Benji Marshall begins life as Wests Tigers coach as the joint venture searches for something to believe in
Benji Marshall during Wests Tigers training, seems limitless in what he can accomplish with the ball as he moves around the field.
No, that was the previous preseason, in February, before the Tigers won their second consecutive wooden spoon.
Marshall rejoined the Tigers as lead assistant to Tim Sheens and the likely successor to the head coach position, although on occasion he would enter a drill and appear as though he might play if he so desired.
Although he has come a long way from his 2003 debut as a 17-year-old schoolboy, at 38 years old, he is one of those individuals who always appears young, as if he has so much more life ahead of him.
Eight months later, with Sheens sent packing less than a season into his return and Marshall accelerated into the top job a year ahead of schedule, it still feels that way. He does not seem like other coaches and that’s probably because he’s not.
“I’m not your typical head coach, I reckon. I do like time away from it, I’m not 24/7 coaching, I like people being themselves and I want to create an environment where people want to be and where they want to play and be their best,” Marshall said.
“The X’s and O’s don’t matter to me as much as making the players feel confident in their ability and wanting to play for the club and doing their best every time they put the jersey on.”
The 2024 campaign and Marshall’s first pre-season is just two weeks old and Tigers fans are desperate for something to believe in after two last-placed finishes.
Their first wooden spoon, in 2022, was understandable even as it was agonising.
That was a bad team who played badly and were duly punished for it. It was the law of the jungle and the Tigers were prey in a league of predators.
But 2023 was different. Three of the club’s four big recruits enjoyed strong seasons, Stefano Utoikamanu made his State of Origin debut and Jahream Bula emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the league.
They put 60 on the Cowboys and managed an incredible upset over the Panthers but still finished last. This might not have been a finals team, but they were capable of far more than they showed.