Shades of Wayne as Benji's Tigers face Dolphins test

Benji Marshall has no time for nostalgia ahead of going head-to-head with mentor Wayne Bennett. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

Benji Marshall may be reluctant to wax lyrical about his relationship with Wayne Bennett but there is little doubt the hallmarks of the supercoach have rubbed off on his one-time apprentice.

Fresh off two-straight wins, Marshall’s Wests Tigers head to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday to face a Dolphins side coached by Bennett and managed on field by his younger brother, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King.

It’s the first time Marshall has officially coached against Bennett, whom the Tigers coach credits for reviving his playing career with stints at Brisbane and South Sydney.

Benji Marshall and Wayne Bennett.
Benji Marshall and Wayne Bennett discuss tactics during a Broncos training session in 2017.

Marshall, however, was loath to get drawn into talking chapter and verse about Bennett’s influence on his career.

“The challenge is not with Wayne. It’s team v team,” Marshall said.

"My focus has been on what’s best for our team and what we need to do this week. I haven’t thought about Wayne once."

Ditto, Bennett.

"There will be no texts this week," the Dolphins coach said on Friday.

"I'm not coaching against Benji, I'm coaching against Wests Tigers.

"He's got a job to do and I have got a job to do and nothing will interfere with our friendship."

It is increasingly obvious, though, that as he influenced Benji Marshall the player, Bennett's magical touch is filtering through to Benji Marshall the NRL head coach.

Benji Marshall.
Benji Marshall giving some of his forwards advise at a Tigers training session.

At Friday’s press conference Marshall displayed all the characteristics that have been part of Bennett’s oft-frosty media relations through his five decades in the coaching hotseat.

Marshall dead-batted some questions, met others with his trademark charm and, at times, showed his prickly side.

He took particular umbrage with a question about his habit of a pre-game round of golf.

Given the first-year head coach found time to squeeze in 18 holes prior to the Tigers’ wins over Cronulla and Parramatta, a hit on the links shapes as a positive pre-game ritual.

"I’m a little bit over the talk about me playing golf," Marshall said.

"I have no bearing on the result of the game with what I do before the game with my preparation but what I will say is everyone's preparation is different.

"Whatever helps you do your job to the best of your ability is up to you."

He has even adopted Bennett’s dead-pan expression.

While assistant coach Robbie Farah was jumping for joy during the Tigers’ last-gasp 17-16 win over Parramatta on Easter Monday, Marshall remained unchanged.

"I might look stony-faced but on the inside it is a different story," Marshall said.

"I don't really show a lot of emotion up in the box but at the end of the game, once the result went our way, I couldn't help but feel excited for the guys that we got the win."

Marshall insists he would feel "fake" if he tried to act like any of his previous coaches as he prepares to coach against Bennett and his brother for the first time.

Jeremy Marshall-King.
Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King slings out a pass from dummy-half.

Former St George coach Brian Smith was the last to pit his wits against a sibling when he faced an Illawarra side featuring brother Tony in 1991.

If the Tigers win on Saturday it will be the first time the club has won three straight NRL games since 2018, but Marshall, just like Bennett has so often done over the years, was quick to pump the brakes.

"I think our fans would be excited but we've got to win it first, we're not talking about winning three in a row," he said.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store