Benji Marshall kicks the ball during the NRL Rugby League, Round 12, Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers match at SFS in Sydney, Monday, June 2, 2008. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan
When the Wests Tigers dazzled their way to a Premiership in 2005, many thought Benji Marshall had taken his first steps to becoming the NRL’s most dominant playmaker.
The flick pass to winger Pat Richards in the first half against the Cowboys was the moment that cemented Marshall’s name in Rugby League folklore forever.
It was also the defining passage which allowed the Tigers to win their first premiership as a joint venture, thus putting an exclamation mark on a finals series filled with brilliant attacking football from the premiers.
Since that unforgettable October night, it has been slim pickings for both Marshall and the Tigers, with the club yet to make a finals appearance since winning the NRL competition five years ago.
For the best part of four seasons, Marshall was sidelined with injury in a period where the 25 year old’s future in the NRL was uncertain.
A growing interest in Japanese Rugby Union was eventually put to bed when Marshall inked a deal last year that would keep him with the Tigers until 2011.
Since that announcement, Marshall’s quest to become the most dominant player in the NRL has met no bounds, playing 45 of his last 46 games for the Tigers including last night’s brilliant performance against the Parramatta Eels.
The Kiwi captain was at the centre of everything the Tigers did well in possession, setting up winger Lote Tuqiri’s opening try with an accurate grubber kick.
In the second half, Marshall handled the ball twice in one clinical movement to score under the posts to provide Tim Sheens’ men with a 15 nil lead.
Even when the Eels responded with two quick tries to revive memories of their victory last season, Marshall, to his credit, never went into his shell in a tight moment of the match.
With the game literally on a knife’s edge, Marshall was still dictating terms comfortably, using his combination with hooker Robbie Farah to great effect around the ruck.
The constant interchange of passing between both Marshall and Farah allowed mobile forwards such as Chris Heighington, Todd Payten and Gareth Ellis to produce the second phase play necessary to spark the brilliant attack we often associate with the Tigers.
It seems now that Marshall has so much time in his hands to decide whether or not he should run, dummy or produce the killer ball necessary to ignite an offensive raid.
Even after he played a starring role in the Tigers fairytale premiership victory in 2005, the raw talent Marshall displayed back then pales in comparison to what he is producing now
No longer burdened with injury, Marshall has now approached a stage in his career where he has the opportunity to become the most influential footballer in the NRL.
At his best, Marshall is unrivalled as a playmaker, constantly tormenting opposition defences with his vast array of speed, footwork and ball playing ability.
It is a shame that his name has not been associated with finals football for the past four seasons given the excitement he brings to the game of Rugby League.
But with seemingly the worst of his career behind him, Marshall has since gathered full steam in a two year period which has arguably laid the foundation for the 25 year old to finally realise the potential that for a period there, was in serious danger of being left unfulfilled.
Now it appears that Marshall really has earned his stripes in the NRL, thus becoming the epitome of every young footballer desperate to crack into first grade and replicate the magic that only Benji can conjure.
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