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Benji Marshall regrets - SMH article

sensesmaybenumbed

Moderator
Staff member
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28,828
Benji Marshall gutted he can't play alongside young gun Luke Brooks

November 14, 2013

Glenn Jackson

Rugby League Writer






----Art-wide-luke_20131106184349117112-620x349.jpg


Cool-hand Luke: Wests Tigers' teenage halfback Luke Brooks. Photo: Brendan Esposito

Benji Marshall says one of his major regrets in leaving Wests Tigers is not being able to play alongside halfback Luke Brooks more often.
Marshall, soon to begin official training with the Auckland Blues following his switch of codes, believes Brooks is a ''star of the future'' - although he prefaced that by saying Tigers supporters needed to be patient with the 18-year-old. ''He is definitely a long-term solution for seven,'' the former Tigers five-eighth said. ''He's just so natural, controlling a team. I certainly wish I got to play a few more times with him, to maybe help him out a bit, teach him a few things, and I also think he could have relieved a bit of the pressure off me. He's definitely got the talent and the skill, and I'd be shocked if he didn't make a big go of it. I think he's a star of the future.''
But then the kicker: ''People have got to remember that he's played one first-grade game. And he killed it - but … initially the expectations can't be too high.
''He's definitely got what takes, and if he keeps working hard - the way he does - he'll definitely make it, but expectations can hurt people. I just hope people don't expect too much out of him too early.''
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Brooks' debut, against St George Illawarra in round 24, also coincided with one of Marshall's best performances of his final season with the Tigers. Brooks was superb but, being part of the Tigers' second-tier salary cap, it would be his only match in the NRL squad in 2013. He is, though, clearly seeded No.1 to play halfback next year, and Marshall can see why.
''He's got the talent and he trains hard,'' he said. ''He's a great defender, has a great kicking game and he controls a team. All those attributes will take him a long way. There's no doubt he's the long-term solution for the club at seven - which has probably been missing since 'Princey' [Scott Prince] left really.
''I made my decision to move on, but after watching what 'Brooksy' can do, and after spending a bit of time with him, I would have liked a bit more time to play alongside him. He doesn't shy away from any of the physical aspects of the game. He gets his shoulders in there, has a massive go, he's got a great kicking game - he's got probably one of the finest touches I've seen, for a kid. And he's got a big boot.
"He needs to speak up a bit more, but that comes with time. I haven't seen any young guy step into a team at his age and straight away order the older guys around. He's definitely capable, he just needs to find that voice, and that confidence. As long as everyone doesn't expect that straight away, he'll find that in the future."
Marshall, who will begin training with his new Auckland Blues teammates later this month, agreed with the common feeling at Concord that five-eighth Mitchell Moses was still some time off making his debut.
Source

Yeah, it's great to finally have a long term solution at halfback. Things were looking up with Lui.

Go Brooks!
 
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Matchball

Bench
Messages
2,971
Wish he would just eff off. He isn't a tiger anymore and this article is just another piece to get his name in the media again.
Yawn.
 

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
24,495
Whilst I'm certainly no benji defender, it's not as if he called up Glenn Jackson and asked him to write the article.
 

DanOz

Juniors
Messages
1,419
I am glad Benji is not there to "teach" him a few things. Brooks playing his natural game and feeding Benji when it suits Brooks, that is what I would have liked to see.. Wasn't Benji playing in the centres when they played together? Putting Marshall in the halves would result in Benji trying to do Brooks job and shutting him down unless his massive ego could take a break...
 

Eddie Lab

Juniors
Messages
2,410
I see Benji being the tigers version of Gordon Tallis. the go to ex player for a random quote to create a head line for the day.
 
Messages
3,320
He may have regrets,idiot comes to mind,based on the amount of coin that he was offered for the rubbish he was delivering on the playing field.
 

BrotherJim05

Bench
Messages
3,399
you can't blame the guy for having regrets, he is only human. I regret things all the time. Its life. Someone just happened to record Benji saying he had some regrets
 

super_coach

First Grade
Messages
5,061
We can still generate media publicity out of Benji and we dont have to pay him. To me that is a win win, the marketing department must love it
 

DanOz

Juniors
Messages
1,419
If his ego had allowed him to play outside Brooks and give the kid control then he should have regrets because this kid would have allowed him to freedom to return to the free flowing five eighth that Sheens destroyed that he always should have been. I am not convinced Benji's ego would have allowed himself to play second fiddle, I have visions of him demanding the ball on the last and putting in a kick that hands possession to the opposition while Brooks hangs his head in frustration. BUT if he could play outside the kid then I have regrets he is gone.
 

douglasfisher

Juniors
Messages
58
Benji will be back in 2015 as a centre or fullback. I think he will be better for the break and not be as bad as everyone is predicting.
 

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