Marsters’ fight for future heating up
AS HE prepares to up the ante in his fight for a new contract, Titans centre Esan Marsters said the confidence sapped from him during his time in North Queensland had returned with a vengeance.
In what has been a disjointed past two seasons for the former Kiwi international, Marsters at last broke back into the Gold Coast lineup in last week’s golden point win over the Dragons, and will once again take his place against Cronulla.
With all the Covid-19 protocols put in place in the NRL – from the bubble lifestyle 2020 and 2021 brought to game-day travel replacements this year – the 25-yearold has had limited chances to prove his worth on the field, aside from day-to-day training. By his round 10 Titans appearance, he had played just four games for Burleigh in the Queensland Cup, with only eight chances last year between the Cowboys, Titans and Tweed Seagulls.
Without those consistent chances to prove himself worthy of the NRL elite, his pursuit of further contracts had hit a roadblock.
Off contract at the end of the 2022 campaign, Marsters is now out to ensure his selection is for the long haul in his quest to remain a first-grade contender.
Having gone to Townsville as a key signing by the Cowboys in 2020, Marsters said when his form dipped and the pandemic took off he suffered a severe drop in the confident mindset that had him placed for a long career at the top.
It led to his mid-season release to the Gold Coast last year. And now that he at last feels settled on and off the field, Marsters said he was determined his resurgence cemented his future.
“I was just trying to get back a little more confidence than what I had when I was at the Cowboys and moving around a lot has been a bit hard,” Marsters said.
“I started off my career pretty well and then it sort of took a dive coming back to where I am now. It’s just good to be able to put the jersey back on for the Gold Coast, and I’m just grateful of the opportunity to be out here and training every week with the NRL.
“I’m trying to earn another contract for next year, I come off contract this year, so I really want to put my best foot forward and if I get another contract it will be better for me.
“I think at the moment it’s me just being on the field and pushing teams to sign me, or the club to have a look at me. When you’re not on the field it’s pretty hard to get a contract.”
On the back of his comeback performance for the Titans, Marsters has cast his sights towards a World Cup berth at the end of the year.
While adding to his six New Zealand caps may be a stretch given his lack of consistent football and the likes of Roosters gun Joey Manu holding a mortgage in the backline, a stint with the Cook Islands could well be on the cards.
Marsters played two games for the nation prior to his Kiwis debut, and he called on more NRL players who shared the heritage – the likes of which include Jordan Rapana and Charnze NicollKlokstad – to inspire a new era on the world stage.
He said if they could emulate what Tonga and Samoa had achieved in recent years a whole new pathway for Cook Islands junior talent could emerge.
“If I’m not with New Zealand I’ll be with the Cook Islands and it would be good if we get a few boys back into that team and build something there. They’re a pretty small nation, so it’d be good to match a lot of the top tier teams,” Marsters said.
“Tonga and Samoa are building their teams up to tier one now, so if we can do that for our country then it’s going to be massive for kids coming through.”