After Wests Tigers training on Thursday, Adam Doueihi was practicing long-range field goals when coach Benji Marshall approached him and asked for the ball. Marshall received a pass from the injured player, casually dropped the ball onto his right foot, and successfully kicked it between the posts.
Pumping his fist in celebration, the 39-year-old then left the field. Marshall, who has transitioned from player to coach, is proving to his players that he is still competitive and capable of performing at a high level. Known for his passion for golf, Marshall plays off a handicap of six at Concord Golf Club and often plays a round before matches or even on game days.
Despite never having lessons, Marshall also plays piano and guitar and was part of a band that performed at Gold Coast Casino. Marshall moved from New Zealand to attend Keebra Park High on a sports scholarship, excelling academically and could have pursued any subject at university except medicine.
Opting for a career in the NRL, Marshall is now leading Wests Tigers as coach and has secured back-to-back wins in his first four matches. Players like prop Alex Twal, the only remaining member of the 2018 squad that last won three consecutive matches, see Marshall and other coaching staff as integral to the fabric of Wests Tigers.
Former Kangaroos prop David Klemmer praised Marshall for boosting confidence and creating an enjoyable environment at the club, noting the new energy Marshall has brought. Energy and whole-hearted commitment are traits synonymous with Marshall, whether on the footy field or the golf course.
Golf is the perfect complementary sport for anyone and everyone, just ask @NRL legend Benji Marshall who is having a great time in the #TPSSydney pro-am.#WebexPlayerSeries pic.twitter.com/uPOyKVrR8u
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) March 2, 2022
“I only bought my clubs last year but I’ve thrown them out,” Klemmer said. “A few of the boys are trying to get back into it but I’m a terrible golfer.”
England forward John Bateman said: “Some of the boys have said he is very good but the last place I want to be is on a golf course. If I did, I would probably snap my clubs in half.”
To put Marshall’s golfing prowess into context, Knights captain Kalyn Ponga, who was a New Zealand junior champion, plays off a five handicap.
Marshall’s Instagram page features posts of him playing golf at courses around Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, as well as memories from his 346 NRL appearances for Wests Tigers, the Dragons, Broncos, and Rabbitohs, and 31 Tests for the Kiwis.
Music is another passion for Marshall, who was in a band with friends from Keebra Park that regularly performed. The band even won a state-wide competition to play before a conference of Queensland school principals at the Gold Coast Casino.
Marshall started playing guitar at a young age and taught himself to play piano and drums while helping Wests Tigers to the 2005 premiership.
“You only have to see Benji when he trains to know he is probably one of those people who is good at everything,” Bateman said. “He is a good fellow to be around, he is approachable and that is what you want in a coach. He is getting the best out of us as a team, and we are all enjoying it.”
