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GOLD COAST - New Zealand's Benji Marshall isn't going to stop tackling hard against the National Rugby League's big men, and his coach Tim Sheens prefers it that way.
The Wests Tigers five-eighth made a successful comeback in a trial against a Souths-Logan side in Brisbane last weekend
after eight months on the sideline recovering from a second major shoulder operation.
The Kiwis international was back home on the Gold Coast today, training for Saturday night's trial against Canberra in Brisbane.
He said he wouldn't be changing his tackling technique in a bid to help protect his 89kg body from the mountain men of the NRL.
"I'll just be a bit more smarter," Marshall said.
"Maybe I was trying to take on the big boys a bit too much but I'm not going to let them run past me. I still have to make the tackles."
Sheens said it annoyed him when people questioned Marshall's technique, pointing out his star five-eighth had never been injured trying to pull off a shoulder charge in the same style as fellow-Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams.
"He goes in hard and if he doesn't go in hard, I'm not happy," Sheens added.
"I've looked at every tackle (where he's been injured) and there's nothing in any tackle which tells me he's doing the wrong thing.
"If you don't show courage in this game and put your body on the line then there's no use playing."
Marshall said he didn't feel any nerves playing in last week's trial.
"I've done a lot of tackling and a lot of shoulder contact," he noted.
"I felt confident going in and had no reason to feel worried at all.
"I'm feeling pretty confident and 100 per cent."
Not only does Marshall have to get his own game in order after a long stint on the sidelines, he also wants to develop a potent combination with new halves partner John Morris.
Morris, Marshall and hooker Robbie Farah will start a match together for the first time when they take on wooden spoon favourites Canberra at Davies Park on Saturday.
"He plays a real solid game and makes his tackles," Marshall said of the Parramatta recruit.
"He runs the ball and complements the way I play.
"He hasn't played much halfback but what he's learnt since being at the club has been unbelievable."
With former Tigers skipper and halfback Scott Prince now leading the Gold Coast Titans, Marshall will have to take on more of an organisational role at the joint venture club.
"I like a bit more responsibility on the field," he said.
"I understand my role as five-eighth and a lot of the older blokes respect me telling them what to do on the field."
Sheens is happy to admit the Tigers cannot hope to win the 2007 premiership without a fit and firing Marshall on the paddock.
"We can have a good season without him. I don't think we can win it without him but then again we can't win it without (captain) Brett Hodgson," Sheens said.
- AAP
