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.
Robbie T
Guest
Not first grade standard ??Doesn't sound like you watched the game. Had some good touches including set up a try with a perfect kick
NRL/AFL/Waratahs Fan
Guest
Reminder to a few commentators Benji plays for St George Illawarra not St George! One of the Sims brothers is on the return to Sydney. I think he would be an option. Shame those boys left the Illawarra. Price and Doust have let some good players go over the last few years and signed some players that would be considered dubious decisions. Although the Sharks certainly wouldn't be considered a benchmark team, a win for the Dragons this week could get that positive back in their thinking. Of course if the Sharks beat them - well that would be??? DISASTER I think the word might be?
Will
Guest
Utter bollocks, Marshall's best was in 2010-11 when he had an unheralded Robert Lui inside him. Golden and two top-four Dally M finishes.
Eddie
Guest
Two reasons why I think Benji has 'tit' written on his forehead: A. My team the Blues moving promising centre Fekitoa on to make room for Mr. 'I'm an average union player' only to see him bugger off and Fekitoa make the All Blacks! Doh! B. Playing for another team after saying he wouldn't. Then coach of said team getting the DCM. Doh doh!
Tony S
Guest
This is NRL. The toughest game on the planet. Benji chose to return via St.George and probably shouldn't have taken the field till he was up to NRL standard. Blame the minders and admin of the St.George club for throwing him in the deep end so fast. Ok, he needs time but watching him on Monday night he will need the whole season to get back to any resemblance to top condition. He is still doing the same old "Benji" and doing as he pleases. Widdops game is suffering because he is often on the same side of the field as Widdop on the 5th tackle and neither knows who is to kick. Benji just finds it hard to be a team player. Sacking the coach when they did was sheer madness. How is that supposed to bring success ? They have virtually thrown McGregor a hospital pass. They can't attract top players to the club. A cleanout is required. Recruitment needs an overhaul, and their fans deserve better. Meanwhile, Benji needs to give it a go now that he has been thrown to the wolves and at least show some resemblance to the player who wore the Black and Gold only a year or so ago. Anything is better than his effort right now.
Tony S
Guest
This is NRL. The toughest game on the planet. Benji chose to return via St.George and probably shouldn't have taken the field till he was up to NRL standard. Blame the minders and admin of the St.George club for throwing him in the deep end so fast. Ok, he needs time but watching him on Monday night he will need the whole season to get back to any resemblance to top condition. He is still doing the same old "Benji" and doing as he pleases. Widdops game is suffering because he is often on the same side of the field as Widdop on the 5th tackle and neither knows who is to kick. Benji just finds it hard to be a team player. Sacking the coach when they did was sheer madness. How is that supposed to bring success ? They have virtually thrown McGregor a hospital pass. They can't attract top players to the club. A cleanout is required. Recruitment needs an overhaul, and their fans deserve better. Meanwhile, Benji needs to give it a go now that he has been thrown to the wolves and at least show some resemblance to the player who wore the Black and Gold only a year or so ago. Anything is better than his effort right now.
Garth
Guest
Benji found Union to be TOO MUCH of a challenge and far too intense for his liking. Hence his run back to League when told he had a choice: be dropped to the development level & learn the game (something he did not want to do) or leave Union.
trev
Guest
Lol - he turned up to union out of shape and wasn't prepared to put the work in to make it in union. You think that there is a challenge is league comparable to playing at no 10 for a NZ side with no room to move and flankers running at you? You're dreaming
oli
Guest
He had about 10 days with his new team mates plus 2 games, and you're already pulling him to pieces? Mouaha, this is by far the most subjective I-hate-Benji article that I've ever read!
George Walton
Guest
I really like Wade Graham as a footy player. I wish Josh McCrone would follow his lead and pack some weight on and become an energetic battering ram. McCrone tries hard but he is just so very badly suited to being in the halves, as he can't pass, kick or think too well.
George Walton
Guest
Thank God for the Dragons, gives the mighty Raiders a little bit of relief from the ridicule. Oh the pain. Serves them right for taking Dugan and making him out to be a good human being.
Meesta Cool
Guest
meanwhile, Jamie Soward is showing what a bad mistake the Dragons made, by playing absolutely brilliant at Penrith.. AMEN.
mill
Guest
What he is saying is that we don't have outside and inside centres in League, that's a Union thing. We just have centres and they stand next to the wingers. Personally, I think playing Benji at centre is laughable at best. He has never been known as the best defender for a start. I can't see how playing at centre will help him settle into his role as a playmaker. The only time (if I remember rightly) Benji has played centre was to make way for the young guys just before he left Tigers, a time when he should have been dropped all together but loyalty from the club allowed him to play the final games of that season.
Grey nurse shark
Guest
As a sharks supporter im sure we will play him back into form hahaha as our team has a bunch of 30 yr olds and some kiddies, a coach who in a coma and an allstar injured list, somehow wade graham will try and win this game on his own as he is the only player turning up for us!
Baz
Guest
Is????? Was.
Charles NSW
Guest
Not sure what you mean or if you misread my comment. Of course they are a rugby league club!
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
He was one of my favourite players in the NRL, a tough no nonsense old school prop. Price was a fool to treat him like that.
LMM
Guest
Dragons are a rugby league club Charles.
Doug Graves
Guest
I mostly agree with you guys about the state of the Dragons but Blind Freddy could see that Benji Marshall was finished 2 years ago after the tigers flopped in 2012 and then his disgraceful form last year (not to mention his comical Union stint). What on earth were the Dragons thinking when they signed him for 500k a season? Seriously, the only winner in all this is Benji, he has fair dinkum fleeced the Dragons.
swisho
Guest
if benji is not nrl fit, then what is supercoach playing him for. the insane player recruitment, starting with this self absorbed flip, followed by half the raiders squad, and a few cast off fringe players. look at the coaches, water boy number one, replaced with water boy number two. responsibility for serving up this rubbish,rests with one person doust. time for a clean out.