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http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqnews/a-tale-of-two-halves-positions/2009/07/01/1246127580252.html
A tale of two halves positions - six appeals to Benji
Glenn Jackson | July 2, 2009
Benji Marshall believes the Wests Tigers should chase a top-class halfback to partner him for next season and beyond - and while somewhat relieved and "relaxed" his stint in the key playmaking position has been shelved, he is yet to give up hope of becoming a long-term No.7.
After Tigers coach Tim Sheens aborted - for now - his plan to shift Marshall into a permanent halfback role, the Kiwis captain admitted that he never thought the job would be as tough as it was. "My biggest asset is my running game, and it's taken that away a little bit," he told the Herald yesterday. "I've been ball-playing a bit more, and I haven't minded it - it's helped me build my leadership and talk more - but I feel I made my name on the back of my running game. Hopefully going back to six will give me an opportunity to go back to my running game. It's been good for me for my confidence as well this week. I'll still put in all the talk and help lead the team around. I'll just be two passes wide.
"I questioned it [Sheens's decision to end the experiment] at first, but just for the benefit of the team, it's the best thing for me to go back to five-eighth and get a bit of confidence back."
While the footballer in him will be relieved his game will likely lift as a result, the ego in Marshall would no doubt have been disappointed he could not make the transition work. And for that reason, he could not rule out returning to halfback in the future.
"It's a challenge, and I'm the type of person who likes having a challenge," Marshall said. "People can say that I can't play seven and that always makes me try and prove them wrong. As much as I enjoy a challenge, it was tough. I never thought it would be that tough."
As a result, Marshall would like to see the club chase a classic halfback to partner him - which he has not had since 2006, Scott Prince's last season with the club.
"It would make my job easier," Marshall said. "I didn't realise how much I would miss Princey. Obviously I'm not sure how our situation is [with the salary cap] but for us to have a successful club I'd love to be able to play five-eighth, and play that 2005 flamboyant style."
Since 2005, when the Tigers won the premiership largely thanks to Prince's guile and Marshall's brilliance, they have not made the finals. Sheens this year had attempted to bring Marshall into the game more by playing him at halfback, and even though he has been schooled by Team of the Century No.7 Andrew Johns, the experiment could hardly be called a success, with Marshall being consistently inconsistent much of the time.
"I guess it was just up and down," Marshall said. "From good games to terrible games to games in between. It's been a big ask to move to seven and lead the team and focus on everyone else instead of focusing on myself. I'm fairly relaxed about going back to five-eighth.
"It relieves a bit of pressure - I don't feel like the pressure's on all the time. It will give me a good opportunity to go back to my normal position."
Listen to your players Sheensy
A tale of two halves positions - six appeals to Benji
Glenn Jackson | July 2, 2009
Benji Marshall believes the Wests Tigers should chase a top-class halfback to partner him for next season and beyond - and while somewhat relieved and "relaxed" his stint in the key playmaking position has been shelved, he is yet to give up hope of becoming a long-term No.7.
After Tigers coach Tim Sheens aborted - for now - his plan to shift Marshall into a permanent halfback role, the Kiwis captain admitted that he never thought the job would be as tough as it was. "My biggest asset is my running game, and it's taken that away a little bit," he told the Herald yesterday. "I've been ball-playing a bit more, and I haven't minded it - it's helped me build my leadership and talk more - but I feel I made my name on the back of my running game. Hopefully going back to six will give me an opportunity to go back to my running game. It's been good for me for my confidence as well this week. I'll still put in all the talk and help lead the team around. I'll just be two passes wide.
"I questioned it [Sheens's decision to end the experiment] at first, but just for the benefit of the team, it's the best thing for me to go back to five-eighth and get a bit of confidence back."
While the footballer in him will be relieved his game will likely lift as a result, the ego in Marshall would no doubt have been disappointed he could not make the transition work. And for that reason, he could not rule out returning to halfback in the future.
"It's a challenge, and I'm the type of person who likes having a challenge," Marshall said. "People can say that I can't play seven and that always makes me try and prove them wrong. As much as I enjoy a challenge, it was tough. I never thought it would be that tough."
As a result, Marshall would like to see the club chase a classic halfback to partner him - which he has not had since 2006, Scott Prince's last season with the club.
"It would make my job easier," Marshall said. "I didn't realise how much I would miss Princey. Obviously I'm not sure how our situation is [with the salary cap] but for us to have a successful club I'd love to be able to play five-eighth, and play that 2005 flamboyant style."
Since 2005, when the Tigers won the premiership largely thanks to Prince's guile and Marshall's brilliance, they have not made the finals. Sheens this year had attempted to bring Marshall into the game more by playing him at halfback, and even though he has been schooled by Team of the Century No.7 Andrew Johns, the experiment could hardly be called a success, with Marshall being consistently inconsistent much of the time.
"I guess it was just up and down," Marshall said. "From good games to terrible games to games in between. It's been a big ask to move to seven and lead the team and focus on everyone else instead of focusing on myself. I'm fairly relaxed about going back to five-eighth.
"It relieves a bit of pressure - I don't feel like the pressure's on all the time. It will give me a good opportunity to go back to my normal position."
Listen to your players Sheensy
