JULY 21, 2014 - 11:11 PM ARTICLE 8 OF 28 Milestone: Benji Marshall is given a guard of honour by his Wests Tigers teammates after his 200th game for the club last August. Photo: Brendan Esposito Mate against mates as Benji Marshall comes up against Wests Tigers MICHAEL CHAMMAS It is the day no one saw coming: Benji Marshall versus the Wests Tigers. He pledged never to line up against the club he led to premiership glory in 2005 but, after a short and unsuccessful stint in rugby union, the one-time poster boy of the Tigers will do battle with his former team for the first time at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon. For the most part of a decade, he and Tigers skipper Robbie Farah were the face of the joint venture. And while Marshalls break-up with the club at the end of last season was met with mixed reactions from the Tigers faithful, Farah is hoping he gets the respect he deserves from the supporters after the legacy he left at the club he made his debut with as a teenager back in 2003. Im not too sure, but Id like to think hell still get a good reception from our supporters, Farah said. The way it all finished probably left a sour taste with some of the fans. But regardless of that he still left a great legacy at this club and thats what he should be remembered for. [His legacy is] not tarnished in my eyes but thats something youd have to ask the fans. While his last 12 months hed be the first to admit it wasnt his best footy, but what he achieved at this club ... we had a gala night the other night with the team of the 15 years and hes a big part of that. In another 15 years I have no doubt it will take a pretty special player to knock him out of that side. Thats what he should be remembered for. On a perfect Sunday afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground last year, the Tigers marked the changing of a guard when they switched Marshall to the centres to accommodate for the debut of Luke Brooks against St George Illawarra. It is ironic that almost a year later, Marshall finds himself in opposition colours up against the player who has been earmarked as the successor to the former face of the merged club. It was obviously a dream of mine to play with him, but I think it will be weird to play against him, Brooks said. Itll be pretty special. Its going to be a tough one for us because hes a great player and has really hit his form now. You always thought hed stay with the Tigers but it didnt turn out that way. Itll be pretty weird, especially with the boys who played him for a long time. But thats footy and that happens these days. Farah admits he expected to finish his career alongside Marshall but holds no grudges against the 29-year-old, who he insists will have a point to prove come Sunday afternoon in what is a pivotal clash in the finals hopes of both teams. I just never saw the day coming, Farah said. I always expected wed play out our careers together. I still remember when he called me to tell me that hes made his decision to leave. But we move on from that. We supported his decision at the time and we still support him. Hes obviously not a teammate any more but hes still a mate. Regardless of that, next week for the 80 minutes there are no mates on the field and well be trying to get the two points as they will. Thats what footy is about, then after the game you shake hands and youre mates again. It wasnt nice the way it ended for him. I know he would have wanted to play his career out at the Tigers. he probably never saw the day coming, and he even went on record saying he never wanted to play against the Tigers but due to circumstances with things not working out for him at rugby, thats the way it has panned out. Theres no doubt hell be wanting to get one up against us. Then theres Mitch Moses, who Marshall texted before his NRL debut three weeks ago to congratulate him on his achievement. Benji taught me a lot when he was at the club, Moses said. He was a big influence on me. Hed always pull me aside and give me a few pointers on my game and stuff. He was a pretty big influence on my development. He was a role model to me. When I came into the top squad that first year, he was a big influence on my football. He was a lot of help. He contacted me before I made my debut and said congratulations and that I deserved it. I thought that was pretty good of him to send me a text. What the Tigers fans are saying COOMENTS FROM THE WESTS TIGERS FORUM TIGERS: Nothing wrong with burning an ex. Part of moving on. He will play a blinder next week dont worry about that. Newtown: Get ready for a lot of attempted miracle passes. Eye Of Da Tiger: I reckon there will be a few banners around that park saying something about Benji. Should be funny. As long as we win Benji can get man of the match. Its only the result that counts HUGH JARSE: I have had it with this forum , I can not beleive all the tossers baging Benji after what he has done for the Tigers. GROW UP. All you do is whinge and bag players like a bunch of [automatically edited] school girls. I am embarresed as a true Tigers supporter to be on here. diedpretty: Benji was the Tigers for a number of years - yep he achieved what he wanted and stayed on too long - so what. Benji of 2014 is a far different player to the one that left here - whether that is due to ego or poor coaching we will not know. I for one hope he plays well against us - just not well enough to win though hobbo2803: We need to target Benchys paper mâché shoulders Milky: Send Taupau, Gavet, Ava, Woods and Galloway at him all day.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 05:35:05 +0000
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