Where does Benji Marshall Rank as NRL'S 5/8's?

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

While I don't think he is better I doubt he would be dumped straight away. Morris complements Smith's game and would do so better than Benji. Benji is ad lib and would put more pressure on Smith whereas Morris to an extent relieves it.

spot on colonel

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

This year form alone id have

1.Locky
2.Barret
3.Jason Smith
4.Marshall
5. John Morris
6. Sutton

You say for this year, well Fifita says..

No Anasta even in your top six? Love him or hate him (I'm usually the latter) he has played the best of his career this year, and IMO the best. I await a retort, but that's what a forum's for.

Lockys form of late has been the lowest i can remember. Earlier in the season he travelled well, but during & since origin its been down. His reputation (well earned as it is) does more to elevate him than form alone.

Baz has gotten better over the season, but again I think his rep accounts for too much. Had a great game against the cowbangers - hope he continues it. As for form I'd have him at 4.

Morris & Smith have gone well and I can agree with you there

 

[Raider_69]

You say for this year, well Fifita says..

No Anasta even in your top six? Love him or hate him (I'm usually the latter) he has played the best of his career this year, and IMO the best. I await a retort, but that's what a forum's for.

Lockys form of late has been the lowest i can remember. Earlier in the season he travelled well, but during & since origin its been down. His reputation (well earned as it is) does more to elevate him than form alone.

Baz has gotten better over the season, but again I think his rep accounts for too much. Had a great game against the cowbangers - hope he continues it. As for form I'd have him at 4.

Morris & Smith have gone well and I can agree with you there

I think Fifita is spot on, Anasta on form is up there with Lockyer, Smith and Barrett this year. Barrett and Lockyer are starting to hit their straps now too

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

dont know what an organiser is? hmmmmmmm ok :lol:

:roll:

Benji does something constructive almost every time he gets the ball, whether he runs it or passes it.

The point is, what skills do you think he needs to become a better "organiser". I put it in quotation marks because it's a very vague term. Benji is an excellent, creative playmaker. What more do you want in the way of organisation (beyond a long kicking game, we all know he lacks that)?

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

You say for this year, well Fifita says..

No Anasta even in your top six? Love him or hate him (I'm usually the latter) he has played the best of his career this year, and IMO the best. I await a retort, but that's what a forum's for.

Lockys form of late has been the lowest i can remember. Earlier in the season he travelled well, but during & since origin its been down. His reputation (well earned as it is) does more to elevate him than form alone.

Baz has gotten better over the season, but again I think his rep accounts for too much. Had a great game against the cowbangers - hope he continues it. As for form I'd have him at 4.

Morris & Smith have gone well and I can agree with you there

ok you got me, i DO hate ANASTA and if i was to be fair this would be my real list (after some of ur points were considered)

1.Lockyer
2.Smith
3.Marshall
4.Morris
5.Barrett
6.Sutton
6.Anasta

 

[Raider_69]

:roll:

Benji does something constructive almost every time he gets the ball, whether he runs it or passes it.

The point is, what skills do you think he needs to become a better "organiser". I put it in quotation marks because it's a very vague term. Benji is an excellent, creative playmaker. What more do you want in the way of organisation (beyond a long kicking game, we all know he lacks that)?

organisation refers to their ability to lead a team. Tell his forwards where he wants them, direct his backline for a coming play, controling the game with his kicking game. He does all his work ad lib, on the go. No one, not even himself knows what he is gonna do when he gets the ball, which can be both good and bad things, atm its all coming up trumps

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Jeez thanks for that Raider, I had no idea

My point is that as long as Benji does something positive most of the time that he gets the ball, it doesn't matter how good his organisational skills are. And do you really rate halves on their ability to tell the forwards what order they should be hitting the ball up in? Do you listen closely to hear what they are saying? That's incredibly subjective to say the least.

imo Benji is pretty well in tune with his teammates, he rarely throws stupid passes, and so his unpredictably is an asset.

 

[Raider_69]

your right TH, but the point is being made that his lack of organisational skills and particually his long kicking game is holding him back from being ranked amongst the upper teir of 5/8ths running around like Smith, Anasta, Lockyer and Barrett, but he is easily the best of the rest

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

My point is, if his lack of organisational skills led to the Tiger's attack being sloppy and unproductive, or Benji taking poor options, then it would matter. The fact that it doesn't suggests to me that his organisational skills are better than people think. It's true that Prince does a lot of that as well, but so do all halfbacks, and contrary to some of the comments in this thread, in the games I've seen Benji has had a lot of ball and controlled a lot of the attack.

 

[Raider_69]

My point is, if his lack of organisational skills led to the Tiger's attack being sloppy and unproductive, or Benji taking poor options, then it would matter. The fact that it doesn't suggests to me that his organisational skills are better than people think. It's true that Prince does a lot of that as well, but so do all halfbacks, and contrary to some of the comments in this thread, in the games I've seen Benji has had a lot of ball and controlled a lot of the attack.

very valid points, and i have no doubt alot of the organisation isnt being done by Benji as he doesnt have to do it with Prince and co around. But in terms of ranking them, i generally rank them in terms of being a complete player for that position, which is why i rate blokes like Hodgson and Schifcofske as better fullbacks then Minichello. At this stage Benji hasnt shown he has the full complete game and because of that i cant rank him above those that have.

That said if you rank on effectiveness and form i think He is easily in the top 3 accompanying Jason Smith and Darren Lockyer

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

My feeling is that Benji is a pretty complete player, (kicking game aside...at this stage) because of his passing and playmaking abilities. But it's really only a hunch, time will tell I suppose.

 

[Balmain_Boy]

I can't agree with people that say Benji has an average passing game. His passing game is one of his strengths. Sure it doesn't measure up to his running game - nothing does. People are judging him far too soon. His kicking game actually isn't too bad either. Admittedly he can't kick long, but some of his shorter kicks in the lower grades were class. I think Sheens is just stopping him from kicking to take off some pressure. THe few times he has kicked have been when the ball wasn't meant to go to him and hence the kick has been average.

As Thierry said, we'll soon see.

 

[Balmain Bug]

A couple of things that people have not hit on yet.

Benji has more line breaks than any other 5/8 in the game. He actually has twice as many as the next 5/8.

This is only his 4th year of playing any level of Rugby League.

Brett Kenny was not an organiser, but he was a great 5/8. Sterlo did the organising.

I rate Benji highly. The area's in which he lacks will be developed slowly. He will also develop into more of an organiser as time goes by. Right now Prince is the director and Marshall is the producer.

Just how we like it !!!.

 

[aussies1st]

Benji has the potential to be a brillant player. If he can get that organising skills into his game he would be one of the best.