Benji Marshall bites back

A frustrated Benji Marshall has bit back at questions over his work ethic, pointing to his own longevity as a player and rejecting any suggestions he takes shortcuts.

Before he has officially coached a game at Wests Tigers, Marshall has been subject to a report he works less hours than other coaches.

Marshall’s impassioned defence came as he insists there is no pressure on Lachlan Galvin to be the Wests Tigers’ saviour ahead of the most anticipated debut at the club in a decade.

This week’s Daily Telegraph report also claimed Marshall arrived at training well after other staff and warned he could quickly fall on the coaching scrap heap.

The Tigers legend emphatically denied those claims on Friday, and admitted he was annoyed by the article in the lead up to his first game fully in charge against Canberra on Saturday.

“You don’t play 347 games with a poor work ethic,” Marshall said.

“The timing when we’re about to play our first game, haven’t coached a game officially is disappointing.

“I didn’t want to have to justify the way I do things, but what I don’t like is when things are told that are not true.

“You ask anyone in the building, I’m in here at quarter-to-six training with the staff before the players get in so they see us doing the hard yards before they come.

“Coaching-wise I know I’ve got a lot to learn and I have to work hard.”

Marshall also said the notion of a 24-7 coach was ridiculous, asking reporters if they also find time to sleep in their jobs.

And he was unhappy with the fact his right to go home and enjoy dinner with his family was questioned.

“What’s a 24-7 coach? Who says I don’t (live and breathe the job)?” Marshall said.

“I come into work early before the players. Work as hard as we can until we get what we need done. Then we go home.

“Because I prioritise my family between 5-8pm every night to find a work life balance, that doesn’t mean I don’t care about my job or care about working hard.

“I don’t get it.”

Marshall unofficially coached the Tigers in three games last season after Tim Sheens handed him more power, but he is viewing Saturday as his first game in charge.

He is already showing his hand by giving a debut to 18-year-old Lachlan Galvin in the halves, the same age he first played in the NRL for the Tigers in 2003.

Galvin will join Marshall and Luke Brooks in a group of 18-year-olds to have debuted in the Tigers halves.

Marshall is adamant he is not rolling the dice with the teenager, saying Galvin ultimately forced his hand for the Tigers’ first game with a dominant pre-season at Concord.

But the rookie coach has also stressed there is no expectation for the 190cm Galvin to feel as if he is carrying the weight of the club’s future on his shoulders.

“Lachie won’t come in and be the saviour of the club like everyone is talking about,” Marshall said on Friday.

“He’ll come in and do his job, and his job as the five-eighth is to get the team around the park and play footy. That’s all we want from him.

“Lachie is one of those guys who just plays footy, he plays what he sees, he’s not overawed by situations. There’s no fear in what he does.”

Marshall admitted he had some tears in handing Galvin and rookie centre Solomona Faataape their debuts on Friday.

The Tigers looked a far better team with Galvin on the field against St George Illawarra in their last trial three weeks ago.

Such is his rise, Galvin played U19s SG Ball last season and has not previously run out in the U21s Jersey Flegg competition or NSW Cup reserve grade.

But the new coach is unconcerned about the prospect of Canberra going after the No.6, adopting a good-enough-is old-enough adage.

“He put pressure on me to select him. I didn’t pick him for nothing, he earned it,” Marshall said.

“There’s no fear in what he does. He trains hard, he won every test in the pre- season, fitness wise.

“And as an 18-year-old kid, you want to see how they go defensively, and in the wrestle room he was outstanding as well.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him play. He’s a big kid and he’s also a really good kid, that’s what we love about him the most.”

Marshall also confirmed the Tigers expect Justin Olam to return from a knee injury next week against Cronulla, after he was put on ice for the Raiders clash.