had a real good overall season. I think he was our best player this year and he has overtaken Farah as our most important player.

 

[king_sirro]

Benji was so good at the end of the year he was playing both positions. I never thought he would have the maturity do do that, but his time in the 7 enabled him to reach such heights.

 

[king_sirro]

Geo, Benji is reading from an autocue with that comment mate. That is standard Fonz dribble. It is like when they made him and farah say to the media they supported the idea of Morris in the halves. What hogwash. Benji even said on the Footy show he prefers playing at 5/8 and when he gets the ball out a bit wider.

I can watch the tapes with you and I can show you that when he was at 7 he never had a chance to get the ball at third receiver like he does now. That is the difference. Sure there are times when he demands the ball first up with the 6 on his back but playing a halfback at halfback opens up Benji's game to its full potential. That is the point that I am trying to make. That is why before Moltzen shifted there I was begging the club to sign ANY 1st grade halfback because I knew it would take the prssure off and let Benji play at 6.

I think you are missing my point Bug…I think Benji plays better wider as well....the NUMBER on his back means nothing because, he along with Farah, is the one LEADING this team around the park.....I think Benji is a special talent and is now up to that task ....something I had my doubts on at the start of the year...his time in the halfback postion improved his game no doubt in my mind....For that we have Sheens to thank....that's how I see it....

the first 2 wins of the streak came with Benji primarily at first receiver....Moltzen took over against the Raiders...then it was back to Benji against the Sharks when Lui debuted.....He set up just as many tries up and breaks up the meat of the ruck as he did wider........the best of both worlds......he is also 1st or 2nd choice kicker .......something that is easily done with a 6 or a 7 on his back....

Marshall_magic also made a good point and I'm starting to see a pattern....Moltzen 5/8th.Lui 5/8th/Ayshford 5/8th and who will every forget the Lawrence to 5/8th at the start of the year.it;s quite disturbing actually...

Oh and as for Benji reading from Sheens autocue..... I must be dumb........ cause I actually believe he means what he says on this occasion...to bring up the Morris affair is irrelevant.......

Pretty hard to disagree with any of that.

 

[Balmain_Bug]

Geo, Benji is reading from an autocue with that comment mate. That is standard Fonz dribble. It is like when they made him and farah say to the media they supported the idea of Morris in the halves. What hogwash. Benji even said on the Footy show he prefers playing at 5/8 and when he gets the ball out a bit wider.

I can watch the tapes with you and I can show you that when he was at 7 he never had a chance to get the ball at third receiver like he does now. That is the difference. Sure there are times when he demands the ball first up with the 6 on his back but playing a halfback at halfback opens up Benji's game to its full potential. That is the point that I am trying to make. That is why before Moltzen shifted there I was begging the club to sign ANY 1st grade halfback because I knew it would take the prssure off and let Benji play at 6.

I think you are missing my point Bug…I think Benji plays better wider as well....the NUMBER on his back means nothing because, he along with Farah, is the one LEADING this team around the park.....I think Benji is a special talent and is now up to that task ....something I had my doubts on at the start of the year...his time in the halfback postion improved his game no doubt in my mind....For that we have Sheens to thank....that's how I see it....

the first 2 wins of the streak came with Benji primarily at first receiver....Moltzen took over against the Raiders...then it was back to Benji against the Sharks when Lui debuted.....He set up just as many tries up and breaks up the meat of the ruck as he did wider........the best of both worlds......he is also 1st or 2nd choice kicker .......something that is easily done with a 6 or a 7 on his back....

Marshall_magic also made a good point and I'm starting to see a pattern....Moltzen 5/8th.Lui 5/8th/Ayshford 5/8th and who will every forget the Lawrence to 5/8th at the start of the year.it;s quite disturbing actually...

Oh and as for Benji reading from Sheens autocue..... I must be dumb........ cause I actually believe he means what he says on this occasion...to bring up the Morris affair is irrelevant.......

Geo what is confusing me is when you use the term **'leading the team around the park'**. In Rugby League terms that means directing the forwards and the backs and having full control of the kicking game which is what a real halfback does. They bark instructions to all and sundry. I don't really see benji doing that. What Benji does do exclusively is set up tries and put blokes in holes. Thats not really leading the team around the park that is being a ball player. I think that is what you mean. I think you mean he is our most dominant ball player and takes control as such. He definately does not lead the team around the park in the traditional meaning of the term.

 

[Geo]

Mainly because I think the game has changed…...it has moved away from the traditional 6 and 7 say like Stuart/Daley..to having halves either side of the ruck who interchange with each other.......the Dogs, Manly, Cowboys and the Coast have dominate 7's other teams have dominate 6's

Who do you think leads the Broncos.....Lockyer or Wallace....Dragons...Soward or Hornby.....Raiders Campese or Herburt...?

Sheens uses a number of options at first reciever during a game....Marshall, Farah, Moltzen, Morris(i know dumb), hell even Payto has been there on the rare occasion....

I think Benji can take halves play to the next level........He is the PLAYER that Leads the team maybe not in the traditional sense that you allude but the LEADER none the less....whether he does that with a number 6 or 7 on his back makes no difference to me........

Oh and I would like to think that our Forward Pack stepping up during the winning streak had just as much to do with the wins as shifting Benji from 7 to 6 did.......

 

[bonstonker]

it is amazing what happens mentally when your defense can hold the tryline.
suddenly your halves are not trying to score of every play and can work their way into a game.
while benji will still do the miracle pass,he was alot more composed at the back end of the season and i believe our defense played a big part in that.
after a full off season and a full season benji finally has his mojo back weather he has the 6 or 7 on his back at first or second receiver.
and let's not forget the work farah also does at first receiver regardless of where benji plays.
we have an unorthodox attack

 

[king_sirro]

it is amazing what happens mentally when your defense can hold the tryline.
suddenly your halves are not trying to score of every play and can work their way into a game.
while benji will still do the miracle pass,he was alot more composed at the back end of the season and i believe our defense played a big part in that.
after a full off season and a full season benji finally has his mojo back weather he has the 6 or 7 on his back at first or second receiver.
and let's not forget the work farah also does at first receiver regardless of where benji plays.
we have an unorthodox attack

Thats a very good point. Our improved defence probably did help a lot in his composure. Even though ive been a strong advocate for defence over attack, i didnt think of this, but i agree.

 

[TheSunTanSuperman]

So can anyone actually explain how Marshall played differently throughout the year? Or does admitting to the fact that he played the same with the 6 or 7 on his back rubbish some peoples "sheens waited to long and he cost us" argument?

 

[mikey]

I haven't read every post and I don't want to. All I can say is if there were :":" idiots who thought BM wasn't worth the cash or didn't believe he could recover, give yourselves an uppercut.

BM at his best or even 1/2 of his capability is better thm mos of the7's or 6's going around.

 

[Staks]

Typical Sheens. Hitting back at the faction that wanted him held accountable for the past few years failures by playing the "Benji will only be here, if I'm here" card. His friends, best mates, soul mates in the media that haven't questioned his record since 1908 giving him a free reign in hanging out his dirty laundry. Shame Sheens, shame.

 

[red_dogg]

although benji in 7 harmed us this yr the experiement i belive will prove beneficial in yrs to come. with benji understanding what is expected and required of his halfback and what he has to do as a 5/8\. So with morris, he was a very experienced first grader who was very much needed next to a very young benji. This yr i think we can all say we have experinced the coming of age of benji, which was timed to perfection contract wise with fonz havin the confidnece to play moltz next to him, and being able to offload morris to spend the money else where. Im sure if it was possible we would still have prince in 7.
So saying this, took this article with a pinch of salt. Typical telecrap tryin to derail a none news limited club, who looks strong next yr esp. with the potential signings rumoured. telecrap always seem to twist fonzs words, and i believe its cause he doesnt bow to the media like other coaches. Benji will be a big part of this side for yrs to come.

 

[Geo]

Typical Sheens. Hitting back at the faction that wanted him held accountable for the past few years failures by playing the "Benji will only be here, if I'm here" card. His friends, best mates, soul mates in the media that haven't questioned his record since 1908 giving him a free reign in hanging out his dirty laundry. Shame Sheens, shame.

It's the telecrap they got nothing else and ther're trying to sell papers and inflate interest in the Four Nations….it happened 10 months ago.....they where the one's driving the Benji to Union agenda......If Sheens really wanted to distabalise the club and stroke his huge ego he would have spilt it then.....it wasn't a secret Marshall's value was being questioned......... some in the media had him as the games most overated player....he kept it out of the press at the time........despite the rumours and inuendo surrounding Marshall's future....

It's poor form by Sheens to give it to the telegraph now..looking to add spice to the clash....thought he was made of sterner stuff.....so yeah Shame.....

If Sheens and Benji are as close as they say they are.....Sheens would have told Benji exactly what was going on...Benji's a smart kid..don't think Tauber would keep it from him either..He knows Sheens is good for his career..Benji's reply looked a bit orchestrated for mine....

 

[benjibrotown]

Sheens just trying to make sure he doesnt loose his job to Folkes.

 

[tiger_jim]

All i can say Bengi is great for the club and those jerks who want to get rid of him get back under the rock you came from .if they do get rid of Bengi i will walk also after being a tiger for 55 years