Marshall toast of Tigertown
By Dean Ritchie
May 31, 2004
Tigers 33 Eels 6
WEST Tigers sensation Benji Marshall has become one of rugby league's greatest drawcards yet he's on a contract worth only $40,000 a season.
Sources close to the West Tigers have admitted Marshall, 19, is on a minimal contract for this year and next season.
But based on his natural ability and overwhelming skill, Marshall's contract is certain to be upgraded substantially in the near future.
Every time the West Tigers five-eighth received the ball yesterday he created excitement among the massive crowd of 18,883 at Leichhardt Oval.
Marshall's amazing sidestep continues to bewilder the rugby league community and a try yesterday helped the West Tigers to a comprehensive win over Parramatta.
After the match Marshall paid tribute to his minders Scott Sattler, Mark O'Neill and Daren Senter.
"These guys really help me out and when I run out on to the field I'm not scared of anything," Marshall said.
"At training they pick you up if you drop a ball and if something goes wrong they are there to talk to.
"There is never a problem in them helping me out and you could definitely describe them as my minders."
Marshall claimed his initial priority was to secure consistent first grade football but he is privately eyeing a position in the New Zealand Test team for the Tri-Nations Series in England later this year.
West Tigers coach Tim Sheens did admit Marshall still had areas of his game that required improvement.
"He's got a lot of natural ability and a big future," Sheens said. "But he still has a long way to go and his defence needs work, he is very raw."
Aside from Marshall, halfback Scott Prince was yet again exceptional as was prop Anthony Laffranchi.
All the Tigers players paid tribute to the ground record crowd yesterday for a West Tigers game at Leichhardt.
For the first time in recent memory, fans actually stood on top of toilet blocks and others outside the ground stood on their roofs to get a glimpse of yesterday's action.
"This was my first ever game at Leichhardt Oval and I couldn't believe the crowd when I ran out," Marshall said. "They were so close and so loud."
The West Tigers were exceptional but the Parramatta team was simply awful.
The Eels were guilty of dropping the ball on the first tackle, kicking out on the full from a restart, losing scrums against the feed and conceding penalties in possession.
The Tigers stunned Parramatta with two tries in the first nine minutes and the Eels never recovered.
"We got off to a bad start and that gave them a lot of confidence," said Parramatta coach Brian Smith.
Wests ran in three tries in each half to secure a third consecutive victory with winger Luke Covell scoring a hat-trick of tries.
"We still have to earn our respect and our stripes," Sheens said. "We could have scored a lot more points today.
"We were nervous today because we haven't had the favouritism tag too often," Sheens said.
"We settled down and played some reasonably good football but we still have to earn our respect and our stripes.
"I think we could have scored a lot more points today."
Parramatta's one chance to get back into the game came just after halftime when half back Chris Thorman weaved his way through only to drop the ball across the try line.
Parramatta's spirits dropped considerably when Marshall scored his try right on the strike of half time.
WESTS TIGERS 33 (L Covell 3, S Elford, B Marshall, R Mears tries; B Hodgson 4 goals; S Prince field goal) PARRAMATTA 6 (M Witt try; M Witt goal) at Leichhardt Oval. Referee: S Hayne. Crowd: 18,883.
The Daily Telegraph
By Dean Ritchie
May 31, 2004
Tigers 33 Eels 6
WEST Tigers sensation Benji Marshall has become one of rugby league's greatest drawcards yet he's on a contract worth only $40,000 a season.
Sources close to the West Tigers have admitted Marshall, 19, is on a minimal contract for this year and next season.
But based on his natural ability and overwhelming skill, Marshall's contract is certain to be upgraded substantially in the near future.
Every time the West Tigers five-eighth received the ball yesterday he created excitement among the massive crowd of 18,883 at Leichhardt Oval.
Marshall's amazing sidestep continues to bewilder the rugby league community and a try yesterday helped the West Tigers to a comprehensive win over Parramatta.
After the match Marshall paid tribute to his minders Scott Sattler, Mark O'Neill and Daren Senter.
"These guys really help me out and when I run out on to the field I'm not scared of anything," Marshall said.
"At training they pick you up if you drop a ball and if something goes wrong they are there to talk to.
"There is never a problem in them helping me out and you could definitely describe them as my minders."
Marshall claimed his initial priority was to secure consistent first grade football but he is privately eyeing a position in the New Zealand Test team for the Tri-Nations Series in England later this year.
West Tigers coach Tim Sheens did admit Marshall still had areas of his game that required improvement.
"He's got a lot of natural ability and a big future," Sheens said. "But he still has a long way to go and his defence needs work, he is very raw."
Aside from Marshall, halfback Scott Prince was yet again exceptional as was prop Anthony Laffranchi.
All the Tigers players paid tribute to the ground record crowd yesterday for a West Tigers game at Leichhardt.
For the first time in recent memory, fans actually stood on top of toilet blocks and others outside the ground stood on their roofs to get a glimpse of yesterday's action.
"This was my first ever game at Leichhardt Oval and I couldn't believe the crowd when I ran out," Marshall said. "They were so close and so loud."
The West Tigers were exceptional but the Parramatta team was simply awful.
The Eels were guilty of dropping the ball on the first tackle, kicking out on the full from a restart, losing scrums against the feed and conceding penalties in possession.
The Tigers stunned Parramatta with two tries in the first nine minutes and the Eels never recovered.
"We got off to a bad start and that gave them a lot of confidence," said Parramatta coach Brian Smith.
Wests ran in three tries in each half to secure a third consecutive victory with winger Luke Covell scoring a hat-trick of tries.
"We still have to earn our respect and our stripes," Sheens said. "We could have scored a lot more points today.
"We were nervous today because we haven't had the favouritism tag too often," Sheens said.
"We settled down and played some reasonably good football but we still have to earn our respect and our stripes.
"I think we could have scored a lot more points today."
Parramatta's one chance to get back into the game came just after halftime when half back Chris Thorman weaved his way through only to drop the ball across the try line.
Parramatta's spirits dropped considerably when Marshall scored his try right on the strike of half time.
WESTS TIGERS 33 (L Covell 3, S Elford, B Marshall, R Mears tries; B Hodgson 4 goals; S Prince field goal) PARRAMATTA 6 (M Witt try; M Witt goal) at Leichhardt Oval. Referee: S Hayne. Crowd: 18,883.
The Daily Telegraph
