Benji Marshall is coming back to the NRL.

[georgesnmith]

I'm afraid it is hard.
Centre in union is one of the most challenging positions to play.
A centre has to play both sides of the field so has to be equally adept at passing of both hands, defending of the left and right shoulder and each time they change sides of the field, they have a different winger on the outside. The 5 metre rule in Union is called the advantage line and the centre dictates when on attack how far they stand back and when defending, how far forward they stand.
They also have to communicate with the 1st five as structure plays can only be tried at set piece and as the play starts moving from ruck to ruck, if in possession, the centre can call different plays if they see an attacking advantage can be taken. In a nutshell, the All Blacks best centres have more than likely played the position since their secondary school days.

wow really informative that post

shame nobody watches union in australia or they would appreciate all those nuances.

edit : centres play both sides of the field ...does union still use that style of attack, league got rid of it 20 years ago.

 

[georgesnmith]

spanner in the works for sharks who have offered 3 year deal, tigers want some compensation and apparently did have a clause stopping him from playing until 2016

if true marhsall is arrogant for not asking the tigers for a release first.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...n-barbastyle-compensation-20140422-zqxv9.html

 

[Card Shark]

Where does he play at Cronulla? Maybe they'll dump John Morris and move Robson to hooker.

I'll be pissed if we put Robson at hooker for Benji.

Him & Carney in the halves just won't work. Robson is a good foil for Carney & may well be for Benji.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

Benji is a arrogant loser with zero talent,keep running sideways brah

 

[Rosetta]

spanner in the works for sharks who have offered 3 year deal, tigers want some compensation and apparently did have a clause stopping him from playing until 2016

if true marhsall is arrogant for not asking the tigers for a release first.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...n-barbastyle-compensation-20140422-zqxv9.html

The Tigpies will get some compensation and get ready for the league or even channel 9 to pay for it, then watch the other clubs kick up a stink about it. The league will see this as a PR win, "Benji coming back to the fold" and Channel 9 are dumb and probably want him back on TFS for some kind of exclusive so will pay up also. Cronulla will not pay a cent of compensation.

 

[Card Shark]

Cronulla will not pay a cent of compensation.

If we had to, it's definitely not worth signing him!

 

[betcats]

I'll be pissed if we put Robson at hooker for Benji.

Him & Carney in the halves just won't work. Robson is a good foil for Carney & may well be for Benji.

Listening to Paul Gallen on the BSB this morning sound like they wanna try him at centre for this season anyway.

 

[The Pa Kid]

If I knew that much about Union, I'd kill myself.

:lol: That would be a shame as I would miss reading your posts.
Benji was terrible last week and that was because he is not a 1st five at that level. His inabilities to kick off either foot, pass of either hand and the position he stood on the field made him easy to read and defend against. Those core skills are what he was told to go back and work on which would have taken at least a season or 2 to master. Hence his decision.

 

[georgesnmith]

SBW played centres in union, tell me about his kicking game

lol

and didnt he playing in a winning world cup side?

the guy cant kick to save his life

 

[Matchball]

Beau needs Benji to make him look good again, otherwise he might be mistaken for a NSW cup player.

 

[betcats]

If Benji comes back with the attitude of a guy getting a chance to redeem himself then he will be a good pick up, if he comes back with that spoiled by tim sheens superstar attitude then he will suck again.

 

[Bruce123]

Regardless the bloke is going to suck anyhow, his glory days are over. How many good seasons did he actually play? 3, maybe 4 at best

 

[aqua_duck]

SBW played centres in union, tell me about his kicking game

lol

and didnt he playing in a winning world cup side?

the guy cant kick to save his life

SBW is a 108kg centre, Benji is a 5/8th.......

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

:lol: That would be a shame as I would miss reading your posts.
Benji was terrible last week and that was because he is not a 1st five at that level. His inabilities to kick off either foot, pass of either hand and the position he stood on the field made him easy to read and defend against. Those core skills are what he was told to go back and work on which would have taken at least a season or 2 to master. Hence his decision.

err, I said I watched the half he played, the second half. His team are dreadful, he was the only attacking spark they had, probably because everyone else just hoiked the pill upfield as soon as they got it.

That seems to be the #1 skill preference of their coach, the ability to kick the ball upfield no matter the score.

He gave an inside ball for a line-break and as far as I could tell amongst the kicking and pushing, that was their best attacking moment. I guess the problem is that scoring tries just isn't the priority in Union.

 

[madunit]

Benji at centre is a good idea & will reap good rewards, once his tackling technique is corrected.

But given that Carney's technique has got worse, i can't see anything being fixed.

 

[The Pa Kid]

SBW played centres in union, tell me about his kicking game

lol

and didnt he playing in a winning world cup side?

the guy cant kick to save his life

He may have played centre when he first went to union in France but in NZ he played wing and 2nd Five. SBW never needed to kick at 2nd five but did try to develop that part of his game. He played in the World Cup final and came on as a reserve on the wing.
The difference between him and Benji is the work he put in to get himself up to the same level of skill his team mates had. Also Sonny changed the way 2nd fives played in NZ by running great angles to get behind the advantage line, (something the outstanding league players in Aussie do) whilst off -loading. This brought a whole new avenue of attack which eventually helped the Chiefs win their first title.

 

[nrlnrl]

his manager has told Fox Sports News he'll sign with Sharks within 24 hours

 

[carlosthedwarf]

Benji & Carney will be the worst defending set of halves in the history of the game

 

[gronkathon]

Carney, Ayshford & Sleau on one side

Benji and Wright on the other.

Thank you football gods

 

[macnaz]

"Ill never play for another club " well not for the first 10 rnds at least ; )