Steve Deane: Benji has all the tools to give English a Ruud awakening

Benji Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

We make exceptions for genius, us sports fans. As a Tottenham supporter, there are few things I'd less rather do than watch Chelsea play. Watching Arsenal is one of those things. Watching Chelsea play Arsenal - about as unpalatable as it gets.

The only excuse I can offer for wandering down to Stamford Bridge one afternoon in 1995 was that I was going to see true genius, Ruud Gullit.

The phrase "worth the price of entry alone" doesn't do justice to the experience.

With his trademark dead giant tarantula on his head, Gullit strolled around the park looking every bit like a creature from another planet. It wasn't just the haircut that set him apart from the humans. Gullit had time. As much of it as he wanted, whenever he wanted. He existed on another plane.

In a Chelsea team pre-filthy Russian oil money vintage, when the likes of Denis Wise made a living out of kicking people, Gullit represented the start of a revolution. Chelsea had only one tactic - give it to Ruud.

Ruud then did whatever he wanted, all in his own good time. If there is a better demonstration in a sportsman of the rule that the ability to create time, to meld it to ones will is the mark of true genius then I have not seen it. They say Sir Donald Bradman had it, but I'll have to take their word on that.

Benji Marshall has a long way to go before he is at the likes of Gullit's level, but there is no doubt he is cut from the same cloth.

In last week's Kiwis warm-up match against Samoa, Marshall was bending time all right. I took the chance to watch the game at ground level, and kept my eyes on Marshall. It took me back to that afternoon in West London.

Sure, in league it's the forwards' job to create time and space for the halves and the Kiwis big men were all over Samoa. But Marshall took what he was given and turned it into points almost at will. It's something he has done all season with Wests Tigers; something he gets better at every time he runs out.

Marshall has quick feet and hands but it is the speed between his ears that sets him apart. First man play, second man play, step, run, flick pass - he assesses all the options in a split second. Unlike his early years, these days he usually picks the right one.

If England are to have any chance they will have to deny Marshall time. They did it last year in Huddersfield. Cut down his time and Marshall becomes just another player.

Give him a split second and chances are you'll be looking at what went wrong on a highlights reel.