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http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=62053
Thursday Mar 16 19:47 AEDT
Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall is tipped to become the star of his own children's TV show after impressing television executives at the Nine Network.
Marshall, who is recovering from a fractured cheekbone he sustained in the NRL season opener against St George Illawarra, will make his TV commentary debut during his side's prime time clash against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
Steve Crawley, Channel Nine's director of sport in Sydney, has tipped a bright future for the 21-year-old, saying: "This kid has got something special."
"I wouldn't at all be surprised, if he puts in the work now, if Benji ends up with his own kid's show," Crawley told AAP.[/IMG][/URL]"This kid is different, he doesn't walk in like a 20-year-old, he walks in like JFK.
"You can just tell he's a talent. Nine identified Matthew Johns at an early age and we've started doing some work with him, and Andrew Johns is doing some work with us.
"He is receptive to learn. I think what he has got is a confidence and a presence.
"Whether that translates or not into a good television commentator or a star on TV I don't know, but we're willing to gamble on that.
"If he puts in the hard work, I think that could be a winner for everyone, a kid's show."
Marshall, who is doing a communications course at Sydney University, made an immediate impression on Nine CEO Eddie McGuire when he handled himself capably in an interview by Matthew Johns at the NRL season launch.
McGuire and Marshall met that night and when the star five-eighth told him he wasn't contracted to the network, McGuire said: "You are now".
Crawley said Marshall definitely had the X-factor.
"(I know) because my kids keep running through the house pretending they're Benji Marshall," he said.
"You go to the footy and every kid in the junior sides has got the Benji step.
"He has been coming in the last couple of weeks, we've been talking about things to do and the club has supported him doing a cadetship here and learning about the business.
"He's also genuinely interested in the industry, a lot of ex-footballers think `what am I going to do next' and ring me up, but this kid is turning up at the beginning of his career, which is nice.
"Currently our youngest commentator is 36 years of age (Matthew Johns), this one is 21 and 21-year-olds listen to different music, listen to different movies and talk a different way.
"We've got to get with the times.
Thursday Mar 16 19:47 AEDT
Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall is tipped to become the star of his own children's TV show after impressing television executives at the Nine Network.
Marshall, who is recovering from a fractured cheekbone he sustained in the NRL season opener against St George Illawarra, will make his TV commentary debut during his side's prime time clash against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
Steve Crawley, Channel Nine's director of sport in Sydney, has tipped a bright future for the 21-year-old, saying: "This kid has got something special."
"I wouldn't at all be surprised, if he puts in the work now, if Benji ends up with his own kid's show," Crawley told AAP.[/IMG][/URL]"This kid is different, he doesn't walk in like a 20-year-old, he walks in like JFK.
"You can just tell he's a talent. Nine identified Matthew Johns at an early age and we've started doing some work with him, and Andrew Johns is doing some work with us.
"He is receptive to learn. I think what he has got is a confidence and a presence.
"Whether that translates or not into a good television commentator or a star on TV I don't know, but we're willing to gamble on that.
"If he puts in the hard work, I think that could be a winner for everyone, a kid's show."
Marshall, who is doing a communications course at Sydney University, made an immediate impression on Nine CEO Eddie McGuire when he handled himself capably in an interview by Matthew Johns at the NRL season launch.
McGuire and Marshall met that night and when the star five-eighth told him he wasn't contracted to the network, McGuire said: "You are now".
Crawley said Marshall definitely had the X-factor.
"(I know) because my kids keep running through the house pretending they're Benji Marshall," he said.
"You go to the footy and every kid in the junior sides has got the Benji step.
"He has been coming in the last couple of weeks, we've been talking about things to do and the club has supported him doing a cadetship here and learning about the business.
"He's also genuinely interested in the industry, a lot of ex-footballers think `what am I going to do next' and ring me up, but this kid is turning up at the beginning of his career, which is nice.
"Currently our youngest commentator is 36 years of age (Matthew Johns), this one is 21 and 21-year-olds listen to different music, listen to different movies and talk a different way.
"We've got to get with the times.
