Patched-up Benji may sidestep Kiwis call
Jacquelin Magnay | April 28, 2008
WESTS TIGERS five-eighth Benji Marshall has said he will rule himself out of New Zealand Test representation if he doesn't feel his form meets international standard.
Marshall returned to the paddock against Cronulla yesterday and was initially hesitant, hiding out in the centres and reluctant to take the ball to the defensive line. Marshall said he would give himself another match to impress both the selectors and himself - when Wests Tigers play Brisbane on Friday night - before deciding if he would make himself available to play for the Kiwis.
"Last year in the Test match I was underdone and I didn't have a good game, and I don't want to be underdone again," Marshall said. "If I feel that I am not playing at Test level then I am going to say it. It is about honesty."
Marshall's medial ligament knee injury, suffered in his first touch of the ball in round one this season, was still firmly on his mind yesterday. While match fitness didn't appear to be an issue, confidence in surviving tackles most certainly was. Adding to the pressure was the fact the Sharks' enforcer Paul Gallen, fired up after spending some time on the sidelines, appeared to be targeting him.
"I wasn't looking for him, but if he was in front of me I was going to run at him, but no, I wasn't looking especially for him," Gallen said.
Marshall was more concerned about the strange feeling he was experiencing in his knee rather than being crushed under the weight of the Sharks' big men.
"It didn't feel right, it was a weird feeling, I had done all the training and the rehab and it felt all right but out on the field … I can't explain it," Marshall said.
Marshall had the team doctor check the knee during the half-time break, and the doctor pushed and pulled rigorously enough to convince Marshall that all was fine.
In the second half Marshall became more involved. "I wanted to have a run and take them on, and I got through it," he said. "It was nothing, far from flash, but I got a bit of confidence. Stepping was the main thing I was worried about."
Certainly, in the final 10 minutes of yesterday's match, Marshall showed glimpses of the swerving, slippery player of old. Coach Tim Sheens said Marshall would "have to improve a lot to play for New Zealand based on what I saw", but was happy that his key player got through the match unscathed.
"He played for 80 minutes and they certainly worked him over," Sheens said. "I am more concerned about him playing next week because it is a short week."
Meanwhile, Tigers hooker Robbie Farah said he would have been happy to take the field against the Sharks but medical staff want him to rest his back injury for a further week and take advantage of the subsequent bye to ensure a full recovery.
Farah said he was still hopeful of pressing for a State of Origin berth, perhaps for game two or three. "I felt I could have played but the medical staff keep telling me to be patient because it is a long year," he said.
"I would have liked to have come back but as a precaution I will wait until after the bye. I have written off playing for City, obviously, but if I can't prove myself for game one of Origin then I want to try and be there for any of the other two. I am sure there will be some opportunities there."
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Now Benji himself says he'll pull out if he doesn't feel he's playing well enough after a second game. It seems that Tim Sheens wasn't alone in saying the selectors should give him a few games before deciding whether to select him or not.
