Benji the fullback at the 2011 home world cup?

[Te Kaha]

Stolen from stuff

<H2>Benji still has an eye on All Blacks

16 October 2005

By STEVE KILGALLON

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]Benji Marshall admits he might, after all, become an All Black one day but his immediate hope is to sign a new two-year deal with Wests Tigers.[/font]



[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]In his only New Zealand interview since the Tigers' NRL grand final victory, Marshall admitted he was "being smart" when he said the New Zealand Rugby Union was "dreaming" if it thought he would switch to rugby. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]Speaking to the Sunday Star-Times at manager Brett Papworth's Sydney harbourside office, Marshall explained his off-the-cuff comment at the grand final breakfast. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]"I was just being smart, to be honest. I was asked to say `can you tell rugby union they're dreaming', so I just said, `they're dreaming'. But I wouldn't not consider it, I grew up playing rugby and always wanted to be an All Black, so it is definitely something I would look at in the future but not at the moment." [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]Instead, Marshall expects negotiations over his new contract to advance rapidly. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]With his shoulder in a sling following surgery, he faced a phalanx of insistent photographers as Papworth explained his client was fronting up in the hope the press would then leave him alone during his rehabilitation. But Marshall, 20, has been coping with the huge hype surrounding his rapid emergence. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]"It's awesome to win a premiership it is amazing, and if this is what comes of winning a premiership, then I am more than happy to do it every year." [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]Marshall will take part in the Tigers' pre-season training, but with a five-month tariff on his recovery, won't take part in contact work. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]"Hopefully, I will be back for the first game," he said. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]The angst over Marshall's absence from test football seems to have eased, with the one-cap standoff reporting positive conversations with Kiwis coach Brian McClennan after making a visit to their camp at Parramatta before going under the knife. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]"It was good to catch up with them, but it made it a little sad being there and feeling the atmosphere but not playing." [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]While the Kiwis are in Europe, Marshall who commentated on last night's test for Sky TV may make in a brief visit home with Wests Tigers team-mate Dene Halatau. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, MS Sans Serif]that, he has his own personalised boot to promote (a white number called the `BMX', which makes Marshall the third league player to have his signature appended to a boot). [/font]

By then he would be the best runner from the back since Cullen.. if he switchs in 09/10 leaves him plenty of time to adapt since he as already played the game for years.

 

[Jackal Dog]

I knew it! that whole "Union is boring" was just a lie to appease the the NRL at the Grand Final breakfast, the kid was raised on the game fo course he still likes it!

 

[aussies1st]

Benji could be a 2nd 5 as well. That way he is still close to the action doesn't have to do that much kicking.

 

[Gipper]

2nd Fives usually still have to do alot of Kicking... and IMO Carter and McAlister have the 10/12 Combo locked for a long time.

 

[bayrep]

He will not swtich, hes on top of the world right now why bother ?? and if he did lose form then why would union pick him up union has enough depth.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

I know of four NZ Warriors and ex Warriors players who had clause in their contracts that allows them to play for Samoa in the RWC if called upon .

 

[taipan]

Fullback ! he is a runner not a kicker,and would be wasted there.Whilst Sheens is coach he wont be going anywhere,if Sheens goes who knows.

Think !no know, Benji next year will be getting some big endorsements,so he will be earning big money staying where he is.
Ifwe have learnt one thing,player managers get players to use words all the time,to boost a player's earning potential.
It happened with Johns ,Anasta and now Gasnier and Benji.The crunch comes when they actually sign a contract.

 

[Southern Warrio]

Fullback ! he is a runner not a kicker,and would be wasted there.Whilst Sheens is coach he wont be going anywhere,if Sheens goes who knows.

Think !no know, Benji next year will be getting some big endorsements,so he will be earning big money staying where he is.
Ifwe have learnt one thing,player managers get players to use words all the time,to boost a player's earning potential.
It happened with Johns ,Anasta and now Gasnier and Benji.The crunch comes when they actually sign a contract.

He wouldin't be wasted at fullback, he would have many running chances, espically playing for the All Blacks plenty of opportunites to run with alot of time and space infront of him.

Benji if he crossed codes would be one of the biggest stars in New Zealand rugby, so would be in for some huge endorsements in a closed market, that is New Zealand sport where ONE sport dominates. He would also get the chance to show case his skills on the international stage, show the world his skills not just New Zealand, Aus and ocassionally GB.

So heres hoping he signs the two year deal the the Tigers, then crosses codes in 2009 has a a couple of years to gear up to the world cup that will be hosted in New Zealand. Then he will run out in the final to defend the world cup to thousands of rugby fans, play the match of his life and help the All Blacks become the first team to win back to back world cups.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Amen to that Southern Warrior ! His favourite All Black is Christian Cullen , so I guess thats where it all started .
The All Blacks are by far the most famous and popular rugby team in the world in any code .

There are hundreds of Kiwi kids who has that Marshall side step .
Too bad they only use it in touch rugby .

 

[taipan]

He wouldin't be wasted at fullback, he would have many running chances, espically playing for the All Blacks plenty of opportunites to run with alot of time and space infront of him.

Benji if he crossed codes would be one of the biggest stars in New Zealand rugby, so would be in for some huge endorsements in a closed market, that is New Zealand sport where ONE sport dominates. He would also get the chance to show case his skills on the international stage, show the world his skills not just New Zealand, Aus and ocassionally GB.

So heres hoping he signs the two year deal the the Tigers, then crosses codes in 2009 has a a couple of years to gear up to the world cup that will be hosted in New Zealand. Then he will run out in the final to defend the world cup to thousands of rugby fans, play the match of his life and help the All Blacks become the first team to win back to back world cups.

Agree who knows what will happen by 2011,however the closed market of NZ is about 3-4m less than Sydney's pop .Dont kid yourself he will have big endorsements from next year as will SBW.
I think he will sign on till the end of 2008 IMO so as to play in the RLWC ,then if he chooses sign with the NZRU giving him time for the 2011 union world cup.Good luck to him whatever he chooses to do.He is a professional footballer,and whilst he is playing he will benefit his present code by continuing to promote the game with his skills throught Australia and NZ .He is great to watch.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Oh,its that popuplation statistic again . Who is talking about Sydney and NZ only market when Jonah Lomu had the whole world ?

Don't kid yourself if you think that SBW and Marshall will be on the same level endorsement as Jonah Lomu did .

 

[taipan]

Oh,its that popuplation statistic again . Who is talking about Sydney and NZ only market when Jonah Lomu had the whole world ?

Don't kid yourself if you think that SBW and Marshall will be on the same level endorsement as Jonah Lomu did .

Yep is that relevant population statistic again.Hmm the sydney media reported Benji could virtually name his price next year on endorsements-already one high profile boot mfr is talking about a Benji boot.
Who said anything about Jonah Lomu,he is the most high profile player union has ever had,no one will ever have his status.The whole world ? In countries where union is popular yes.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Yes in countries where rugby is popular and countries where rugby wasn't so popular . Jonah Lomu was there .

 

[taipan]

Look PW I have alot of time for Jonah as a footballer (one of the best i have seen and i have seen many in both codes)and a person but popular in India 1billion,China 1.5billion and the Middle east ??

 

[Jackal Dog]

One of the stupidest comments I have ever heard is a kiwi saying Jonah Lomu was as big as Michael Jordan and David Beckham.:lol:

 

[Copa]

Oh,its that popuplation statistic again . Who is talking about Sydney and NZ only market when Jonah Lomu had the whole world ?

Don't kid yourself if you think that SBW and Marshall will be on the same level endorsement as Jonah Lomu did .

Yes... Jonah Lomu is so famous I saw him sitting at a desk in a crappy Canberra shopping centre doing book signings.. how the mighty have fallen.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

I didn't know that to be famous you have to be well known in India , China and Indonesia . Thoose three counties apart from China sure are world leaders at various sports .
But then again the 1 billion peasants in India really spent all their money reading and watching the Superbowl , NBA , champions league , RWC , Wimbledon , Melbourne Cup etc .

Copa , Where do you want Jonah Lomu to promote his book ? At the Opera House ? Jonah Lomu has just had a major operation and hasn't played rugby for three years .
But I can bet my house he is still famous and popular than any other union or league players in the world .

 

[Copa]

I didn't know that to be famous you have to be well known in India , China and Indonesia . Thoose three counties apart from China sure are world leaders at various sports .
But then again the 1 billion peasants in India really spent all their money reading and watching the Superbowl , NBA , champions league , RWC , Wimbledon , Melbourne Cup etc .

Copa , Where do you want Jonah Lomu to promote his book ? At the Opera House ? Jonah Lomu has just had a major operation and hasn't played rugby for three years .
But I can bet my house he is still famous and popular than any other union or league players in the world .

I'm sure all the world most famous athletes promote books at small time book stores in Canberra's suburbs! :lol: The week after we had Stephen King....it went back to the athletes.. Bo jackson, Drew Bledsoe and David Beckham..

My mate from Adelaide didn't know who he was.... he's an AFL nut.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

Is that mate thing again .:roll: I had a mate who says that so and so are not famous because im from the other side of the earth .


I had alot of AFL nut mates from Perth who thought Andrew Johns played for the Wallabies .

 

[Copa]

Is that mate thing again .:roll: I had a mate who says that so and so are not famous because im from the other side of the earth .


I had alot of AFL nut mates from Perth who thought Andrew Johns played for the Wallabies .

afl people are like that. they should have more respect for people doing book signings in nowhere places... I have to say though.. Jonah did have a small line to see him... a certain wallabies player was more or less sitting on his own when he had his book signing..