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Former Manly and Kiwis coach Graham Lowe said it best in the television documentary ‘In A Different League’, which covers Matthew Ridge’s signing from Auckland rugby to Manly and rugby league.
Ridge had no previous experience either watching or playing league. Lowe, also the Kiwis coach at the time, said Ridge had the natural running game, instinct and toughness to make it in his new sport.
The coach predicted his young fullback would go on to represent the Kiwis and play a leading role for Manly, such was his talent. Both came true.
Which brings us to Benji Marshall, now confirmed to play for the Blues for the next two Super Rugby seasons.
Sure, Ridge was much younger when he changed codes, but Marshall possesses a great set of skills honed over a decade of Test and NRL matches.
We aren’t just talking an average first-grade player here, but a footballer whose immense talent changed our perception of what a five-eighth could do.
His league trick bag includes the much-celebrated no-look or flick passes and the ‘mid-air step’, but most telling is his confidence and game sense.
Just think back to the biggest stages; the 2008 World Cup final, his try from a Billy Slater blunder and putting David Fa’alogo in space for Jerome Ropati’s try; his grubber for Jason Nightingale and vision to create Nathan Fien’s try in the 2010 Four Nations final; and his audacious performance for Wests in 2005’s NRL grand final.
Marshall captained the Kiwis for four seasons and is the seventh highest points scorer in New Zealand Test history.
He won a World Cup and a Four Nations title, achievements similar to Mat Rogers when he switched from league to union in 2002 (Rogers won a World Cup in 2000 and a Tri-Nations title in 1999).
Marshall was voted in 2010 as the world’s best player and he led Wests in their excellent 2011 season.
His Test form dropped off in 2011 but in 2012 he was still charged with leading the Kiwis, as captain and key playmaker.
That is the kind of expectation you get with special, gifted players. Form is temporary, but outstanding ability is permanent.
On this note, we must be realistic with what he will achieve in rugby.
Success in his first year would probably be playing every game with the Blues and settling into a defined position.
In his second year, if he can start to make his mark on games through his own performances and not rely on his team to create these, that would be a win.
Remember, he doesn’t get a short stint in Japanese club rugby, nor an NPC campaign to learn the basics of rugby. He has decided to go straight for the big ticket, playing for the Blues with a pre-season to learn the game.
He also gets the chance to learn from the best coaching axis in world rugby, the two ‘Sirs’.
Sir John Kirwan can share his insights on crossing codes. Sir Graham Henry too can share his insights about rugby strategy and defence.
Whatever Marshall’s success, he is guaranteed to get the best learning platform possible.
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