The Melbourne Storm needed to land the prized signature of Benji Marshall, but Marshall needed the Storm even more.
We know that when Benji Marshall is popped a beautiful pass to put him through a yawning gap, he instinctively would convert that opportunity into maximum points, but it seems managing his career is not so easy.
In fact, he has dropped the ball.
Marshall knows too well that a happy wife equals a happy life, but he also knows that his career is at the crossroads, some may even say in the ditch.
When the light on your door stops shining and you are given a dream opportunity to resurrect your once lofty reputation, it should have been an instant decision to say to the Storm “where do I sign?”
Marshall is one of the greatest God-given talents to ever play rugby league, but he has never reached the ‘champion’ status as he has often been thrust into the uncomfortable role as on-field general. He was forced to become the Wests Tigers’ chief organiser and create plays for other runners when he was the best runner of them all.
How could any player struggling to get his professional life back on track turn his back on playing alongside the games two best organisers in Cooper Cronk and Cam Smith, and to have Billy Slater screaming instructions to him from the back?
It would have been utopia, and all Marshall would have had to do was to do what he does best – run.
Marshall’s wife Zoe was hosting the new TV3 show The Great Food Race in New Zealand and also was working on 91ZM radio, but fidning employment in Melbourne would have been difficult for her so a Sydney club was the obvious choice.
Wife Zoe may have gotten her way, but what about hubby’s career?
The other major attraction that the Storm offered was the opportunity for Marshall to play under champion coach Craig Bellamy, who has a reputation for kick-starting players’ careers when they are on the scrapheap.
After rejecting Bellamy and the Storm, Marshall’s choice came down to the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Cronulla Sharks, both clubs whose coaches who may not even have a job in 2015.
Both clubs offered a long-term contract, while the Storm wanted Marshall to prove himself before he was offered an extension. All Marshall had to do was back himself, which he was not prepared to do.
The Dragons offered the most money and the Sharks offered the most friends. Money won, and Marshall’s dream of being an All Black will now be an all-white Saint. Both clubs would allow his wife to get a media job in Sydney, but neither are what Marshall’s career really needed.
Neither the Dragons nor the Sharks have an organiser in the same class as Cooper Cronk, but it seems the best fit is not the best idea.
The Dragons have a fullback and a hooker both regarded as individualists, and a six who used to take his orders off Cronk.
Marshall will struggle at the Dragons. They have got him for three years, until he is 32.
Where will he play?
The Dragons already have an expensive pivot in Gareth Widdop, and we all know that when Marshall played halfback at Wests Tigers for 18 months he was ineffective. He said he wants to play fullback, but Josh Dugan owns the No. 1 shirt.
It is certainly great to have Marshall back in the fold and it would have been even better if he could have played on the stage best suited to his rare skills, but at least he has a happy wife.
Let’s hope it leads to a happy life as a Dragon.
Jackson Henry
Guest
I've actually heard she's a great chick. It's probably quite obvious that he's looking at life after football now. He was never a favourite of mine, but I recon he's one of the most interesting characters in the NRL. He just bucks a lot of the Rugby League stereotypes. Eric Grothe is another.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Mr Brown I would not have written that about his misses if not correct. My sources told me that she was foremost id negotiations. She must be a great cook.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Nick You make fair points mate.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Gappy He is no good controlling mate. He is a runner.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Julian I think 3 years is huge, hope it works.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Jez He could certainly play fullback, but Dugan is an ordinary 6.
Storm & QLD
Guest
It's just because Billy's knees have gone on him now so he likes to take more time and stay calm to assess the best option to run the ball up too, it's definitely not because he isn't interested, just knows there is no worth charging into blokes way bigger than him when he can make the same distance using finesse.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Mr Woodward, I could not have summed it better. I, for one, am extremely disappointed with Marshall's decision to go to the Dragons. I don't know how much of Benji's decision was based on his wife's career, but I have a hunch it's not as big as what it has been made out to be by some of the media reports. Personally, I feel Marshall's decision is one that reeks of arrogance, greed, cowardice and short sightedness. 1) Arrogance - He still doesn't really believe that he was that bad in his final years at the Tigers. He spoon fed that to the media because it seems genuine and would feel it's what the public want to hear. If he thought he was that bad, he go to a club that was strong and that could improve/support him. 2) Greed - A move to Melbourne may have limited his commercial or media opportunities, but choosing a club that has a 5/8 as its chief play-maker when he clearly didn't like playing 7 when at the Tigers, stinks of hypocrisy and leads one to the conclusion that "other factors" persuaded him to go Red and Whites. 3) Cowardice - He chose a club that has a coach under pressure. In fact, his other choice - the Sharks - even had a coach who wasn't a coach. What does Melbourne have? A strong, dominant coach who drives his players - they don't drive him. This was weak on Marshall's part. The Melbourne system would have tested him, but I chose not to do that. 4) Short sightedness - To go to an environment where he wasn't the top dog or biggest story would have been good for his footy. And what's good for his footy would have ultimately been good for his pocket. It would have been a case of short term pain (money wise) for long term gain. With a good season a two, he could have commanded more, plus the off field benefits would have been huge. Everyone likes a winner, including sponsors. His 500k with the Dragons may be good for now, but how will his Rugby League legacy fair? And for that, his long term career after football. It could have been much different.
Solly
Guest
Hypothetical really.
Nick Inatey
Guest
Hi Scott I disagree. I'm hoping that this is the catalyst for change at the coaching level for the mighty Dragons. If Price still can't get results out of a back line featuring Widdop, Marshall, Dugan, Morris and Nightingale, then hopefully they will draft in a coach who can. Marshall has certainly passed his peak, but there are some good years left, and even better ones with a decent coach.
Gappy
Guest
Don't believe he would have been good at the storm both benji and Cronk wait the ball and who will get it Cronk every time so benji will just get annoyed and leave or try to get in the road. He needed to go to a club where he can control the game Parra would have been good sandow doesn't like to take control, Sharks let carney play 7 and benji could control and let Todd run a muck. Probly at St is the 6 & 7 combo can benji play 7??????? I think he can if he is allowed to play his game
Julian King
Roar Guru
The Storm would have suited Benji, not for the team around him per se, but for the short term contract offered that would compel him to play for his career. Working without a safety net would have brought out the best in him I feel. Having said that, the scrutiny he'll be under at a club like the Dragons will undoubtedly focus him.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Again we disagree on how to use stats though - for example, Harmichael's kick returns were light years ahead of Slater's. And I thought he had a better attitude also...I just see Billy trotting back a lot of the time and wonder if he's realy interested in getting his team on the front foot with all-important kick-return. I'd put Inglis in this category also - disinct lack of urgency. In Slater's case, though, perhaps it was a function of phsyicality...Harmichael could charge at the line at take the hit. Bill would get his face handed to him.
JezRu
Roar Pro
I don't mind the decision if itnis based on his wife. Benji has had a career, a great career and it's coming to a close so setting up his wife's career for when Benji is finished is probably smart from their perspective. She may well be the major bread winner post footy. I think he could also be a good fit for the Dragons if they utilise him well. IMO he would be a great utility/impact player off the bench. Can play multiple positions and would be at his best coming on against a tired line. The worst thing for the Dargons could be if they have signed him to be their general on the field, Benji is not that and never has been. Free him up, no playmaking responsibilities, no kicking duties and just let him run.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Eliot Had Benjy been prepared to back himself then money would not have been a problem. The problem was his better half wanted to live in Sydney.
Eliot Bingham
Roar Pro
Melbourne Storm just has this way of taking in players and turning them into gold (bar George Rose because that was a terrible decision). They plucked Adam Woolnough from bush rugby and gave Ryles a fair send off in the twilight of his career. Would've loved to see Benji at Storm but money talks and its still hard to attract people in a non traditional rugby state in Victoria.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Jackson Billy is a superior fullback to him in almost every stat, not to mention pace, but he told me just before he signed with AFL that he wanted to be a 6 and follow Lockyer.
tigerdave
Guest
The footy show isn't recorded in Melbourne and Sydney have the majority of NRL games for commentary opportunities. Melbourne were never going to be an option for Big head Benji. His motivation was to look after his media future. As for the Sharks or St George, the difference between finishing 13th and 15th isn't worth the worry, but the big red V has a higher pofile that the ASADA ravaged Sharks.
Jackson Henry
Guest
That's actually my point - even in spite of that I don't think he recieved the wraps he deserved. And I always thought Qld were a better team with him at fullback, rather than Slater...but such opinions are heretical aren't they.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
BA What I think is a worry for Dragons supporters is that Benjy was not prepared to back himself for this season at the Storm. Had he done that and went well, he would have got an extension.