Graham Lowe: Benji can carry this heaviest of burdens

Benji Marshall leads the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images

Tonight, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the world champion Kiwis take on the mighty Kangaroos.

This one-off Anzac test match has more riding on it than meets the eye.

I'm expecting 80 minutes of mayhem as the Aussies try to convince the world they are still the best at league.

I'm equally sure the Kiwis now truly believe in themselves and will throw everything but the kitchen sink at their cocky cousins across the ditch.

The State of Origin series has proved consistently since 1980 it is one of the most eagerly awaited and popular sporting contests. But tonight the Kiwis have the chance to help destroy that reputation.

A victory by the Kiwis will cause panic and doubt at all levels of Australian league and demote Origin footy to where it should sit, beneath test football.

The Kiwis have a mighty chance of pulling this off and should be brimming with confidence.

I think it was a great move by Kiwi coach Steven Kearney to appoint Benji Marshall as captain. He is an inspirational player, full of energy, determination, skill and pride - a perfect captain's mix.

He has the ability to grab the game when it is starting to look unwinnable and win it on his own. It's a quality few players have. Unfortunately for the Kiwis, the Aussie half pairing of Jonathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer also have it.

But I don't see the Kangaroo forwards being able to put their halves in a position of advantage. The Kiwis look stronger in the forwards.

Tim Sheens wearing the Kangaroos coaching hat for the first time will have a big influence with his pet plays being set-pieces. The Australians do hold the edge as far as pace goes in the backline and Sheens will have at least four special plays they have been practising this week to try to set that backline free.

However, Kearney will know if he can get his Kiwi forwards rolling ahead and supporting each other Marshall can weave his magic.

But not many Kiwi captains have carried as much responsibility as Marshall does tonight. These expectations could turn many players into nervous Nellies but it won't be the case with Benji. He will thrive on the responsibility.

The Kiwis have every right to feel confident and will have a bond of closeness that could only come from being world champions. But I expect the game to be so tight it could be decided by the team that best feeds off the error-driven scraps.

Both sides will employ a rushing defence. However, to do this the marker defence need to be in working order very quickly. They are in a position to cause plenty of damage to the attack if they get it right.

However, if the Kiwis do make errors I hope they don't spend the next few seconds cuddling the offender and giving the fans the impression it doesn't matter.

Sure if a player makes any sort of error he feels bad about it and so do his teammates. But this is where I have a major disagreement with some of the sporting psychologists.

Support from teammates can be done by simple eye contact and the offending player certainly doesn't need the team rushing in and rubbing his head.

Most teams in the NRL are guilty of doing this and, to tell the truth, I think it is because the captains aren't baring their teeth enough at their own players.

When inexcusable dumb mistakes are made, players need to be made aware of it on the spot. Some may argue that any sort of message of this nature should only be expressed in the privacy of the dressing room.

I disagree. Players needn't be embarrassed in front of the crowd, but they need to be told by their captain. If they can't cop it, too bad!

Watch when a penalty needs to be given, you'll see the referee doesn't rush over and tousle the guilty player's hair, he lets them know what they have done.

The same should apply to a player getting a serve from his captain. It's all a bit too PC at the moment.

The Warriors are fortunate to have one of the best captains in the NRL in Steve Price. But I'm sure even his patience is running out with the constant flow of mistakes he is having to put up with.

Some of the most colourful and descriptive messages I ever received while coaching came from Mark Graham who was captain for me at club and test level.

If any player became guilty of making any sort of mistake Mark was merciless. A message would arrive to me via a runner which when translated meant "get this ****ing player off the field, he is costing us the game".

While in many cases I told Mark to pull his head in and get on with his own game, I also often took his tip and the appropriate action.

The captain is the coach's link to the players on the field. But in saying that, each player has to accept his own accountability.

I really felt for Warriors coach Ivan Cleary sitting in his coaching box witnessing his team make schoolboy errors against the Dragons last Sunday.

The pioneers of league who got out of the coal pits in the north of England then went and played league for a couple of pounds a win had a totally different view of any of their teammates losing the ball.

The very survival of their families in many cases meant they had to win in order to earn the much-needed extra £2. Losing in most cases meant the players took home a mere couple of bob each.

Nowadays the NRL players' livelihood doesn't depend on winning or losing - they get appearance money.

However, the coach and the club can suffer irreparable damage from the simplest and dumbest mistakes on the field made by players lacking concentration.

So I'd like to see the pats on the head kept for those who score tries, not those who cost them.

The loss of Isaac Luke is critical, but not terminal. There's no doubt Luke had been in form and I was looking forward to the damage he would do from dummy half.

Luke's suspension has reduced the Kiwis' chances of winning by up to 10 per cent. But that just means the rest of them have to work 10 per cent harder. His replacement, Dene Halatau, must stand and deliver.

At Suncorp tonight risks also need to be taken. How you balance that risk factor is the question all coaches struggle with.

The biggest risk is not to take one but it has to somehow be balanced and managed.

Confidence and communication develops a sixth sense on the field and this is what Marshall needs from his players when he makes a move. While he will not overplay his role, he is an instinctive player and his teammates need to give him depth for his options.

He is not shy in running sideways trying to find space so it is critical he is not forced to run behind his own players.

Deep and wide; it's an old call, but it can deliver a new era.

I'm expecting the unexpected tonight and that's what makes it so exciting.