Benji’s new bag of tricks
Who says you can’ t teach an old dog new tricks? Not so long ago, Benji Marshall though the knew it all.
But the veteran play maker says lessons learned under Brisbane master mentor Wayne Bennett have primed him to make an impact off the bench in the NRL finals.
Bennett is set to make a tough call if captain Darius Boyd returns at full back from a two-week ham string injury for Friday’s preliminary final against Melbourne.
Bennett must choose between retaining former New Zealand skip per Marshall at No 7 or relegating the veteran to the bench and picking Boyd’ s full back replacement Kodi Nikorima. Marshall ,32, volunteered Nikori ma as starting half-back, saying he believed his new bag of tricks gleaned from Bennett would be best displayed from the bench .
‘‘I think Kodih as de served his opportunity at half back.
I have been playing my bench role for most of the season, that’ s how I see it ,’’ said Marsh-all, in his 15th NRL season .‘‘ There was a stage a couple of years ago where I thought I knew it all to be honest.
‘‘But you learn everyday[ under Bennett ]. And if you come in thinking you know it all it can go pretty pear shaped .
‘‘But I think the big fell a[ Bennett] is still learn-ing everyday too-it keeps him young .’’ Marshall admitted Brisbane’ s 13-6 semi final win over Penrith gave him a crash course on how to handle nerve son the big stage again.
The 2005 West s Tigers premiership winner put in an erratic kicking display in Brisbane’ s tough win over the Panthers .
‘‘What I have learnt is that you have to bring your energy from the start ,’’ Marshall said.