Latest news with #BenjiMarshall
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tigers can help make Taylan May better person: Marshall
Benji Marshall says Wests Tigers want to help Taylan May become a better person as the troubled centre prepares for his NRL comeback. After impressing in NSW Cup games on a train-and-trial deal, May will run out against Gold Coast on Sunday for his first game since round 10 last year. The game at Leichhardt Oval comes a little more than a year after Penrith released the 23-year-old in the wake of several off-field indiscretions. May had domestic violence charges against him dropped in March, after his wife who had accused him of punching did not show up in court. Tigers coach Marshall incorrectly said on Saturday that May had been found not guilty in court. May had pleaded not guilty to the charges and has since spent time in a mental health facility undergoing treatment. Marshall felt the Tigers had an opportunity to help May get his life, not just his footballing career, back on track. After a Hatrick of tries last week in @NSWCup for @westsmagpies Taylan May will make his debut for @WestsTigers this week along side his brother vs @GCTitans 🏉 — Western Suburbs Magpies (@westsmagpies) July 16, 2025 "This is not just a story about what's best footy-wise, this is also helping a person become a better person," he said. "There's a lot of things that Taylan's committed to off the field to help turn his life around. Part of that helps you on the field. "Everyone has their struggles in life, everyone has their dramas away from footy, but we treat everyone as people and then athletes second. We're happy to have him in the team." Marshall has been impressed by May's work ethic since he joined forces with brother and prop forward Terrell at the Tigers. "It probably runs in their family, they love training hard, they don't really have many days off those guys," Marshall said. "We're excited to see him go around but it's his first game back from a long lay-off so we're not expecting miracles." A loss on Sunday would be another blow to the last-placed Titans' hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon. Coach Des Hasler is under mounting pressure as speculation increases that he won't be on board in 2026 for the final year of his contract. Hasler has called such reports "unfounded" and forward Beau Fermor said the coach should not take the blame for the side's failures. "It's probably not showing on the field, but Des isn't the one that's out there missing tackles, dropping balls and all of those things that are letting us down on the weekend," Fermor said. "He puts in more effort than anyone else at this club. I don't think it's Des' fault that we're sitting where we are, it's us as a playing group and we need to stick together and work our way out of it."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'He's that good': Major coup as Brisbane Broncos sign 'next Benji Marshall'
The Brisbane Broncos have reportedly signed talented youngster Calvin Harris-Tavita from under the noses of NRL rivals the New Zealand Warriors - and rugby union. The younger brother of Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita, Calvin has been touted as the "next Benji Marshall" due to his side-step and ability to carve up opposition defences. The 17-year-old is still based in Auckland and has played both league and union. He attends the prestigious Kings' College and was recently promoted to the school's first XV in rugby. But he's just as good at league and was recently named in the team of the tournament at the Under-17s ANZRL competition. News Corp is reporting that Brisbane have signed the younger Harris-Tavita brother and given him a spot in their academy. And photos on the 17-year-old's Instagram account show him training in Broncos gear last month. Huge raps on 'next Benji Marshall' Speaking back in 2023, the chairman of New Zealand Maori rugby league spoke glowingly of what kind of career Harris-Tavita will have. One of the most respected voices in Kiwi rugby league, John Devonshire likened Harris-Tavita to a young Marshall - who burst onto the scene as a teenager with an incredible step and turn of speed. 'He is the next Benji Marshall to be honest,' Devonshire told . 'He is that good. I haven't seen someone as exciting as he is for many, many years. Especially as a seven (halfback).' Devonshire was a talent scout for the Warriors in the 1990s, and made a staggering call on how good Harris-Tavita can be. When asked how he rates the youngster's side-step compared to Benji's, he said: 'Better. And not being disrespectful to Benji, but he tackles better too.' Tellingly, Devonshire predicted the Warriors would have a fight on their hands to sign Harris-Tavita. But he thought it would be rugby union - not another NRL club - who would poach him. 'The lure of the All Black jersey is always there," he said. "Over here the school system is about two out of 10 for rugby league. But the family will do what is right for him. He has still got his education and we have to think about that as well. But he should write his ticket now. There will be agents lining up for him.' Calvin Harris-Tavita eyeing NRL debut with Broncos Calvin's older brother Chanel is having a brilliant season for the Warriors, helping them sit fourth on the NRL ladder after 19 rounds. The five-eighth stepped up last week in the first game without halves partner Luke Metcalf, who is gone for the rest of the season with an ACL injury. RELATED: 'Real concern' for Panthers as Nathan Cleary floated for $3m exit Wayne Bennett 'ban' set to be upheld amid awful news about Latrell As for Calvin, he might not have to wait too long to get a taste of NRL level at the Broncos. Michael Maguire's team have Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt on their books for one more season in 2026, but they're both 35 and won't be around for too much longer. Five-eighth Ezra Mam is only 22, while 19-year-old Coby Black is being touted as the club's halfback of the future. But if Harris-Tavita impresses the right people while making his way through the ranks, he might have something to say about that.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Saying my own eulogy': Benji's truth bomb after Wests Tigers loss
Under pressure Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall joked that he was 'saying my own eulogy' following his side's seventh loss in eight games on Sunday. The Tigers are desperately trying to avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon, with the club once again finding itself inside the bottom four after just six wins from 17 games this season. But Marshall was philosophical when asked about his future following their latest loss to the Warriors and said he couldn't worry about the board losing patience in his vision for the club. 'I'm not worried about the patience, the day the club feels like I'm not the right guy, that will take care of itself,' he said. 'My job is to keep pushing in the direction that I think is best for the club, which I feel like we're doing. 'Obviously the more you lose the more the pressure mount and the more the conversation starts about your role and your job and are you the right person but I can't take any notice of that, my priority is what's best for the team. 'Moving forward there are definitely things we need to work on. The long-term picture is on track to getting there but we have a lot of work to do.' Marshall's position has come under increased scrutiny this season, with the 40-year-old facing accusations of being too close with his players. It's the same criticism both Brad Fittler and Trent Barrett faced under similar circumstances, when they took on head coaching roles shortly after their playing careers. But second-year coach Benji said criticism is simply 'part of the job' and emphasised the outside noise won't change his approach. 'When you take these jobs you understand what comes with it. People talk about pressure and yeah sure but the pressure is because you want the guys to do well and the reason I do this job is because I want to turn the club around and I actually believe that I can,' he said. 'So you can't listen to the noise and you have to keep pushing forward and keep fighting for what you think is right and the rest will take care of itself. 'I've got good people around me and … I feel like I'm saying my eulogy … I'm good mate, I'm all good.' Tigers skipper Api Koroisau added: 'We love him, we think he's doing a great job and he really is for the players. He's one of those coaches that does everything for us and obviously the results are going our way but we're doing everything for him.'
The Age
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
More pain for Tigers as new Warriors halves duo run riot
Loading The Warriors have bolstered their top-four credentials by taming the Wests Tigers with a dominant 34-14 win over Benji Marshall's men on Sunday. The Auckland-based side ended a two-game losing streak and some poor form at Go Media Stadium, with new halfback Tanah Boyd stepping up in his club debut, while five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita bagged a double. Boyd joined the Warriors after six seasons with Gold Coast, but has had to bide his time in the NSW Cup. Having led that side to 11 straight wins, Warriors coach Andrew Webster had no hesitation in calling on the 24-year-old when Luke Metcalf's season was ended by a knee injury. It proved a smart call to opt for Boyd over Te Maire Martin, who came off the bench late in the first half on Sunday when centre Rocco Berry exited with a shoulder issue. Coming off an upset win over Sydney Roosters, the Tigers got off to a bright start, with Jeral Skelton scooting across in the second minute. Backing up from Origin, Jarome Luai found Adam Douehi, who fired the ball to Skelton with a quick catch-and-pass. The home side then hit the lead with back-to-back tries, scored by Berry and Harris-Tavita.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
More pain for Tigers as new Warriors halves duo run riot
Loading The Warriors have bolstered their top-four credentials by taming the Wests Tigers with a dominant 34-14 win over Benji Marshall's men on Sunday. The Auckland-based side ended a two-game losing streak and some poor form at Go Media Stadium, with new halfback Tanah Boyd stepping up in his club debut, while five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita bagged a double. Boyd joined the Warriors after six seasons with Gold Coast, but has had to bide his time in the NSW Cup. Having led that side to 11 straight wins, Warriors coach Andrew Webster had no hesitation in calling on the 24-year-old when Luke Metcalf's season was ended by a knee injury. It proved a smart call to opt for Boyd over Te Maire Martin, who came off the bench late in the first half on Sunday when centre Rocco Berry exited with a shoulder issue. Coming off an upset win over Sydney Roosters, the Tigers got off to a bright start, with Jeral Skelton scooting across in the second minute. Backing up from Origin, Jarome Luai found Adam Douehi, who fired the ball to Skelton with a quick catch-and-pass. The home side then hit the lead with back-to-back tries, scored by Berry and Harris-Tavita.
