Marshall still has plenty to offer

[getsmarty]

Marshall still has plenty to offer the NRL: Nightingale

By MITCH JENNINGS
Jan. 7, 2016, 3:35 p.m.

DRAGONS veteran Jason Nightingale has rubbished suggestions that the 2016 season may be former Test teammate Benji Marshall’s last in the NRL.
Marshall is off contract at season’s end and told Fairfax Media in December that he was looking to extend for at least one more season that would take him past his 32nd birthday.
Marshall has a strong relationship with Paul McGregor and was arguably the club’s best player last season.

But the Dragons strong pitch to lure Berkeley product Jack Bird back to the club from Cronulla and more recent links to Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk for the 2017 season have clouded his future at the Dragons beyond this year.
Nightingale returned to Dragons training this week following New Zealand’s end of season tour of the UK and dismissed suggestions his long-time mate was considering retirement or a swan-song in the UK Super League.
‘‘You ask him and he’ll tell you he’s playing til he’s 40,’’ Nightingale said.
‘‘Benji’s got a lot more k’s in his legs so he definitely won’t be retiring and I don’t think he’ll be going to England either.
‘‘He’ll be playing on in the NRL and hopefully it’s with our club.
‘‘I think it’s complete speculation, I’m not sure where that’s come from.
‘‘There’s always going to be that sort of speculation when someone’s off contract but Benji’s definitely got a lot of years left in him.
‘‘Two years ago he had a pretty cruisy year in rugby and came back and played the back half of the [2014] season and I think that’ll add to his longevity.

“He’s only 30 now and we’ve seen plenty of halves play a lot longer than that.’’
After making a hasty return to rugby league midway through the 2014 season, Marshall enjoyed one of his best seasons in the NRL in 2015.

He set the pace in Dally M voting early in the year and finished third overall ahead of a host quality halves including Ben Hunt, Blake Austin and James Maloney.

He also led the Dragons in try-assists and linebreak assists in which he was fourth and third overall in the competition.
Nightingale expects Marshall to go up a gear again this year in what’s shaping as a more potent back line than his first two seasons in the Red V.
‘‘He was in the top five for try assists for the year and for a team that didn’t score a lot of tries that’s a pretty good effort,’’ Nightingale said.
‘‘The stats speak for themselves and they way he carried himself and led the team around was awesome.
‘‘He was great last year and I think he’s going to improve even more this year so I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do.’’


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3649981/not-done-yet/?cs=2382

 

[Vasilevsky]

Marshall still has plenty to offer the NRL: Nightingale

By MITCH JENNINGS
Jan. 7, 2016, 3:35 p.m.

DRAGONS veteran Jason Nightingale has rubbished suggestions that the 2016 season may be former Test teammate Benji Marshall’s last in the NRL.
Marshall is off contract at season’s end and told Fairfax Media in December that he was looking to extend for at least one more season that would take him past his 32nd birthday.
Marshall has a strong relationship with Paul McGregor and was arguably the club’s best player last season.

But the Dragons strong pitch to lure Berkeley product Jack Bird back to the club from Cronulla and more recent links to Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk for the 2017 season have clouded his future at the Dragons beyond this year.
Nightingale returned to Dragons training this week following New Zealand’s end of season tour of the UK and dismissed suggestions his long-time mate was considering retirement or a swan-song in the UK Super League.
‘‘You ask him and he’ll tell you he’s playing til he’s 40,’’ Nightingale said.
‘‘Benji’s got a lot more k’s in his legs so he definitely won’t be retiring and I don’t think he’ll be going to England either.
‘‘He’ll be playing on in the NRL and hopefully it’s with our club.
‘‘I think it’s complete speculation, I’m not sure where that’s come from.
‘‘There’s always going to be that sort of speculation when someone’s off contract but Benji’s definitely got a lot of years left in him.
‘‘Two years ago he had a pretty cruisy year in rugby and came back and played the back half of the [2014] season and I think that’ll add to his longevity.

“He’s only 30 now and we’ve seen plenty of halves play a lot longer than that.’’
After making a hasty return to rugby league midway through the 2014 season, Marshall enjoyed one of his best seasons in the NRL in 2015.

He set the pace in Dally M voting early in the year and finished third overall ahead of a host quality halves including Ben Hunt, Blake Austin and James Maloney.

He also led the Dragons in try-assists and linebreak assists in which he was fourth and third overall in the competition.
Nightingale expects Marshall to go up a gear again this year in what’s shaping as a more potent back line than his first two seasons in the Red V.
‘‘He was in the top five for try assists for the year and for a team that didn’t score a lot of tries that’s a pretty good effort,’’ Nightingale said.
‘‘The stats speak for themselves and they way he carried himself and led the team around was awesome.
‘‘He was great last year and I think he’s going to improve even more this year so I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do.’’


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/s...e-yet/?cs=2382

Interesting. I think these facts in bold spelled out by someone other than me must have several homies on this forum on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I fear Old Timer has already had enough. I just hope he wasn't so upset as to go further than take a break from this forum.


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3649981/not-done-yet/?cs=2382http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3649981/not-done-yet/?cs=2382http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3649981/not-done-yet/?cs=2382

 

[giboz71]

Interesting. I think these facts in bold spelled out by someone other than me must have several homies on this forum on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I fear Old Timer has already had enough. I just hope he wasn't so upset as to go further than take a break from this forum.

I'm a fan of Marshall and while these stats are good, let's face it, he had a lot of clangers last year as well. Intercepts, kicks on the full, bombs straight up in the air. And it's easy to have good stats when you have significantly more touches than any one else in the side.

This was part of the problem, his problem was the defences knew the attack was either going through him or Widdop. Too easy to read. And when one was out, this was made significantly worse (eg the Brisbane game where Widdop was mercilessly targeted).

With Mann hopefully taking the FB role, and Demetriou running the attack (presumably using an extra playmaker), this will hopefully solve this problem.

I'm tipping Marshall to have a big year (as well as Widdop).

 

[Vasilevsky]

I'm a fan of Marshall and while these stats are good, let's face it, he had a lot of clangers last year as well. Intercepts, kicks on the full, bombs straight up in the air. And it's easy to have good stats when you have significantly more touches than any one else in the side.

This was part of the problem, his problem was the defences knew the attack was either going through him or Widdop. Too easy to read. And when one was out, this was made significantly worse (eg the Brisbane game where Widdop was mercilessly targeted).

With Mann hopefully taking the FB role, and Demetriou running the attack (presumably using an extra playmaker), this will hopefully solve this problem.

I'm tipping Marshall to have a big year (as well as Widdop).

His mistakes tended to stand out more because they were when going for big plays but stats show he didn't make many considering as you said, how many touches he had.

 

[getsmarty]

Jason Nightingale says Benji Marshall will not leave the Dragons at season’s end

BENJI Marshall has “a lot of kilometres left in his legs” so he won’t be going anywhere any time soon, Dragons teammate Jason Nightingale says.
Nightingale has dismissed speculation the off-contract veteran playmaker will link with the English Super League or hang up the boots at season’s end.
Marshall’s former Kiwi teammate Nightingale believes the star pivot will be “playing on in the NRL” and just hopes it will be with the Dragons.
And the Dragons winger believes Marshall’s best is yet to come. “He is only 30 now and plenty of halves play a lot longer than that so I think Benji has a lot of kilometres left in his legs,” he told the Dragons website.
“The way he carried himself (in 2015) was awesome so news of any retirement is speculation.
“I think he will improve more this season — I’m looking forward to seeing what he does.” It is believed Marshall — 31 next month — wants to play on at the Dragons but the NRL club reportedly will gauge his early 2016 form before considering a one-year contract extension.

Marshall is on the comeback from ankle surgery as he prepares for his 14th NRL season.
His future at the Dragons may also be influenced by Cronulla gun pivot Jack Bird, who is yet to decide whether to link with St George Illawarra in 2017.
But Nightingale believed Marshall’s days at the Dragons weren’t numbered.
“I doubt that Benji will go to England and doubt that he is retiring as he’ll be playing on in the NRL and hopefully it’s with our club,” he said.
“There’s always going to be that sort of speculation when someone is off contract but Benji has definitely got a number of years left in him.” Nightingale cheekily suggested Marshall’s ill-fated rugby sojourn in 2014 would help the veteran pivot extend his NRL career. “Two years ago I think he had a cruisy year in rugby and came back and played the back half of the season so that will add to his longevity,” he said.
Marshall played his first full season with the Dragons in 2015 since returning from rugby, helping them reach the finals.He injured his ankle in their 11-10 elimination finals loss to the Bulldogs.
“He was in the top five for try assists last season and for a team that didn’t score a lot of tries it’s a pretty good effort,” Nightingale said of Marshall’s 2015 efforts.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-at-seasons-end/story-fni3g9a3-1227706082107

 

[Slippery Morris]

He made a few errors but if he makes a few less in 2016 then Saints will finish high on the ladder. As per Nighty's comments:-
“He was in the top five for try assists last season and for a team that didn’t score a lot of tries it’s a pretty good effort,”

 

[Mr Red]

Cronk >>>>>>>>>>Barge Ass>>>Bird

im still not sold on Bird in the halves... i see him as a running lock forward in about 12 - 24 months time

 

[Shadow Dragon]

Don't get me wrong, Marshall has plenty of skill and we could have won the final against the Bulldogs if he stayed on. Marshall made a few errors last year and one of the top try assistants but he wastes to much time with the ball, running from one side to the other. Mcrone still has a chance. Cronk is still young and a great player. There is also Drew Hutchinson who is really young and can play. Mary has a hard choice.

 

[mmap dragons]

Don't get me wrong, Marshall has plenty of skill and we could have won the final against the Bulldogs if he stayed on. Marshall made a few errors last year and one of the top try assistants but he wastes to much time with the ball, running from one side to the other. Mcrone still has a chance. Cronk is still young and a great player. There is also Drew Hutchinson who is really young and can play. Mary has a hard choice.

Barring injury, I think Mary's choice is easy as he will pick Marshall every week if available.

2017 may be a different scenario considering the conjecture surrounding Marshall's future. I'm not reading too much into Cronk being linked to the club either. Someone on JA with the good oil posted the club made an informal enquiry in regards to Cronk and that was it.

 

[Objective View]

Cronk is still young...

???

Straight Shooter

 

[St Georgio]

If I was Jack, I would fly like a bird back to the nest, drug cheats not a good time.