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St George-Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has a big decision to make in the coming week. Benji Marshall has been nothing short of an embarrassment in two appearances for the Dragons.
There is no other way to say it – he has this week’s game to prove himself or face the axe.
I am staggered he was picked in the starting team to play Cronulla at WIN Stadium after last Monday’s shocker against South Sydney. His efforts against the Rabbitohs were nowhere near first-grade standard.
OK, everyone keeps saying we should give him time, but time is not something the joint-venture club has in abundance. Their promising start to the season has crashed and burned and Marshall is hurting more than helping their recovery.
Returning after a failed stint in rugby union in New Zealand, Marshall is a shadow of his former brilliant self. He is way down on pace, rendering him close to ineffective as a ball runner. His kicking game is fair-to-middling, his defence OK. I have closely watched his games against the Eels and Rabbitohs and found little, if anything, to enthuse about.
The timing of his once-sublime passes is bordering on laughable and his handling is horrendous. He was once one of the most feared attacking players in the NRL but nowadays, I’m guessing opposing teams are hardly mentioning him in their game plans.
It is sad to see one of the code’s former entertainers struggling to string five good minutes together on the field. Sure he is trying his heart out – as any player on a seven-figure pay packet should – but nothing is working. Nothing at all.
Marshall has added zero to the Dragons’ attacking options and, in fact, his presence on the field is threatening to reduce the team’s chief playmaker, Gareth Widdop, to the ranks of the ordinary. Widdop is not getting the ball when he needs it and the Dragons are without fire.
New coach McGregor is in a very awkward position. He must realise that Benji is not up to NRL standard at the moment, yet the Dragons shelled out huge money for his services over the next two and a half seasons.
McGregor has assumed command of the team after the St George Illawarra board gave Steve Price the mid-season heave-ho. The interim coach has given Marshall another chance, but if he fails there is only one way to go.
The NRL arena is no place for any player to get his match fitness, timing and confidence up to speed. Marshall may well turn back the clock and have a blinder against the Sharks down at Wollongong but I wouldn’t bet on that with Monopoly money.
The NSW Cup looks to be Benji’s next port of call. Maybe he can find some of his old magic there but, from what I have seen, hopes are forlorn.
Either that, or forget the notion of being league’s prodigal son and try to secure a gig on television.
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