Moments can define careers; moments of brilliance, pain, achieving the seemingly impossible on the biggest stages.
Think that Scott Sattler tackle on Todd Byrne, Sam Burgess playing with a shattered face, Gorden Tallis rag-dolling Brett Hodgson into touch, or Benji Marshall’s no-look flick-pass to Pat Richards, resulting in a stunning try.
While these might make spectacular highlight reels, to define players by a single moment does them a disservice. Their battered bodies are testament to what they have given to the game.
This rings especially true for Benji Marshall, whose career has been defined and redefined, outlasting all expectations, perhaps even his own.
While that pass to Richards might have inspired a generation of young playmakers, his game has evolved and matured as he has.
For every Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams, Shaun Johnson or Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, there are scores of gifted Maori and Polynesian kids practising their side steps, no-look passes and outrageous dummies.
While New Zealand has plenty of natural talent, there has always been a suspicion in Australia that Kiwi systems don’t foster the necessary mental toughness to make it in the NRL. Those Kiwi kids would do well to look more closely at Marshall’s career, past that moment of brilliance in the 2005 grand final.
His natural flair makes it easy to overlook Marshall’s fierce competitive nature, and mental and physical fortitude.
Benji’s body has creaked and groaned. His list of injuries is painful reading – repeated shoulder dislocations and fractures.
As one of the smaller players, he is a defensive target and could have been excused for giving up and selling real estate. But he continued to side step, stutter step, goose step, foxtrot, moonwalk, line-dance and ghost his way through defences.
And he added new responsibilities to steer his side around the park and control games, helping guide the Kiwis to the Rugby League World Cup title and captaining them when they won the 2010 Four Nations, scoring two tries in a match-winning performance that also earned him the Golden Boot for international footballer of the year.
His transition from instinctive ball runner to on-field general has been remarkable. It is not easy to let go of those impulses – Johnson could testify to this.
Marshall could have given up after an unsuccessful foray with the Blues Super Rugby. He would have had more chance of success had he been asked to steer the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.
But he wasn’t done. Marshall returned to the NRL, securing contracts with St George and then the Broncos as a senior player, a mentor to their young halves. From leading man to a bit part.
Benji Marshall in his Dragons days (by Robb Cox ©nrlphotos.com)
Finally, he has returned to his beloved Tigers, where it all began. A completely different role to the flashy ball-player who first pulled on the jersey, his form left Michael Maguire little choice but to select him; even earning a call up to the Kiwis.
Marshall speaks with maturity, with mana. Hopefully league administrators and powerbrokers are listening. With increasing numbers of Maori and Polynesian players, the game needs more voices like his.
Young players wanted to be like Benji, the ridiculously talented player who bamboozled defenders with seeming ease. Now I hope they want to be like Benji, a player who never gave up and never stopped achieving, no matter his role.
mach4
Roar Rookie
Trial against the Warriors Benji seems to have a good understanding with Reynolds.
Madrid john
Roar Rookie
Mate i was born in the 70's. So i missed those days. Though i was a youngin' for the back to back grandfinals. (Gary Jack is my all time fav!) But, i can remember both of those defeats. I was right in the back yard, all on my own, righting the wrongs with my own leather ball. Wow that hurt. Almost as much as giving away Tedesco, Fifita, Addo-carr y Marty T.... Nah, there's nothin for it. I'm going to have to head out into the back yard !!
TIGER
Roar Rookie
Nice to hear from a Tiger fan. As a lifetime Tiger fan my highlight is the 1969 G.F. against Souths. My uncle is Keith 'Chicka' Outten. I was at the game that day and even went into the dressing room. Keith was a great player. Tough and smart. If you recall Dennis Pittard was a key player for Souths. Keith was moved from halfback to 5/8 to mark Pittard and played him out of the game. There is a great book about the rivalry between these two clubs. It all started way back in 1908/9 and the book details why it started. A must read for a Tiger fan. Let's hope 2020 is a great season for us. GO THE Tigers !
Jacko
Guest
The strange thing is TP that Kiwi's now make up almost 40% of the NRL and "other" make up 8% so almost 48% of the NRL are not Aussies. How NZ achieves this is beyond belief given the truth of what you have said.
Tony Browne
Guest
:thumbup: Indeed a professional playmaker on and off the field. If we had another war, you would like him in your trench. Well done Jeremy.
Madrid john
Roar Rookie
I met a teacher working in Brisbane high schools who taught Benji down at the Gold Coast. He only had nice things to say about him even then as a school student. One of the real gentlemen of the game. Good article Jeremy. Nice to see a good news story about my beloved Tigers.
Toe poker
Guest
A very good rugby league player who will be recognised as a true kiwi legend of the game. As for being taught mental toughness in New Zealand rugby league you have to recognise one very important thing. The hub of rugby league in New Zealand is Auckland but the greater majority of the kids in Auckland play rugby union. Outside of Auckland rugby league barely makes a mention. There's the problem. The government of the day don't have to consider rugby league in the sports program. A lot of money gets poured into rugby union because the government of the day knows if the All Blacks are winning then life is good for most Kiwis. If the All Blacks are losing, then it's like there has been a death in the family. I was once told by an Australian cricketer that to captain the Australian cricket team is to achieve a higher position than being the Australian Prime Minister. Rugby Union holds that same honour in New Zealand. The amount of kids playing Rugby League in New Zealand is minuscule compared to Rugby Union. This is not in anyway knocking rugby league as Rugby League is my favourites sport by a country mile.
Timmypig
Roar Rookie
At his best there he displayed a sense of time and space that looked obvious to viewers sitting on the couch at home with a beer and a bowl of crisps. Almost like the 5th tackle play was ordained and a try was the result. Sometimes Benji scored but usually it was someone else. A joy to watch even though I've never been a Tigers fan. Did he leave his tilt at rugby too late? Maybe he shouldn't have tried when he did, but the 'hypothetical' is interesting. I think he might be been better at the outrageous than Carlos Spencer ever was ... but he probably should have stayed in the NRL. Was the Blues the wrong team? Perhaps but it would have been hard to see him replacing some of the stonkingly gifted playmakers at the Chiefs or the 'Canes during that period. BTW I still occasionally grab a replay of Sattler's tackle ..... one for the ages.
TIGER
Roar Rookie
Fair to say that he has had an interesting career. Never the complete player in some ways but had skills few others had. As to your article on his longevity, physical and mental strength, I could not agree more. I would add self belief to that list. He has adapted to changes in the game over the years and I hope his final year is a success. Good read Jeremy.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Still a good player to watch, just plays in a different professional way. Also like listening to Marshall talk about the game. Doesn't talk in clichés and has a lot to say.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
This was a good read. When Benji ran off the rails mentally, the last thing he needed was a change of codes, especially being an inside back. Too many people judged unfairly during that period. His return to the nrl showed a mental toughness his critics couldn't begin to understand. Well done Benji and no injuries in your final year, get us into the finals.
Paul
Roar Guru
Excellent piece Jeremy. I clearly remember when he game into first grade thinking this guy simply isn't built to make a long career out in the NRL because he's too small. In fairness, I thought much the same thing about Billy Slater. It isn't that Marshall has redeveloped himself as a player, his real legacy is his endurance. That he's still good enough to play in the toughest League comp in the world, tells me he's obviously physically strong but has great mental toughness as well. I hope he has a good season for the Tigers.
Gary Soares
Guest
Fine comments about a true gentleman & inspiration to others
Andrew
Guest
Yes but will he stand for the Austrlian national anthem? Know, seriously good article. Around 2016 if you had asked me who do I think history will remember as the better player, Shaun Johnson or Benji Marshall, I would have said possibly Johnson. But the way Marshall has continued to mature on and off the field and the way he has re-invented himself to extend his career is testament to him and unless Johnson pulls off a similar transformation and wins a comp, I now don't see Johnson getting close to him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I really respect how he’s become a different player and now steers his side around the park rather than relying on the big flashy plays I wonder though, if he’d had the advice or realisation to make that change a few years earlier, if he’d not have been a far better player for it We should still celebrate him while he’s here but it’s interesting to think how he’ll be looked back on. Brilliantly talented player who was part of a fairytale premiership and World Cup win, but outside of that rarely played September footy or figure in end of season awards - certainly not as often as his talent would suggest
peeeko
Roar Guru
gee he makes the tigers look bad. unwanted back in 2013 and "over the hill" - 7 years later, he is one of their best
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
Thanks SP. Perhaps if the Warriors had Benji or players who could match his consistency in their performance and attitude they would enjoy more success.
Steel Panther
Roar Rookie
Nice article Jeremy. Marshall indeed has been a credit to both the clubs he's played for and his country. I guess the only wrong move he's made in his career was swapping codes but it could have been a whole lot worse, he could have signed with the Warriors.