Where would you play benji?

M

mtd

New member
ok, so to unintentionally annoy alot people, i'm gonna say it… benji marshall is not a five eight, nor is he the worlds best.

after watching the test on friday, its clear to me marshall is not an organiser - fullstop. he is lacking that league head that alot of good halves have. its been evident in alot of the tigers games in recent years and it was reinforced by his lack of combination with shaun johnson for the kiwis.

thurston on the other hand, can switch from half to five eight without a problem in the world, whilst still controlling and leading the team around the paddock, not relying on some freakish play to make his game look good. because he is a leaguie through and through. his understanding and perception of the game seems to be different to that of benjis. for NZ going forward, the better halves combo for them is:
6\. foran
7\. johnson

now, im not bagging marshall, he is a freak of a player with abilities alot of people only dream of. i just dont think he is suited to the role of organising. in my opinion, he needs that freedom to roam and play what he see's.

but where do you play him?

personally, i think fullback. he played defensively on the wing in 05 and made a heap of quality runs from the back. he's best in open play. from fullback he'd get to do that all the time and then chime in when he wants.
 
These Marshall to fullback calls are ridiculous. I shudder to think of Benji under the high ball. No thanks.

Your best players need to touch the ball in every set. Benji is a five-eighth. He just needs to learn some discipline in playing the percentages, or have a coach who will drill it into him.
 
You're right MTD, he's not an organiser, that's why he's not a halfback.

Benji at fullback would be tantamount to having our own Hayne… More space to move with the ball in hand, but he would be terrible at marshalling (no pun intended,) the defense close to or at the line and his positioning itself would be woeful, and he often struggles to make one-on-one tackles himself as it is.

The cons far outweigh the pros.
 
Hes been in NRL 10 years hes learning nothing now…he wont change, and I think given his performances under other coaches at rep level, he knows that only Sheens will allow him to play how he wants to play.
While ever ones here, the other will be too
 
cultured bogan, the 6 and the 7 are much the same these days. there may be a touch more emphasis on the 7 organising, however one is left and one is right. they are much the same.

alot of the 'he should remain five eight' arguments have no substance. i want to hear reasons for people backing these statements up. just because he has played some great individual footy in the 6 doesnt mean he is a good five eight. im not questioning his capabilities as a player, but as a five eight, i dont think he's that great.

if that were joey johns, darren lockyer, johnathan thurston on friday night with shaun johnson, they would have been involved and made a mark on the game (whether they were 6 or 7). benji was no where to be seen and gould somehow managed to blame johnson for it… apart from brilliant individual plays, he isnt doing alot as far as directing the team is concerned (which is what a good five eight should do). its not like it was in 05 when prince ran the show. marshall isnt a leader, he works well with someone else leading (in my opinion).
 
@hybrid_tiger said:
These Marshall to fullback calls are ridiculous. I shudder to think of Benji under the high ball. No thanks.

Your best players need to touch the ball in every set. Benji is a five-eighth. He just needs to learn some discipline in playing the percentages, or have a coach who will drill it into him.
Click to expand...

I agree.

Firstly fullback is a hard position to learn. He would have to learn a bunch of stuff in that role.
Secondly Benji is pretty close to the best player in the game. He has also been in great form for the last couple of years. He has just made some stupid plays this year and he needs to get that stuff out of his game.
 
@innsaneink said:
Hes been in NRL 10 years hes learning nothing now…he wont change, and I think given his performances under other coaches at rep level, he knows that only Sheens will allow him to play how he wants to play.
While ever ones here, the other will be too
Click to expand...

A few weeks ago on Fox they showed one of Marshalls early games from 2003 against Brisbane (maybe his first full game?)
Guess what?
Nothings changed - brilliant one minute then something reckless the next.
When the City / Country game needed to be shut down Farah and Pearce closed it out.
Farah can't seem to do the same for the Tigers because Marshall will take silly options regardless.
If Sheens doesn't reign him in this year I hope we don't get caught in games going to the wire.
Maybe moving him a step further away in those situations will actually help us.
 
@hybrid_tiger said:
These Marshall to fullback calls are ridiculous. I shudder to think of Benji under the high ball. No thanks.

Your best players need to touch the ball in every set. Benji is a five-eighth. He just needs to learn some discipline in playing the percentages, or have a coach who will drill it into him.
Click to expand...

Must be a slow learner, he has been playing there for years and cannot organise a chook raffle.
 
@magpiecol said:
@hybrid_tiger said:
These Marshall to fullback calls are ridiculous. I shudder to think of Benji under the high ball. No thanks.

Your best players need to touch the ball in every set. Benji is a five-eighth. He just needs to learn some discipline in playing the percentages, or have a coach who will drill it into him.

Must be a slow learner, he has been playing there for years and cannot organise a chook raffle.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

He clearly needs an effective organising halfback next to him, which we have not had since one Scott Prince. Lui was developing nicely but he's gone and we are left with nobody.
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Sign Mitchell Pearce and Benji will be brilliant. The problem we have at the moment is Benji and Robbie have way to much pressure and responsibility.
 
Perhaps those suggesting that five eighths are simply half backs wearing the number 6 could tell me where Bob Fulton, Brett Kenny, Cliff Lyons and Wally Lewis would have played in today's game- Fullback?

Benji needs what each of these legends had - a ying to their yang - Benji needs a half partner to do what he can't. (kicking game, organise out of our own territory, provide a platform)

Why cloud the most creative football brain in the NRL with the responsibility of organizing the team? Likewise, why put him under a torpedo bomb, make him run back a kick return and organise the defensive line?

Benji is a traditional five eighth- full stop !
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Marshall not a 5/8? All he needs is a good directional halfback. At this stage of his career, Shaun Johnson isn't it. In fact he is a Benji clone. If Jeff Robson played for the Tigers, Marshall would be having his best year to date. Humble is trying hard to fill this role.

P.S Throw in a must be 5/8 or nowhere else option
 
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