With the NRL season officially run and won, it would be remiss of me to let the occasion pass without farewelling one of the most naturally gifted and polarising players that I have ever seen.
I will never forget settling into our seats at Campbelltown Stadium on July 27, 2003, when Dad said to me, “Wait until you see this Benji kid on the Tigers’ bench today. I saw him play State Cup [touch football] for Wests. He’s got a great step and a brilliant cut-out pass.”
Well, I didn’t have to wait long. Benji came on in the 14th minute playing fullback.
His first impact was not a positive one. With Newcastle kicking through, Benji hesitated a little and the Newcastle winger pinched the ball to score.
His next touch, however, would spark the eleven-season career sensation that finally came to an end this year.
With the Tigers taking the ball up towards halfway, Marshall, running right-to-left, put on a step that he would soon trademark, and skipped straight through the Knights’ line. From this moment, I was hooked.
The years that followed were a rollercoaster with highlights including watching him play in the open-field that is the World Sevens, to suffering through watching him incur shoulder injury after shoulder injury.
Never had I seen a player at the Wests Tigers club who could single-handedly change the outcome for his side. With a combination of speed, a step and a no-look flick-pass, Benji had us all on the edge of our seats.
The excitement reached the summit, of course, in 2005 when Marshall, along with his arsenal of Scott Prince and Robbie Farah, took the unbacked Tigers to premiership glory.
Of course, it hasn’t been all roses.
Benji has had some real stinkers over the last ten years.
Dropped balls, cut-out passes that hit row three, penalties that failed to find touch and even goal-kicking slumps have riddled his career, in particular the last three years.
I have always claimed to be Benji’s biggest fan.
Sure, I have backed him well beyond the point when others began to turned on him.
But, in truth, there have been times where I became fed up.
It wasn’t the form slumps.
As they say, “Form is temporary, class is permanent.” But the frustration of watching a player of Benji’s brilliance appear disinterested had become too much.
In his autobiography, Benji tells the reader that he is motivated by proving the critics wrong.
Never did he have a better chance at that than he did this year.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
When Benji announced that he would leave the club and the NRL, I was both upset and angry.
It really did feel like a break-up.
What had I done wrong? Had the last ten years meant nothing? But all I got was, “It’s not you, it’s me.”
A lot of information came out of the wash in the coming weeks and a lot more never will.
Eventually, I came to accept that after season’s end I would never see Marshall in a Tigers jumper again.
In Round 25, after a loss to arch-rivals Souths, Benji could not hold back the emotions as the club made he and Robbie the inaugural Wests Tigers life members.
It was a touch of class and a way of saying, on behalf of the club and fans, that he will be missed and will always be remembered for his service.
Watching a crowd, that he had polarised for years, cheer his name in unison as he took his final lap of honour around Allianz Stadium was spine-tingling.
The lap took more than thirty minutes as fans wanted a final handshake, photo or autograph. All of which he willingly gave.
Benji, it is with a heavy heart that I wish you farewell.
Although we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, the club will never be the same without you. Thanks for the memories. You will be sorely missed but please remember that you are welcome to drop by anytime.
A final glimpse at Benji brilliance with my two favourite tries of all time.
Of course there is that try from the 2005 grand final.
But my favourite is the one that really makes Benji stand out from the rest. No one steps like this but him.
Please leave your comments and memories below.
pogo
Guest
Unless Piutau changes positions I'm not even convinced Benji is the best fullback at the Blues
Pete
Guest
Great player - welcome back to union (shame he got poached all those years ago, but we wouldn't have won the last World Cup if he hadn't been). I remember him most of all for that World Cup and for 2005. Won't get close to an AB jersey, but hope he makes it in Super rugby and might even make the NZ Maori side. If he can cope with the training and speed of the game could also go for Olympic gold in the 7s in Rio
Glenn Innis
Guest
Agree with you Kiwi Rugby fan - The toughest gig in League is playing against Australia the best of the best out of State of Origin and Benji won big games for the Kiwis against us.
Dave
Guest
Good point Delpy. The club got a lot more from merchandising and revenue that it got from Rugby League out of Benji. He was natures gentleman, he had a lot of time for the fans and kids in particular, and the club cannot complain to that end. Untimately, the club, the coach and the fans survive of the product. They sqeezed the lemon well. Benji's gloss was fading fast. His departure was badly managed, and I blame his manager for that. He painted Benji into a corner of no return. The good news for the Tigers is that they have freed up salary cap pressures to keep their talented youth. I wish Benji every good wish in the world in his Rugby career. I think NZ Rugby is too strong for him to gain a spot. He may be a Rugby 7's type player, but he will need to ontroduce the rest of his body to his shoulder to survive in that game as well.
The Koomz
Guest
Top player, one of the greatest tiger of all time hope he rediscovers his mojo in union. World cup win was my Benji moment.
Delpy
Roar Pro
An interesting question that I'd love to see some input on: Does Benji's value live in his performance on the field or the revenue that he brings to the club (tickets sales, merch, etc)? I concede that they aren't mutually exclusive.
Delpy
Roar Pro
Being the chief playmaker was never a role that Benji looked comfortable in. After the departure of Prince and Lui, Sheens and Potter had him playing halfback (despite what number he wore). Can we blame him for that? Benji was a his best outside of a good halfback.
Marldon
Guest
+1
Dave
Guest
No doubting Benji was a great player in his time. The operative word here are "WAS". There may have been excuses for the past few years, with no half back and him being thrown the number 7 jumper out of desparation. The fact is that he has been overrated for over three years now. This year he was just plain selfish. If it were my decision, he would have been playing park football. The injury situation and the secondary salary cap was the only saviour for Benji, I would have thought. Luke Brooks played an amazing game when he was given the nod by the NRL. That is one game, and the opposition will now watch his style to shut him down whenever he is picked. Experience is the only key to him being successful. Persoanally I am a Tiger fan, I think very highly of Brooks and hope he makes it. The Tigers won't miss Benji. How could they when they played such garbage football with him as the go to man. I don't think the KIWI's would have oicked him if he stayed in Rugby League, Foran is a far better player with an appetiti for hard work, Goodbye Benji, thanks for the memories, We really don't want you back
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Delpy Benjy is the most "god given gifted" player I have seen, and probably one of the most dumbest and greediest. He would often attempt a silly double flick pass when often an easy option was available that would lead to a certain try. I would have loved to have seen him coached by someone that understood him well and could get the best out of him. Sadly, Tim Sheens tried to make him a playmaker and the teams tactical kicker. He was a brilliant individualist who should have been playing fullback where he had time to move and not have to worry about organising. Oh well.
maximillian
Guest
If he goes over wanting to play 10 he's no chance. The ABs already have 3 test level 10s & also up & coming TomTaylor so maybe he could make it as a backup 15?
maximillian
Guest
I think Marshall has been great but his legacy has been tarnished by poor form in his final year & his acrimonious split with the Tigers. You say he should've achieved more but he won a premiership in 2005, a WC in 2008 & a 4 nations in 2010, all with arguably inferior sides & on the back of his individual brilliance. Its unfortunate the way his NRL career has ended but I hope he does well for the Blues & proves his many detractors wrong.
KIwi Rugby Fan
Guest
Come on Doug "Benji a little overated" he changed the game of rugby league for ever you ask the greats Peter Sterling Paul Vautin both said on the footy show the game was never the same once Benji came to play league. The deft behind the back pass when Pat Richards scored in the grand final the hitch kick step this year when he left the Burgess boys brothers and half the bunnies backline stranded he was scoring under the bar before they realized where he was. The no look pass. He consistently played with that special x factor that we would watch him just to see what he would do next, Overrated???? check your self oh and Im sure you recall the special moments in the world cup final where he scored from just shear brilliance.He was and still is special. Everyone said his from was shocking and thats because he used to do everything on the field for the tigers and they would win but it wasnt his fault that they lost you guys all seem to forget that there are 12 other players in the team and not one person came to Benjis defense to say hang on its a team game why cant the rest stand up for a change.
John
Guest
how the hell does benji think he'll make the all blacks? haha the arrogance! still hope he does
Doug Graves
Guest
+1 Marldon. Benji was good but not great and looking back on his career at Tigers I'm tempted to say he's a little over rated. Three finals appearances in 11 seasons is not a good record, especially considering that Tigers should have made the finals every season from 06-09 and 2012 but faded/choked when the going got tough, every single time (they also faded/choked in 2010 finals against roosters and dragons and 2011 finals against Warriors). That's what separates the great players from the good though, the greats like Joey, Fittler, Lockyer, Langer etc can rise to the challenge. The good ones have careers like Benji Marshall and leave you wondering what could have been.
Marldon
Guest
Benji was good, Benji was brilliant, Benji was talented, no one can ever take that away from him and I certainly won't try but the emphasis is on the word was. More recently, Benji had become lazy, Benji has a chip on his shoulder, Benji has become arrogant and Benji has lost it. Any other player at the Tigers would have been dropped to the NSW cup with his performances this year. This is a man living off his reputation alone. That is what kept him in the NRL all year and that is what has secured him his job in union. But with an attitude like that then rather than playing for the All Blacks in 2 years time, Benji will be lucky to still be playing. Tigers fans should rejoice that he is gone, thank him for the memories but then recognise that he was a massive disruptive influence at the Tigers who in the end contributed very little.