Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Brad Walter, SMH - Benji Marshall's move to halfback will improve the attacking potency of the Wests Tigers but he has to learn not to overplay his hand. That was the view after Marshall's first hit-out in the No.7 jersey this season in yesterday's trial against South Sydney at Redfern Oval.

Playing in the new role coach Tim Sheens has earmarked for him this season, Marshall scored a try and had a hand in his side's other two before leaving the field at half-time.

Marshall also directed play well and appeared comfortable at first receiver, although there is obviously much room for improvement.

"It was good, I enjoyed it. You get the ball a lot more than at five-eighth, and I've still got a lot of things to learn, but in saying that I thought I did a few things good," Marshall said.

"When you haven't played for a while it's a bit hard to get your timing so I would have liked to have played the second half to build on that but we knew before the game that I was going to come off at half-time.

"I think in the past we've maybe worried too much about the result at this time of the year but today we just wanted to build our performance and try and play a bit basic. I thought we started to do that today but like in any trial you get carried away at times."

Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons said he and Sheens were pleased with what they saw of Marshall at halfback, although they believed he may have tried too hard to put his stamp on the match.

"Benji did some good things, he pushed a couple of passes he'd probably like to take back but he's gone from handling the ball in a normal game probably 20 times to 30 or 40 times today in the first half so it's going to take some time for him to get used to it," Simmons said.

"We seen some good things there and, if anything, he probably overplayed his hand a bit. He's got to step back and let John Morris and the hookers get more involved but it's a learning curve, and what we saw today I thought it was really promising."

The Tigers camp were also impressed by the debut of England World Cup second-rower Gareth Ellis, who showed good footwork and ball skills in his 40 minute stint.

"He's a big strong man and when he makes a tackle, it's all over and done with. He's big and he showed some good footwork. He's got to learn our play so he can get himself in our attack a lot more but he runs a great line, he's got pace and he's a big man, so he is going to be a big bonus for us.

"We're probably going to be looking for him and Keith Galloway to improve our off-loading. It's something we need to improve on."

Marshall also praised Ellis, while the former Leeds star said he enjoyed playing with the likes of the Kiwis World Cup hero.

"Benji is a fantastic player, and after a few games together I'm sure we'll develop a bit of a combination," he said.

"A few balls went to ground but today but if we work hard and push ourselves I think a lot of those balls that went to ground we will probably pick up."

Asked if he had any fears about playing in the heat after weather forecasts that it would be 40 degrees in Sydney yesterday, Ellis said: "I watched the Leeds-Celtic Crusaders game this morning, and one of the stands was covered in snow so I know where I'd rather be."

With their top side on the field for the opening 40 minutes, the Tigers went to half-time leading 16-6 after Marshall stepped his way over for the first try in the ninth minute and had a hand in both of his side's others before the interval.

But with Daine Laurie the only regular first-grader from last season's Tigers line-up on the field after half-time, the Rabbitohs hit back through Chris McQueen, Jaiman Lowe and a controversial try to Shaune Corrigan to trail 22-20 at the next break.

Meanwhile, Souths officials used the club's return to Redfern to announce the re-signing of Kiwis World Cup hooker Issac Luke and centre Beau Champion until the end of the 2011 season.