KEY POINTS:
Benji doesn't want it to happen, Phil Gould, Matthew Johns and even his surgeon think it should, while Tim Sheens plays the protective father and tries to deflect attention from the subject until his prodigal son returns.
After his seventh shoulder injury in only three years, speculation has
mounted that Benji Marshall should move to fullback to help to prolong his injury-plagued career.
The gifted 22-year-old is expected to be out for between 10 and 12 weeks after his latest setback but doubt remains about his longevity in the game.
While fullbacks aren't seen to make as many tackles in matches, they still need to tackle. They're also required to take the high ball, often under immense pressure, and then run it out against a line of chasers ready to swallow them up.
"I think Benji could play fullback, but, if his shoulder is not up to five-eighth then he is not up to playing fullback," league commentator and former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe said.
"People are kidding themselves if they think he can hide in another position. He would be just as likely to get injured at fullback as he would at five-eighth."
Marshall has been trying to hide, in recent times anyway. Like other 'little blokes' in the NRL, he often takes up a place on the wings when on defence.
The theory goes that he's less prone to injury away from the behemoths in the middle of the park. It's a sound theory, but last Saturday's injury shows that he's still vulnerable no matter where he lines up.
Marshall made 70 tackles in the first six games he played before picking up the injury. Interestingly, Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson made 26 tackles in the corresponding fixtures.
At the Warriors, five-eighth Michael Witt was a lot busier making 126 tackles in six games as opposed to fullback Wade McKinnon's 26.
Australian media reported that the Wests Tigers coaching staff met as early as last Saturday night to discuss the possibility of a positional change, even if only on defence, for their playmaker.
But regular Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson has already said he would be reluctant to swap positions, pointing out that he's hardly a burly physical specimen at 76kg.
Despite Marshall's reluctance, his surgeon, Des Bokor, supported a positional shift for his patient.
"When you're a fullback, you're in the last line of defence, that's true, but you don't have six people jumping on you," he told The Australian. "Being at fullback, he's not surrounded by as many players who can fall on top of him, or whatever else, so it may be a less-at-risk position."
Sheens, though, had different ideas, publicly at least.
"Whether we hide him or move him is just speculation at the moment," he said. "But I have no plans to move him. He's a five-eighth and a damn good one... he's just going to have to learn to play in the front line."
Marshall is extremely confident of a successful comeback and a long career as a five-eighth. It would be a tragedy for everyone if he didn't.
