Marshall cleared to play Eels
WITH Josh Reynolds on the cusp of returning, Benji Marshall is out to prove he deserves to keep the Wests Tigers’ No.6 jersey.
Marshall’s second coming has been one of the feel-good stories of the NRL season, with the ex-Kiwis playmaker discovering a new lease on life in his second stint at Concord.
This year the 33-year-old was expected to serve as a bench utility and toil behind Reynolds and Luke Brooks as his career winds down.
But after Reynolds went down with a hamstring injury in the side’s final training session before round one, Marshall was thrown into the fray and hasn’t let down coach Ivan Cleary.
He was instrumental as the Tigers claimed the big scalps of the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne and has made a strong case to remain in the starting side.
Cleary said Reynolds was due back in “probably another couple of weeks” and he faces a stiff decision when that day arrives.
“It’s not just the first three weeks, he was good the whole preseason as well,” Cleary said of Marshall.
“He brings a bit of guidance and confidence as well.”
Marshall suffered a torn lateral ligament in his left knee against the Broncos but won’t miss a match, due largely to the Tigers having the luxury of a 10-day turnaround.
In today’s clash with the winless Parramatta, he will have a chance to get one over the man who wore the Tigers’ No.6 for the past few seasons – Mitchell Moses.