Wests Tigers Coach Mick Potter says the decision to put Benji Marshall on the interchange bench was one of the toughest of his coaching career.
Marshall will start tomorrow nights match against competition leaders Souths at ANZ Stadium with the number 14 jersey on his back. The Kiwi international is set to still play a significant role in the game when brought on.
Potter said the decision was discussed with the coaching staff who felt the team needed a change this week.
Im confident Benji will bounce straight back. I want him to be involved. I want him to take the line on, I want him to kick the ball and just do what a regular 6 or 7 does, he said.
Potter denied speculation of a rift between the pair.
We certainly are not the best of friends this week. Im comfortable with that, Potter said.
I dont have to be best friends with the players. I have a job to do here and I am trying to do the best for the team and the club. If I upset a few people, I upset a few people.
It was a tough decision and I was willing to make it on behalf of the team.
It was discussed with the coaching staff and we thought it was the right thing to do for the team this week. It mightnt be the right thing to do next week.
Potter added the focus was not on how Marshall would respond but on the team itself.
It is about what we do. It is about what we do to help him and what we do to help ourselves. It is about trying to change the game and getting the right result, he said.
View Part 2 of the Video Media Session here
Marshall will start tomorrow nights match against competition leaders Souths at ANZ Stadium with the number 14 jersey on his back. The Kiwi international is set to still play a significant role in the game when brought on.
Potter said the decision was discussed with the coaching staff who felt the team needed a change this week.
Im confident Benji will bounce straight back. I want him to be involved. I want him to take the line on, I want him to kick the ball and just do what a regular 6 or 7 does, he said.
Potter denied speculation of a rift between the pair.
We certainly are not the best of friends this week. Im comfortable with that, Potter said.
I dont have to be best friends with the players. I have a job to do here and I am trying to do the best for the team and the club. If I upset a few people, I upset a few people.
It was a tough decision and I was willing to make it on behalf of the team.
It was discussed with the coaching staff and we thought it was the right thing to do for the team this week. It mightnt be the right thing to do next week.
Potter added the focus was not on how Marshall would respond but on the team itself.
It is about what we do. It is about what we do to help him and what we do to help ourselves. It is about trying to change the game and getting the right result, he said.
View Part 2 of the Video Media Session here
