BENJI MARSHALL - The Kid From Whakatāne Who Changed Rugby League FOREVER! 

How much has Benji grown as a person. He has become a great leader on & off the field. He’ll make a great coach for the Tigers and hopefully the Kiwi’s.

the comment about 2008 when the kiwis won the world cup definitely inspired me to go from union over too league the following year. From memory in 2009 Benji and the kiwis came to our school Rotorua boys high to train on our fields for a test match, Deputy Principal plucked me out of class and Let me greet/welcome them from the bus, as at the time I was the only NZ representative for league that year. one of the best memories meeting benji and Nathan Fien at the time

His Shaun Johnson comments were on point. His strengths have been coached out of him

Nice to hear benji pay homage to REMUS def was a hot talent in touch back 90s/2000s IYKYK

great interview ice, What a legend benji is. Faded away from the game for a bit when he went to union and played for the dragons but came back with a wonderful resurgence and is now recognised as of one of the goats that shaped the next generation of rugby league.

Iam so glad Benji is our coach, when you hear him speak you know he has the passion and knowledge, he just needs some more experience but i see a great future for the tigers with Marshall at the helm

How good was this poddy! Loved Benji's point about building a game plan around player's strengths rather than trying to force them into a system or copy another team's playstyle. Also, this reminded me of the Quade Cooper podcast - both brilliant playmakers who aren't afraid to play "eyes up" footy. Just hoping you can get King Carlos on for a future poddy - that would be awesome!

So true about scouting. . That’s why all the best players from here in NZ go to OZ cos the scouts from those clubs in OZ are more active in NZ then the WARRIORS. Speaking from experience in my son playing all these tournaments here in NZ there weren’t any scouts from the WARRIORS for 4-5 years straight. All the best to BENJI aslong as he ain’t beating my DOGGIES!!!

I am very excited for the West Tigers and a great story that Ben Galea reinforced the top 4, whilst sitting at 13. Benji all the very best and it would be fantastic to see a side like the 2005 team and importantly wanting to win!

My favourite all time player. Wests Tigers for life.

His yarn definitely one of the boys. But his experience and ability to be open with all aspects young maori/pacifc islanders struggle to do. Makes him one of the great role models 👏

Thourally enjoyable podcast, couldn't stop listening till the end. Love Benji love the Tigers

How good to see a strong Māori tāne absolutely killing it in his field 💯% 💪🏽

Great interview from start to finish 👏🏽

Aweome interview, loved the questions, would of been hard chatting with one of your idols. Loved the top 5 touch players question, Those barber shop type ones and one I’m sure benji has never been asked but would of appreciated 🙌🏿

Man I remembered I bought X blades boots because of Benji, that was back in 2007.........time flies! I was so happy to watch Benji play the game of League. He played with so much flair 🤙

Wow cannot thank you and Benji enough Ice up there with the best I’ve watched. Appreciate you helping us get to know one of the greats on a more personal level. Loved every minute!

Bro awesome podcast ICE just watched the whole thing Benji is such a wise bloke. The Tigers are honestly in good hands.

Ouuaaaa benji, gonna make a great coach I believe. Great interview.

Great interview!

Bruv you are an excellent interviewer, great convo 👌

Mad love tho kuz. Thank you for inspiring us all.

Awesome content bro finally someone got Benji on the podcast churr

🔥🔥🔥🔥 love this!!!

Need more likes for this poddy. So much insight and info

this is the best podcast bro tukia!!!

What a podcast !! 🔥🔥🔥

One of your best interviews loved it he's going to be a mean coach watch out for the Tygers ✊️✊️ wish he would come to warriors an coach lolz

11 thousand subs and 15 thousand view's in 6 day's. Nice interview

Awesome podcast bro !

Awesome kerero brothers 👊

this is powerful bro 🔥

Ben galea what a champion we had 10 standouts in that team

This podcast is to real 💯

I hope that 18 months later now form this Benji does coach the way he wants to that he has said on here.

Great interview. Really wish he got the send off he deserved last year. I still have a signed hat I won in 2007

Great chat

What a legend 🔥

Str8 up honest, humble maori boy from the B.O.P. Thanks for the keeping it 💯 Benji.

Proves if you're prepared to put in the work and stay consistent any thing is possible

Mad respect Bunj, Benji didnt expect any less of u but just being 1hundy 2 who u r.. il always remember 2001 youth touch world cup in Auckland u played NZ u/19s at 15 i think but not only our battle in the pre game haka (NZ) and our Pe'e (Cook Is) u were hearty, we got carved of ourse at least i scored against u guys 😅😅 but ur highlighter ankle sox brother il always remember then thre they were again at secondary school nationals at palmy north u in whakatane high mix team highlighter ankles always hoped that u would wear them in a allstars game or ur last game 😅😅... chur bro u keep going hard being that Positive guy 4 our rangatahi.

What a respectable bloke, true legend there

Kia orana Tangi ke rava koe ia Isaako Iaone bro e koe kare e kite meangiti ia i tona kanga NRL career or accolades, you were definitely a positive 2 me because u answered the call 2 kanga 4 our tini 15dots (stars) on da map, and i always admire u 4 doing so.. ofcourse u made kiwis also, but wen kuki monsterz needed that experience half u were there 2reka Ice. now you r still a positive role model in how to tatou tamariki, mapu can see how they can utilize success after achieving there sporting or in general dreams towards business and anganga after pursuing those dreams e reka pakau, meitaki maata no te komakoma toku manako, kia orana e kia manuia, tangi ke tangi ke rava ua matou oki tatou no te aro'a ngao.

the 'jug cord' discipline, I remember seeing that, thankfully was never on the receiving end of it. Plenty discipline though 😉 wow, what an utterly cool talk this was, I love Benji's dead straight open honesty, about everything

He made the famous whakatane step/whack. Not just best nrl goat but touch footy goat aswell

Give it heaps benjie!

The man 💯 top blokes

This is elite.

Legend

🙏🏿🙏🏼🙏🏻- Game Changer

💯💯💯

Awesome interview! Lebron hasn't retired though :)

Based on this interview it sounds like Benji started out his career as a brilliant individual player with obvious raw talent( a gifted crowbar) but Tim Sheen's helped hone that individualism into a team player environment. And because Benji was so adept at reading and breaking defenses as an individual using his speed, acceleration, step, swerve, chip n chase etc it was obvious the next logical step for Sheen's was to get Benji's team mates to buy into that very own unique brand of offense and build up the whole teams offensive strategy around him. You can see that play out during the first 10-11 yrs of his career with the Tigers. For the first 5 yrs he wasn't really a fully fledged playmaker but as an individual he was untouchable, injuries not withstanding. After the 2005's regular season and the Tigers having won the NRL premiership you see Benji take a more active role in playmaking and you can see his teammates become more indoctrinated and in tune with that brand of offense until that synergy peaks in 2010-2011.

Always made me proud to be maori

Yes bro you build resilience thru adversity look after our Youth brothers in all levels of life

He is the man 👨

what a poddy 🔥🔥🔥

That was actually hectic !

I remember hearing Mike Tyson saying that everyone thinks Evander Holyfield is such a nice guy because of the way he presents himself, but that he's actually as cold-blooded a killer as anyone else. That's Benji. You can see it in his eyes. And the fact that he is a guy who clearly cannot bear losing probably bodes well for Wests.

Chur mean! Is there a reason why Benji was exiled from the Kiwis? I was hoping he would get into it a little bit more. Awesome interview! I'm looking forward to part 2 of the interview

Farkk moi benji is the goat 🔥

57:05 you don’t know how pissed I was when u cut him off 🤣😭 You can share ur life on ur own poddy brother 😂😂😂

That Terry Hill story cracked me up IYKYK the man.

Best

This has always been my take. We have a style and expect players to fit into that. But it can be like putting a square peg in a round hole. Having a style that plays to players strength is a lost art!

FUCKN COOL!!!

Nice Benji mean show mean insight chur the brother's

#freesimi

Lucky Benji didn't join the Titans this year. Mainstream media will probably run the story about how Benji almost joined the Titans

Try and Convince RTS to go back to leave. They are doing him dirty back here in UNION.Yes he’s a rookie this year in 2022 in PRO UNION but the man has done a lot in LEAGUE that a lot UNION players haven’t done in their career or in a team environment. Aim for RTS at the TIGERS.

What about rangi

The Blues comment on point, not enough time in the saddle the Blues have never reached any success makes you wonder?

55:50 "she's the youngest of 16....FUCK" ha ha

Lebron hasn’t retired? Did I hear that right?

Remus from GI mean player

maybe with benji at the club young players might want to stay....not a tigers supporter but damn they lose alot of young talent....maybe benji letting them play there own style will keep them around long term

that was mean bro. try an get SBW up there next

Benji smartly chose JT, C. Smith and Billy as his top 3 knowing that he got the W over them 3 in the 2008 World Cup 🤣

Lebrons still playing tho

06:54 😂 72 - 6 hiding from the Cockbois in the weekend, lets see what else this podcast holds in store

How does this effect lebron legacy?

Go lay in bed till 8:33 😂😂😂

He is Delusional, Cronk in front of John's ?