Benji Marshall

[Burgler]

I know it has been discussed previously. Reading an article in SMH about Benji this morning. Can't help but feel he would be of some value to us in 2022 if he still has the desire to play.

His humble enough to know he isn't going to be starting week in and week out. Much like his role at Souths currently. It's his experience and mentoring the young guys, professionalism and attitude that we would be paying for. Having someone out on the field at times to help our inexperienced halves learn on the field would be valuable.

The incentive for Benji would obviously be playing a final season with his brother. I couldn't imagine he would command much salary and with the money freed up from Elliott leaving we might have some $$ spare to make it happen.

We have proven in the past that we send off legends the right way, not how the tigers shit on him last year. Only have to look at how we sent off guys like Kimmorely, who played the bulk of his career elsewhere but was treated as a club champion.

Benji has been through it all, having to adjust from flashy big time player to percentages and not trying to win the game with one play. If it doesn't work out I don't see how it damages anything we have planned beyond 2022. Low risk

 

[CQDog]

Close thread. He is gonna retire

 

[JORDZILLA]

legend

 

[bradtalo]

I know it has been discussed previously. Reading an article in SMH about Benji this morning. Can't help but feel he would be of some value to us in 2022 if he still has the desire to play.

His humble enough to know he isn't going to be starting week in and week out. Much like his role at Souths currently. It's his experience and mentoring the young guys, professionalism and attitude that we would be paying for. Having someone out on the field at times to help our inexperienced halves learn on the field would be valuable.

The incentive for Benji would obviously be playing a final season with his brother. I couldn't imagine he would command much salary and with the money freed up from Elliott leaving we might have some $$ spare to make it happen.

We have proven in the past that we send off legends the right way, not how the tigers shit on him last year. Only have to look at how we sent off guys like Kimmorely, who played the bulk of his career elsewhere but was treated as a club champion.

Benji has been through it all, having to adjust from flashy big time player to percentages and not trying to win the game with one play. If it doesn't work out I don't see how it damages anything we have planned beyond 2022. Low risk

Even if not as a player we should hire him as a full time specialist halves coach - especially considering all the young inexperienced halves we have

 

[bradtalo]

Even if not as a player we should hire him as a full time specialist halves coach - especially considering all the young inexperienced halves we have. I've read that Gould believes Barrett is our specialist halves coach but Barrett needs to focus on the whole team. He doesn't have the time to focus enough on our halves only - give them the attention (to detail) they need

 

[From the area]

Would take in a heartbeat

 

[Diatribe 2000]

Good Footy Playing Player of the future

 

[Real1]

yes, as a benchy.

 

[Spoonman84]

What he does at Souths is perfect for him at his stage in his career. Going from that to being a full time half in a bottom 4 team is beyond him now especially when he will be another year older.

 

[Diatribe 2000]

What he does at Souths is perfect for him at his stage in his career. Going from that to being a full time half in a bottom 4 team is beyond him now especially when he will be another year older.

All your friends are brown and red!

 

[Moedogg]

I heard Souths are going to medically retire him after this season..... Thats all i know, don't ask me where i got my info from...

 

[Real1]

What he does at Souths is perfect for him at his stage in his career. Going from that to being a full time half in a bottom 4 team is beyond him now especially when he will be another year older.

well thats irrelevant if he wants to play on and they dont want to renew.

 

[sgodllubsti]

i would have benji at the bulldogs in some capacity be it a 1 year deal, be it as a mentor for the junior grades, even as an on field trainer on game day, there a lot benji offers that we still need at the club

 

[Spoonman84]

well thats irrelevant if he wants to play on and they dont want to renew.

How is it irrelevant if he's not up to playing as a fulltime half anymore? He's useless as a bench player for us we are better off giving experience to younger players for that spot.

 

[Real1]

How is it irrelevant if he's not up to playing as a fulltime half anymore? He's useless as a bench player for us we are better off giving experience to younger players for that spot.

its not useless, if there is one spot we lack experience in its the halves. he would take necessary pressure off burton.. every team has a utility option. and what he could teach our young halves/players in a year is invaluable. souths youngsters will be better off with what they would have learnt off benji.

 

[Bulldog1966]

We need(if we were going that way which seems very unlikely atm)experience on the field or as a non playing gun ex half coaching, not a benchie as said that spot is for developing our younger players be it a younger 9 prospect or BBO etc.
Benji is done as a playing prospect in our situation at least imo too.

 

[Spoonman84]

its not useless, if there is one spot we lack experience in its the halves. he would take necessary pressure off burton.. every team has a utility option. and what he could teach our young halves/players in a year is invaluable. souths youngsters will be better off with what they would have learnt off benji.

It is useless for a club in our position. Having Benji play off the bench does nothing but roadblock a spot for a young player to get experience.

He hasn’t really shown to be much of mentor at his previous clubs either so I’m skeptical of what impact he’s having on the young Souths halves.

 

[Burgler]

It is useless for a club in our position. Having Benji play off the bench does nothing but roadblock a spot for a young player to get experience.

He hasn’t really shown to be much of mentor at his previous clubs either so I’m skeptical of what impact he’s having on the young Souths halves.

Wayne Bennett has recruited him twice, I'd chose his opinion on Benji's value as opposed to anyone on the kennel (no offence).

Also yes to some degree I agree that the utility role is preventing a younger guy from getting experience but that is generally the case when a club already has an experienced half playing and they slowly bring the young players through. In our case we have inexperienced halves starting and inexperience on the bench, when noone stands up and makes the position their own it just causes the coach to doubt their selections and chop and change, damages the young guys confidence.
Bringing on an experienced half to take some of the load off a playmaker at some stage of the game would be ideal in my opinion, especially if they aren't playing well. That player gets a chance to see what an experienced half looks for/plans for and the following week gets an opportunity to right their wrong. Not be dumped in reserves or persevered with without any help. Much like what we did with Flanagan this year.

 

[Spoonman84]

Wayne Bennett has recruited him twice, I'd chose his opinion on Benji's value as opposed to anyone on the kennel (no offence).

Also yes so some degree I agree that the utility role is preventing a younger guy from getting experience but that is generally the case when a club already has an experienced half playing and the slowly bring the young players through. In our case we have inexperienced halves starting and inexperience on the bench, when noone stands up and makes the position their own it just causes the coach to doubt their selections and chop and change, damages the young guys confidence. Bringing on an experienced half to take some of the load off a playmaker at some stage of the game would be ideal in my opinion, especially if they aren't playing well. That plauer gets a chance to see what an experienced half looks for/plans for and the following week gets an opportunity to right their wrong. Not he dumped in reserves or persevered with without any help. Much like what we did with Flanagan this year.

Wayne Bennett usually has his sides contending for premierships too which makes having someone like Benji as a utility make more sense than a side that’s developing. So just because Wayne recruits him doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for the Dogs.

I see the merit in having a experienced half but I think it’s better if they are a actually a starting player. Benji’s days of being a starter for a full season are long gone.

 

[MitchNewton]

Thee we dogs wanted and spoke to him. He choose souths as he knew they had a chance of winning the title. End of story