Benji wants to see PNG players in NRL
WEST Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall would like to see more Papua New Guinea rugby league players playing with clubs in the national rugby league competition in Australia. Marshall has played 49 games for West Tigers and scored 21 tries, four goals and 92 points while team mate Jamaal Lolesi who accompanied Marshall has played 112 game scoring 52 tries and played one test for New Zealand scoring four points. The Kiwi international who was speaking at the SP Cup dinner last Friday said that PNG rugby league players had the potential and skills to stamp their mark in Australia’s toughest rugby league competition. He said in order to get to that level one must learn how to discipline himself and commit himself to training. The 21-year-old from Whakatane in New Zealand said at the age of 15 he started to take his game seriously and wanted to one day play for a club in the NRL season. He said he was blessed to be with the West Tigers club for three years and thanked his family for supporting him all through out his rugby league career. He also thanked SP Brewery General Manager Nigel Yeo and PNGRFL Chairman Sir Bob Sinclair for having him and team mate Jamaal Lolesi come up and witness the 2006 SP Cup competition. Meanwhile on Saturday Marshall and Lolesi were given a tour of Port Moresby on a motorcade that started from SP Brewery premises at Gordon and ended at Port Moresby Rugby League grounds. As the motorcade went past each suburb crowds could be heard screaming especially young children and girls calling out 'Benji Marshall, hi Benji, Benji please’. The motor cade went past Erima, 7 mile, 6 mile, 5 mile, East Boroko, Manu, 3 mile Foodland, 2 mile, Ela Motors, Koki, Town,Freeway, Hohola, Holiday Inn-Junction, Stop N Shop Waigani, Boroko, Boroko Post Office and PRL.
