Being Benji Marshall
People always get frantic when a mid season signing becomes available. Desperation often kicks in and a player can be much more highly valued in people’s minds than in real life.
We saw a great example of this when Mark Gasnier signed with the Dragons mid season in June 2010. People scrambled for his signature despite him being over the hill and overweight from playing Union and scoffing his face with macaroons in France. In his next 23 games he only managed 11 tries. A moderate return, but hardly setting the world on fire.
Benji Marshall has won plenty of NRLCEO titles for coaches and lost plenty along the way as well. There haven’t been many more divisive characters in NRLCEO over the years.
Sure, his more recent years were less productive, but there were times in 2010 and 2011 when he was the hottest NRLCEO player in the comp. He scored 12 tries in 2010 and 13 in 2011 to go alongside 76+ goals and 20+ try assists.
The desperation for a mid season signing can be seen from the number of emails, Facebook messages and Tweets we have received asking about Benji. I was told I was an idiot for even considering wanting him by a fellow NRLCEO Founder. To be fair he has a lot more titles to his name than my zero. So you have to wonder, is he really worth it?
For the record, we will not be creating a player profile for Benji until he officially signs with a club. Even then we will give everyone plenty of forewarning and a time when he will be added. We will also assess which club he signs with before we allocate him kicking points (you didn’t think he’d get away with zero kicking points did you? 402 NRL goals gives plenty of reason to why he would at least be first back-up at any NRL club).
So what happens when we add him?
Well, you could decide that in your competition it will be a free-for-all. Whoever signs him first wins. But that’s no fun. We all have that mouse happy nerd in our competitions who seems to be able to refresh his browser quicker than others. We don’t want him/her to get a free ride.
How can I decide who drafts him?
We recommend having a bit of fun with Benji’s return. We have a couple of ideas that could decide who gets Benji.
Eye of the Tiger – let everyone in your competition interested in Benji pick a Tigers player (or two or three depending on how many in your comp) named to play this weekend. The CEO that picks the player who scores the first try, gets Benji.
Where’s Benji? – let everyone in your competition interested in Benji pick an NRL club (or two or three depending on how many in your comp). The CEO that picks the club that signs Benji, gets Benji.
Waiver Wire – whichever team is the lowest on the ladder and wants him, gets him.
So where will Benji end up?
Make of this what you will, but all 16 clubs were asked today if they are in the market for Benji Marshall. Their responses are below:
BRONCOS — Five-eighth: Josh Hoffman, Halfback: Ben Hunt, CEO Paul White: “No.”
BULLDOGS — Five-eighth: Josh Reynolds, Halfback: Trent Hodkinson, CEO Raelene Castle: “I don’t think so. Not something we’ve discussed.”
RAIDERS — Five-eighth: Jack Wighton, Halfback: Terry Campese, Coach Ricky Stuart: “Not us.”
COWBOYS — Five-eighth: Johnathan Thurston, Halfback: Robert Lui, CEO Peter Jourdain: “No.”
TITANS — Five-eighth: Aidan Sezer, Halfback: Albert Kelly, CEO Graham Annesley: “No.”
MANLY— Five-eighth: Kieran Foran, Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans, CEO David Perry: “No interest.”
STORM — Five-eighth: Ben Hampton/Ben Roberts, Halfback: Cooper Cronk, Football director Frank Ponissi: “Benji would be a great addition but there is one problem — $$.”
KNIGHTS — Five-eighth: Jarrod Mullen, Halfback: Tyrone Roberts, CEO Matt Gidley: “No. He is not in our recruitment plans.”
EELS — Five-eighth: Corey Norman, Halfback: Chris Sandow/Luke Kelly, CEO Scott Seward: “No.”
PANTHERS— Five-eighth: Jamie Soward, Halfback: Peter Wallace, CEO Phil Moss: “No interest.”
SOUTHS — Five-eighth: Luke Keary/John Sutton, Halfback: Adam Reynolds, CEO Shane Richardson: “Absolutely no interest whatsoever.”
SHARKS— Five-eighth: Todd Carney, Halfback: Jeff Robson, CEO Steve Noyce: “We haven’t had any discussions with Benji or his management.”
DRAGONS— Five-eighth: Gareth Widdop, Halfback: Michael Witt/Sam Williams, CEO Peter Doust: “We have no interest in Benji.”
ROOSTERS — Five-eighth: James Maloney, Halfback: Mitchell Pearce, COO Brian Canavan: “We’re very happy with our halves and have both locked in to long-term arrangements with the club.”
WARRIORS— Five-eighth: Chad Townsend/Thomas Leuluai, Halfback: Shaun Johnson, Coach Andrew McFadden: “He’s a high quality player, but he’s probably not what we need right now.”
TIGERS — Five-eighth: Curtis Sironen, Halfback: Luke Brooks, CEO Grant Mayer: “There’s no room in our top 25 for Benji Marshall next year.”
JB
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