Benji’s saviour for Broncos
Former Kiwis skipper goes from outhouse to penthouse and is set to rattle Chookhouse Burden of captaincy too much for youthful Moylan
Benji Marshall looms as Brisbane’s saviour after skipper Darius Boyd ruled himself out of Friday night’s NRL qualifying final against the Roosters in Sydney.
In a remarkable turnaround, 32-year-old Kiwis great Marshall is expected to start as Broncos halfback in the finals blockbuster barely 12 months after contemplating retirement.
Coach Wayne Bennett is tipped to turn to the rejuvenated Marshall to step up at No 7 after Boyd sparked a backline reshuffle when he succumbed to a hamstring injury.
Brisbane had held on to hope Boyd would be given until the last minute to overcome the injury suffered in their last-round win over North Queensland.
However, Boyd abruptly ended speculation on Monday night.
“I’m not playing. Hammies, you can’t rush them,” Boyd said.
Incumbent halfback Kodi Nikorima is expected to replace Boyd
He has played plenty of finals football before. He knows how to get the job done. Darius Boyd on Benji Marshall
at fullback with veteran Marshall slotting into the halves with pivot Anthony Milford.
“It’s what we did in the Cowboys game [last round] in the second half and it worked really well,” Boyd said of Marshall in the halves. “He has played plenty of finals football before. He knows how to get the job done.”
Marshall contemplated walking away from the game last year after being left without a club following 14 seasons in the top grade.
A phone call to Bennett for advice turned into a bargain basement oneyear Broncos deal.
He cherished the lifeline, playing 10 games this year but having an even bigger impact as halves mentor for Milford, Nikorima and Ben Hunt.
Marshall’s new-found form earned him a fairytale return to his former club Wests Tigers, recently signing a 2018 deal with the joint venture.
Marshall returned to the Broncos 17 last round after five weeks in Queensland Cup, coming off the bench in their win over the Cowboys. Penrith face calls to relieve embattled star Matt Moylan of the NRL club’s captaincy when he returns from leave to address personal issues.
Cronulla captain Paul Gallen believes Moylan might have been made leader too young and lacked support as he struggled with the burden.
“You need help around you ... I didn’t see too much of that at Penrith with Matt Moylan,” Gallen told Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio yesterday.
“The whole responsibility was shouldered on him and I didn’t feel he looked comfortable with it.
“I could tell at press conferences, media days, and this is just me talking, he didn’t look real comfortable in front of the cameras on his own.
“To be thrust in as a captain at such a young age, and so much expectation on yourself, it’s a hard job. People don’t understand what a hard job it is.”
Moylan is unlikely to play any part in the Panthers’ finals series after being granted indefinite leave on Monday.
Following speculation the 26-yearold was on the outer at Penrith, club general manager Phil Gould said Moylan had struggled with the pressure of captaincy and form but had a long-term commitment to the club.
Panthers great Mark Geyer believes Moylan should not be captain in 2018. “I don’t think the captaincy sits well with Matty,” Geyer told Triple M Sydney.
“I think he needs to be a bit of a free soul on the footy field.”
Geyer, who played 135 games for the Panthers, said he agreed with Moylan’s decision to take leave if he wasn’t “committed in mind, body and soul”.
The Panthers face Manly in an elimination final on Saturday.
Gould said Panthers officials would discuss the prospect of Moylan retaining his leadership role when he returned. The former NSW State of Origin star was into his second year as club captain. GOLF