Marshall: I’m not the retiring type Bring back Benji, but not Taumalolo
Benji Marshall says he’ll wait until later in the year before deciding whether this will be his last season as a rugby league player.
The 33-year-old has been in outstanding form for the Wests Tigers and new Kiwis coach Michael Maguire said on Thursday that Marshall was on the radar for next month’s test in Denver.
In an interview for Australian media organisation Marshall admitted that his form wasn’t where he wanted it to be over the past few years, when he was with the Dragons and Broncos. But being back at the Tigers has rejuvenated him.
‘‘I wasn’t playing good enough. I probably had a confidence loss and a few doubts where I was unsure whether I could get that back,’’ Marshall said.
‘‘I don’t want to say I want to play next year and not enjoy now for what it is.
‘‘That question is going to keep coming up, but I don’t think I’ll be answering it until somewhere nearer to the end of the season.’’
Marshall says his legacy when he retires isn’t something that concerns him, but he wants to get his departure from the game right, rather than hang around a season too long.
‘‘I definitely don’t want to play an extra year and regret it,’’ he said.
‘‘The moment is good now and I want to enjoy it while it’s there. I’ll address that question at the back end of the season, I’m just enjoying life while it’s good.’’
Marshall says one of the key factors in determining whether to continue playing in 2019 is how his body is holding up.
‘‘I feel fitter than I have for a long time, but the recovery hurts,’’ he said. ‘‘The pre-season hurts a bit and it’s getting harder and harder.
‘‘There are a lot of things to throw in, obviously family life, if I can keep putting Zoe [his wife] and my son through those things, of being away constantly.
‘‘When you play footy, the routine is so set for you, that you don’t have a say in when you can or can’t have [time] off.’’
When Marshall does finally hang the boots up, he intends to remain living in Sydney and says he feels he has a number of options on what to do next, with coaching or working in the media the two most likely possibilities.
‘‘I think the pressure of being a head coach is more than it is to be a player,’’ he said. ‘‘An assistant coach is a lot easier, where you don’t have to cop the brunt of how a team goes.
‘‘I don’t know if I’d be up to that, I haven’t experienced what that would be like.
‘‘I definitely feel I have a lot to offer.’’
In March, Marshall became a father for the first time, when Zoe gave birth their son, Fox.
‘‘I didn’t imagine it was going to be like it is,’’ he said.
‘‘I always wanted to be a dad.
New Kiwis coach Michael Maguire needs to ignore Jason Taumalolo but shouldn’t hesitate to return Benji Marshall to New Zealand colours.
Australian Maguire, on something of a charm offensive as you’d expect, was making all the right noises when he was confirmed to replace David Kidwell and charged with returning the Kiwis to the top of the game on the back of their dreadful World Cup.
Every coach wants to have their best players playing for them and Maguire’s olive branch approach to Taumalolo shouldn’t come as any surprise.
But he should hold back on chasing Taumalolo for a couple of reasons.
Taumalolo turned his back on the Kiwis jersey last year and that shouldn’t be forgotten so quickly.
If Maguire is to rebuild the Kiwis culture, then Taumalolo’s defection to Tonga still stings.
But the sport itself needs Maguire to refrain from tempting Taumalolo back into a black-andwhite jersey.
For the sake of credibility Taumalolo needs to remain in the blood red of Tonga. Having players shift willy-nilly from country to country is an embarrassment.
League needs to develop its depth and Taumalolo’s supposed desire to take Tonga to new levels should be as firm today as it was
Now that the opportunity has come, it’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
‘‘More than winning premierships or any of that stuff, it’s really at the end of last year when he led them to the World Cup semifinals.
In contrast, former skipper Marshall has been unwavering in his dedication to the Kiwis jersey.
His absence since 2012 has mystified many and raised conspiracy theories.
If it was down to form – as it should be – then Marshall’s resurgence with the Wests Tigers this year shouldn’t be ignored.
In terms of rebuilding this team on and off the field, Maguire could do far worse than select Marshall simply to have him around to inspire.
Marshall’s energy, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment would be a huge positive, particularly given the short timeframe Maguire is operating on to get his squad in shape for the historic altitude test against England in Denver on June 23.
It’s a time for wise old heads as much as it is for some bright new talent.
Marshall has shown that in his move back to the Tigers from Brisbane and the formula has also worked at the Warriors where many people questioned the sense of signing the likes of Adam Blair and Blake Green so late in their careers.
These are guys who provide the glue to bind teams in transition.
Maguire is a proven coach, a guy who knows how to win titles as he has shown in England and Australia. That was a key ingredient to him getting this international position as the Kiwis seek to return to winning ways.
But first we wait to see what sort of a selector Maguire is.
put things into perspective.
‘‘I had a period where I focused on footy so hard and thought footy was everything, but having a baby throws that out the door.’’