Shades of Wayne Bennett as Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers face Dolphins in NRL test for rookie coach

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.

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.

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.

Bennett also rubbished suggestions his hooker would have any extra motivation up against his brother.

Marshall-King has been one of the Dolphins’ best players since the club’s inception.

While the 28-year-old has spoken of how he idolises his older brother, Bennett said it would be business as usual

“He’s not playing against him. His brother is sitting up in the coaching box. It won’t be an issue for him,” Bennett said.

“(Marshall-King) is a wonderful player. I love working with him. He is a great player to have around the team. He is no fuss ... no drama.

“He is really, really competent. I can’t believe we picked him up as easy as we did. He brings a lot, a huge amount.”

Bennett said he had been impressed with the Wests Tigers and Marshall. Both sides have won two of their past three matches.

“It is a great club Wests Tigers,” Bennett said.

“They have been in the competition a long time under two different names and came together after the Super League war and won a premiership.

“I want to see all clubs succeed. We have our turns at the top and bottom. I am pleased for (Marshall) and pleased for them that they have won their last two games,” he said.

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.