Ivan Get Benji back

[BuffaloRules]

That is exactly how he could be used.

Wayne Bennett doesn't seem to agree...

The Tigers need 4 blokes on the bench capable of playing in the forwards...

Not a small bloke that you keep up your sleeve in case one of the backs gets injured..

 

[BuffaloRules]

Benji should be the 6 and Reynolds the 9. I absolutely love this.

He was bog average when he last played for the Tigers in 2013 and I don't think he will have improved five years down the track...

 

[Radical Rat]

He was bog average when he last played for the Tigers in 2013 and I don't think he will have improved five years down the track...

But somehow he has improved. His performances for the Broncos this year were outstanding.

I'm not exactly sure how/where he'll be used but I'm absolutely cheering to have him back. It's a great move by the club on many levels.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I really hope this is true. This caught me by surprise as well.

I'm stoked. I reckon this is exactly what we need. Our spine is really hit and miss and having Benji there means we now have competition for spots.

Plus he is our best ever player by far.

I'm just reading the Herald article and this has to mean a contract is signed unless they just made up Benji saying all that stuff.

Go Tigers.

I acknowledge his immense contribution to us 05 but he's not "our best ever by far" due to the peerless & irreplaceable Gareth Ellis !!

The great Gareth Ellis was immense week in week out whereas Benji had numerous shithouse games & an unforgiveably disrespectful attitude over the last few yrs with us.He was unfit lazy & basically didn't give a f**k but I've forgiven him coz of the euphoria he gave us in 2005 !

 

[Ron's_Mate]

I think he'll be used the same way Bennett has used him, and he has made some FG appearances for the Broncos this year.

 

[Perth Tiger]

Good signing if he fills the same roll he has at the broncs. At bare minimum he is a massive step up in backup half over JLJ

 

[The Charlatan]

I acknowledge his immense contribution to us 05 but he's not "our best ever by far" due to the peerless & irreplaceable Gareth Ellis !!

The great Gareth Ellis was immense week in week out whereas Benji had numerous shithouse games & an unforgiveably disrespectful attitude over the last few yrs with us.He was unfit lazy & basically didn't give a f**k but I've forgiven him coz of the euphoria he gave us in 2005 !

Repsectfully disagree. Hodgo had the work ethic and toughness of Ellis and was as important as Benji and Farah.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Repsectfully disagree. Hodgo had the work ethic and toughness of Ellis and was as important as Benji and Farah.

Yep Hodgo was great & had enormous integrity.We wouldn't have won comp in 05 without his phenomenal efforts.Im glad to c him back working with us next yr.

I'm quite sure that the formidable Gareth Ellis received the players player of the season award 3 yrs running.I know he received this significant award for at least 2 yrs.

 

[Tiger05]

I acknowledge his immense contribution to us 05 but he's not "our best ever by far" due to the peerless & irreplaceable Gareth Ellis !!

The great Gareth Ellis was immense week in week out whereas Benji had numerous shithouse games & an unforgiveably disrespectful attitude over the last few yrs with us.He was unfit lazy & basically didn't give a f**k but I've forgiven him coz of the euphoria he gave us in 2005 !

I disagree. Ellis was a great backrower but he didn't have the impact on us winning games that Benji did.

Benji did have some shockers though. I don't think he didn't give a f**k though. I think he has an ego that gets in the way of him progressing as a person and a player at times.

I think his ego though is nothing like Robbie's.

 

[macnaz]

Great news..
As much as i respect Brooks , Benji provides far more . The likes of Suli and Marsters game would go to a whole new level with an inside player setting them up and providing opportunities to use their power and footwork.
He will also mentor Brooks on his overall game.

 

[Tigerm]

Wests Tigers have today announced the signing of Benji Marshall for the 2018 season.

The new one-year agreement will see Marshall return to the club where he made his NRL debut in 2003.

The 32-year-old Wests Tigers Premiership winner and Life Member has played 201 games for the club and returns for the first time since 2013.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Ivan Cleary welcomed Marshall back to the club.

“Benji has been one of the premier players in the NRL since his debut season and it’s great to be able to welcome him back to Wests Tigers,” said Cleary. “He brings more than 250 games of NRL experience back to this club which will be invaluable for our young side.

“I look forward to working with Benji over the coming year, he has a lot to offer this club and I know he’s keen to return and make a positive impact on Wests Tigers,” he said.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said that the Life Member brings a wealth of experience to the club.

"The whole club is really excited to be welcoming a legend like Benji back,” said Pascoe. “Benji has as a long history with this club, with the Members, with the fans and with the stakeholders and bringing back a Life Member to help continue to transform this footy club is a great result for everyone.

“Benji will add experience and leadership to our young group of players coming through, not only on the field, but also off the field,” he said. “Benji will be given every opportunity to compete for a starting position and put pressure on those ahead of him and he will also be expected to, and is looking forward to, be a mentor for the younger players coming through.

“What excites me the most is that Benji can see and believes in the direction the club is heading and wants to be a part of that, he sees that the future of Wests Tigers is extremely bright."

Marshall has played 264 NRL games for Wests Tigers, the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Brisbane Broncos and won the Golden Boot award in 2010. He has represented New Zealand on 25 occasions and was named a Wests Tigers Life Member in 2013.

Get Robbie back as well.

 

[Tiger05]

Great news..
As much as i respect Brooks , Benji provides far more . The likes of Suli and Marsters game would go to a whole new level with an inside player setting them up and providing opportunities to use their power and footwork.
He will also mentor Brooks on his overall game.

Yep. The thing is now we have competition in the spine. Cleary to me is doing really well. Heaps of smart signings.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I disagree. Ellis was a great backrower but he didn't have the impact on us winning games that Benji did.

Benji did have some shockers though. I don't think he didn't give a f**k though. I think he has an ego that gets in the way of him progressing as a person and a player at times.

I think his ego though is nothing like Robbie's.

Ellis was clearly our best player in seasons '10 & '11.Without him we would've struggled to qualify for the finals.When it came to closing major games in finals(prelim final v saints in '10 & semi v warriors in '11) in both '10 & '11 Benji & Robbie both let us down with poor decision making & execution.

When ur overweight & sluggish in ur involvement it demonstrates that u don't give a f**k as per Benji in his final yrs with us.

Look forward to a new era under IC where hopefully Benji may provide a +ve influence on the squad irrespective of whether it's on or off the field.

 

[Vic Mackey]

He's saying the right things and admitted he was at fault when he left.

I think the last few years have humbled him and I dare say the signing has a lot to do with off field stuff as opposed to on field.

He has been pretty good for the broncos and these days you need depth. Benji would have been a god send when we had 6. Rankin 7. Littlejohn earlier in the year.

 

[Tiger05]

Ellis was clearly our best player in seasons '10 & '11.Without him we would've struggled to qualify for the finals.When it came to closing major games in finals(prelim final v saints in '10 & semi v warriors in '11) in both '10 & '11 Benji & Robbie both let us down with poor decision making & execution.

When ur overweight & sluggish in ur involvement it demonstrates that u don't give a f**k as per Benji in his final yrs with us.

Look forward to a new era under IC where hopefully Benji may provide a +ve influence on the squad irrespective of whether it's on or off the field.

I think Robbie was a lot worse at this point when it came to poor decision making. I'll never forget when we were on the attack and Benji was waiting for the ball about 5 metres from the line and I reckon he scores for sure. Robbie tried to barge over.

Benji has always been hot and cold but he didn't have the poor hog play in him that Robbie had.

 

[Mr Angry]

Ivan now has a spot marked X.

The rest will be taught structure and discipline.

Better days ahead.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Ivan now has a spot marked X.

The rest will be taught structure and discipline.

Better days ahead.

Gotta admit I was wrong and you got it right...he is back in the squad next year..

Out of interest though ... Would you want him in the Sharks top 17?

 

[Vic Mackey]

Will be exciting to see him and Chris Lawrence link up again, I realise both are past their best but their combination was lethal and will no doubt still trouble defences

 

[Mr Angry]

We have Jimmy, he goes alright, on record as saying would take Benji if Jimmy left for more coin.

 

[Radical Rat]

He's saying the right things and admitted he was at fault when he left.

I think the last few years have humbled him and I dare say the signing has a lot to do with off field stuff as opposed to on field.

He has been pretty good for the broncos and these days you need depth. Benji would have been a god send when we had 6. Rankin 7. Littlejohn earlier in the year.

Seems as if he's matured
Immensely. 5 years ago there is absolutely no way Benji would have come out and proudly announced that he is happy being a "professional 18th man".

Obviously he feels he can contribute a lot more than that, but it shows that he knows his place at this stage of his career.