Joe's Magpies
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From weststigers.com.au
The weight of expectation to reproduce those magical plays is the furthest thing from the mind of Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall.
Marshall has the most publicised shoulders in the game, having undergone five operations. Twenty-three next month and off contract at the end of 2008, doubts have been raised in the media over his long term future in the game.
The Kiwi international is not fazed. He points out Mal Meninga and former team-mate Scott Prince as players who enjoyed fine careers after overcoming major injuries.
Marshall is more excited about returning to his preferred five-eighth position after being used at half-back at times last season by coach Tim Sheens.
Sheens now has several options at half-back in former St George Illawarra playmaker Mathew Head, John Morris, and talented youngsters Tim Moltzen, Wayde Dunley and Blake Lazarus.
It is good to have depth in the halves. It means I dont have to play half-back, joked Marshall.
I dont hate half-back. I just did whats best for the team. I love five-eighth, in that I am wider of the ruck, am away from the forwards, and I dont have to do as much organising.
We have lacked depth in the past. When Scott Prince was here, it was just him and me, and last year, it was just me and John Morris.
Having competition for places keeps everyone on their toes. No-one is guaranteed a spot. If you are guaranteed a spot, sometimes you can take it easy.
By having a few halves this year, I can let them organize stuff and I can worry about my own game.
Last year when I slotted into half-back, I was more worried about everyone elses game instead of my own. I think I rushed back (from injury) last year when I should have just taken the year off.
I just wanted to help the team. This year I am not going to rush it. I want to make sure I feel right before I play.
Marshall feels once his confidence returns, he can recapture the sparkling form of 2005 that made him one of the hottest players in the game. Injuries have seen Marshall play just 62 games for Wests Tigers since his debut in late 2003.
In 2005, I played 24 games straight. The more games you play in a row, the more confident you get. It is just a matter of whether I can get through the first five or six games, build the confidence, and then go from there, he said.
Im feeling very confident. I think in the last couple of years, I kidded myself feeling that I was ready. I just wanted to be on the field. I felt I could have made a difference, when really, I wasnt ready.
I just wanted to be there for the team and it was so frustrating watching from the sidelines.
I have now had my first full pre-season doing weights. There is no rush this year, no expectations. The coach is putting me back to where I was at five-eighth, so Im feeling quite good about it.
This year is probably more important for me than any before. Im off contract so Im obviously looking to have a big one. I just want to, fingers crossed, get through injury free. Im feeling pretty confident and I just cant wait to play.
Marshall said he was keen to remain at the Wests Tigers following the decision by Sheens to re-sign with the club until the end of 2010.
We are talking to the club at the moment about trying to organize something. Sheensy re-signing with the club is a bonus for me. I want to stay with him, Marshall said.
I just wanted to make sure that he was locked in before I started negotiations.
I didnt want to speak to the club before I knew what the coach was doing first. Now that he is signed, it will help me make my mind up.
I want to get something sorted out before we start the season.
The weight of expectation to reproduce those magical plays is the furthest thing from the mind of Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall.
Marshall has the most publicised shoulders in the game, having undergone five operations. Twenty-three next month and off contract at the end of 2008, doubts have been raised in the media over his long term future in the game.
The Kiwi international is not fazed. He points out Mal Meninga and former team-mate Scott Prince as players who enjoyed fine careers after overcoming major injuries.
Marshall is more excited about returning to his preferred five-eighth position after being used at half-back at times last season by coach Tim Sheens.
Sheens now has several options at half-back in former St George Illawarra playmaker Mathew Head, John Morris, and talented youngsters Tim Moltzen, Wayde Dunley and Blake Lazarus.
It is good to have depth in the halves. It means I dont have to play half-back, joked Marshall.
I dont hate half-back. I just did whats best for the team. I love five-eighth, in that I am wider of the ruck, am away from the forwards, and I dont have to do as much organising.
We have lacked depth in the past. When Scott Prince was here, it was just him and me, and last year, it was just me and John Morris.
Having competition for places keeps everyone on their toes. No-one is guaranteed a spot. If you are guaranteed a spot, sometimes you can take it easy.
By having a few halves this year, I can let them organize stuff and I can worry about my own game.
Last year when I slotted into half-back, I was more worried about everyone elses game instead of my own. I think I rushed back (from injury) last year when I should have just taken the year off.
I just wanted to help the team. This year I am not going to rush it. I want to make sure I feel right before I play.
Marshall feels once his confidence returns, he can recapture the sparkling form of 2005 that made him one of the hottest players in the game. Injuries have seen Marshall play just 62 games for Wests Tigers since his debut in late 2003.
In 2005, I played 24 games straight. The more games you play in a row, the more confident you get. It is just a matter of whether I can get through the first five or six games, build the confidence, and then go from there, he said.
Im feeling very confident. I think in the last couple of years, I kidded myself feeling that I was ready. I just wanted to be on the field. I felt I could have made a difference, when really, I wasnt ready.
I just wanted to be there for the team and it was so frustrating watching from the sidelines.
I have now had my first full pre-season doing weights. There is no rush this year, no expectations. The coach is putting me back to where I was at five-eighth, so Im feeling quite good about it.
This year is probably more important for me than any before. Im off contract so Im obviously looking to have a big one. I just want to, fingers crossed, get through injury free. Im feeling pretty confident and I just cant wait to play.
Marshall said he was keen to remain at the Wests Tigers following the decision by Sheens to re-sign with the club until the end of 2010.
We are talking to the club at the moment about trying to organize something. Sheensy re-signing with the club is a bonus for me. I want to stay with him, Marshall said.
I just wanted to make sure that he was locked in before I started negotiations.
I didnt want to speak to the club before I knew what the coach was doing first. Now that he is signed, it will help me make my mind up.
I want to get something sorted out before we start the season.
