Benji Marshall
Marshall in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Benji Quentin Marshall
Nickname	Bagz
Born	25 February 1985 (1985-02-25) (age 24)
	Whakatane, New Zealand
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth, Halfback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2003–	Wests Tigers	103	41	131	0	426
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2005–09	New Zealand	14	4	8	0	32
As of 31 August 2009
Source: League Central Rugby League Project

Benji Marshall (born 25 February 1985 in Whakatane, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. He primarily played at five-eighth before moving to halfback in 2009. He is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup. Marshall has spent his whole NRL career to date with the Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 Telstra Premiership.

[edit] Early life

Marshall was raised without a father.He went to school at Whakatane Intermediate.^[1] The eldest of three brothers, he was offered a scholarship to play for a high school in the Gold Coast, Queensland when he was 16. While attending Keebra Park Secondary High School, Marshall played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2003.^[2]

[edit] NRL career

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Marshall made his debut on the 27 July, 2003, at age 18 against the Newcastle Knights, coming on as a replacement in the 14th minute as fullback. The Tigers won the game 52–12. Marshall continued to make appearances for Wests Tigers for the remainder of 2003, when his studies allowed, playing half back.

In 2004, Marshall starred in the pre-season World Sevens competition helping the Tigers to win the tournament. He began the NRL season playing centre until he dislocated his shoulder against the North Queensland Cowboys. During his time off the Tigers struggled in attack. When he returned after four weeks off he was moved to the play making position of five-eighth. From there, Marshall set the club on a record 3 match winning streak. He dislocated the same shoulder four weeks into his return and his 2004 season was ended as he had surgery.

In 2005, Marshall injured his other shoulder in the opening minutes of the first trial (practice) match. After missing the opening round match, Marshall played five-eighth for the club's second match of the year against defending premiers, the Bulldogs.

With an injury free run, Marshall demonstrated a passing, running, and kicking game to compliment his stepping. He was able to score individual tries and set-up tries for his team-mates.^{[citation needed]}

The Wests Tigers went on to win the 2005 premiership against the North Queensland Cowboys. Marshall then underwent surgery on his weak shoulder.

In 2006, Marshall made his comeback from surgery against St George Illawarra but broke his cheek bone. He played the rest of the match and set up the winning try.

Making his comeback against Melbourne Storm, Marshall set up many tries with a mixture of stepping and perceptiveness. In the 79th minute he was injured by Cowboy's prop Carl Webb. He popped his shoulder out but recovered in three weeks, playing for New Zealand in the ANZAC test. With another injury-free run he began producing dominating performances for the Tigers but eight weeks into his come-back he dislocated the same shoulder that was dislocated against North Queensland and he missed the rest of the season.

In 2007, Marshall again made his comeback from injury against the Melbourne Storm in Round 1. Marshall has had to adapt to changes within the team such as the departure of Halfback, Scott Prince, and the added responsibility of goal kicking while fullback, Brett Hodgson, was recovering from a knee injury. In round 8, Marshall sustained a fractured shoulder in a tackle where his arm was jammed between Melbourne's Israel Falou and the Tiger's Taniela Tuiaki.

In February 2008, Marshall extended his contract with the Wests Tigers by one year to include the 2009 season.^[3] Marshall's streak of injury continued in the first game of the 2008 season, injured in the third minute of the match with a knee ligament tear.^[4] He returned in round 7.

In March, 2009, despite speculation that he may play rugby union in Japan, Marshall signed with the Wests Tigers for a further two seasons through to the end of 2011.^[5]

[edit] Move to halfback

Halfway through 2008, coach Tim Sheens' announced his plan to move Marshall to the halfback position during the 2009 season,^[6] going as far as encouraging New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney to play Marshall in this role during the 2008 World Cup.^[7] The suggestion was declined.^[7] In round one of the 2009 season, Marshall started at halfback alongside John Morris at five-eighth. By the third round of the season, Marshall began to make an impact in his new role, helping the team to a 40–24 win over the Sydney Roosters.^[8]

Marshall returned to his old position of five-eighth from July, 2009^[9], though both Marshall and coach Tim Sheens insisted that Marshall had been switching between first and second receiver throughout the entire season.^[10] Marshall went on to be named at Stand-Off in the Team of the Year as chosen by the The Rugby League International Federation. ^[11]

[edit] International career

Although eligible to represent Australia, Marshall declared his allegiance to the New Zealand Kiwis early in his career^[12]. In 2003 he was approached by the NZRL while he was playing with the Australian Schoolboys. Marshall made his New Zealand debut in the 2005 ANZAC Test.

Marshall was named as New Zealand five-eighth for the 2005 Tri Nations tour. However, surgery on his shoulder in June ruled him out.

In October 2008, Marshall was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.^[13] Marshall captained New Zealand for the first time on 8 November, 2008, in a World Cup match against England.^[14] Marshall scored a try and kicked two conversions in the Kiwi's 2008 Rugby League World Cup final victory over the Kangaroos.^[15]

Following Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless' retirement from international football in 2009, Marshall was named as captain in that year's ANZAC Test.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Sydney Morning Herald Article, October 2005
• Benji’s debut – Sydney Morning Herald July 2003

[edit] External links

• Benji Marshall at Wests Tigers
• Benji Marshall at NRL.com
• Official Benji Marshall at Rugby League Tables