Marshall gets vibes of Tigers of old on return
BENJI Marshall says Ivan Cleary’s first preseason at Wests Tigers has helped recapture the vibe the club enjoyed during its most successful era.
Marshall, easily the most famous player to turn out for the merged club, has experienced the ups and downs of Concord as much as anyone.
The headline act of their 2005 premiership, he left the Tigers for Super Rugby in difficult circumstances in 2013 following dramas surrounding his contract extension.
Since then, the Tigers have undergone the turmoil of the departures of coaches Tim Sheens, Mick Potter and Jason Taylor, former captain Robbie Farah and most recently, star players Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco.
But with Marshall leading a host of new faces this season, the 32-year-old says the club is developing a similar feel to the one that led to their 2005 success.
“It’s quite different (to when I left in 2013),” Marshall said.
“I do feel like the vibe of what it’s got to now, especially the vibe with Ivan having a full preseason and investing a lot for our team, that it’s a family club and getting back to that.
“That’s how it felt when I first started here.”
Marshall will be a key figure in the Tigers’ rebuild after making his own pitch to Cleary for a return from Brisbane last year. Knocked back twice previously, the playmaker’s homecoming will be accompanied by a spot in the Tigers’ five-man co-captaincy group.
“The whole time I was gone I missed it,” he said.
“The best way I can sum it up – being back here feels normal and just feels right.”
Marshall’s playing future is less certain, as he says he’s still unsure which position he’ll play in Round 1 and whether it will be his last year in the NRL.
THE BEST WAY I CAN SUM IT UP – BEING BACK HERE FEELS NORMAL AND JUST FEELS RIGHT