Benji Won't Roll Over For Dragons

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday March 14, 2008

Greg Prichard

WESTS TIGERS coach Tim Sheens has invited St George Illawarra to test Benji Marshall's shoulder as much as they like in Sunday's game at Sydney Football Stadium - but also warned them if it becomes an obsession, it might hurt the Dragons' chance of winning.

Sheens was reacting to talk coming out of the St George Illawarra camp that five-eighth Marshall, who made a comeback in the pre-season trials after his latest round of shoulder surgery, would be nervous and that the Dragons would test him out.

"He's going to say he's not nervous, but any player that goes through an injury run will have some sort of concern," Dragons coach Nathan Brown said.

Opposing five-eighth Ben Hornby added: "It would be silly for us not to test out his shoulder."

But four-time premiership-winning coach Sheens wasn't concerned about the opposition targeting Marshall, saying the Kiwi international had recovered well and was looking good after a solid off-season preparation.

"He's done enough work, and he got through it well," Sheens said. "His preparation has been extremely good. There are aspects of his game we have worked on improving, and he's made good progress there. Benji will become a better player as the season goes on, but he's played in the trials and he's ready to start.

"People can talk about targeting people, but the Dragons have got plenty of targets in their side, also. Whether they're trying to send a psychological message, I don't know, and I'm not getting into any Souths-Roosters type rivalry, but if they want to test him out all day and ruin their own game plan, then fair enough."

Despite not being able to consider the injured quartet - backs Dean Collis and Shannon McDonnell and forwards Bryce Gibbs and Ryan O'Hara - when he picked his side, and subsequently losing selected winger Taniela Tuiaki, Sheens firmly believed his team still had what it took to beat St George Illawarra.

"We might not have everyone available, but that doesn't mean anything," Sheens said. "The sessions we've done have been sharp, and we're confident in the squad we've got. I'll be happy to see the team get out there and play the game now."

Tuiaki, who has played four Tests for New Zealand, was yesterday ruled out with a hamstring strain and replaced by Beau Ryan, a former Dragons lower-grader. Ryan appeared in three first-grade games for the Tigers last year, and Sheens said he was "busting to play".

Wests Tigers trained in the midday heat at the SFS yesterday, and conditions are expected to be similarly hot at 3pm for the kick-off. Asked if the Tigers might have an advantage playing in the heat with their smaller, more athletic pack against the bigger Dragons, Sheens said it depended on how they aimed up in other areas.

"We'll have a problem if we don't control the ball and our discipline is poor," Sheens said. "If we concede twice as many penalties as we're given in the first 30 minutes, they [the Dragons] will give us a hard time. But if our discipline is good and we play good field position, we'll be OK. You can make things work out for you in the heat, but you've got to have the ball to be able to do that."

The Tigers will be lacking experience on both flanks, with Peni Tagive making his first-grade debut on the other wing. But captain Brett Hodgson said the Tigers had plenty of faith in the new man.

"Peni's a big boy and a class act," Hodgson said. "The guys see a regular first-grader in him. Our belief in Peni is strong. Hopefully, he'll get the ball as much as he can and have a quality first game."

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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