Wayne Bennett’s cheeky swipe at Benji Marshall ahead of first game since completing hotel quarantine

NRL veteran Benji Marshall has completed 14 days of hotel quarantine and will return to the fray for the Rabbitohs this weekend.

Wayne Bennett has had a dig at his veteran utility. Picture: Getty Images

NRL coaches Wayne Bennett and Anthony Griffin are looking forward to seeing two of their stars back in action this weekend, with both players recently completing hotel quarantine and joining their sides’ bubbles.

Rabbitohs playmaker Benji Marshall and Dragons centre Zac Lomax will become the first NRL stars to take the field after completing 14 days in isolation on arrival in southeast Queensland.

While NRL clubs avoided hard quarantine when the competition relocated to the Sunshine State last month, a handful of players who travelled up separately were forced into isolation.

After his wife gave birth to the couple’s second child, Marshall chose to remain in Sydney while his Rabbitohs teammates made the dash across the border.

Lomax, meanwhile, was one of two attendees at Paul Vaughan’s barbecue who initially refused to sign a sworn statement in regards to the unsanctioned gathering, delaying his entry into the Dragons’ bubble.

The pair’s return will provide fans with an insight into the affects of quarantine on players’ performance.

Marshall completed his quarantine period on Wednesday, so will have had just two days to iron out any creases in his game before Friday’s match against Parramatta.

Marshall kept his fitness up by using a treadmill during his 14 days of hotel quarantine. Picture: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

He joined the Rabbitohs’ captain’s run on Thursday for what was his first training session with the team in almost four weeks.

Marshall is preparing to come off the bench in his first NRL appearance since round 17.

However, Souths coach Wayne Bennett is confident the veteran’s performance won’t be hampered by the time away nor the two weeks in isolation.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about (Benji’s) fitness. He looked pretty good to me today. I know he’s been training in the lockdown area he’s been in, in his room,” Bennett told reporters on Thursday.

“He’s a tremendous professional. He prepares himself really well every week and he knows what he needs.

“He hasn’t even asked me to limit his playing time, he just wanted to be in the team and I wanted him in the team. The players did and we’ll go from there.”

Bennett joked the Rabbitohs had actually enjoyed having a break from Marshall, who has a reputation for getting up to mischief at training.

“We haven’t missed him that much; we’ve missed his football ability, we don’t miss him having a go at us every day,” Bennett quipped.

Speaking seriously, the super coach said the side would enjoy having the exuberant veteran back in its ranks, adding it is “vital” to have players who are able to lighten the mood in such uncertain times.

“They help enormously with everyone’s morale and keeping guys up and Benji’s very good at that. Benji’s always upbeat and has got a great attitude,” he said.

BBQ attendees Lomax and Daniel Alvaro joined the Dragons’ bubble on Sunday, however, only Lomax has been named in Anthony Griffin’s 17 to face Canberra this weekend.

Joining Lomax in re-entering the side is Mikaele Ravalawa, who returns from a four-game suspension.

While Griffin said he was looking forward to having the pair back in his side, he conceded both were “underdone” going into round 21.

“It’s great to see (Ravalawa and Lomax) back and see them on the team sheet,” he said. “They’ll do their job, they’ve trained really well this week.”

Paul Vaughan (right) was sacked by the Dragons following the breach. Picture: Matt King / Getty Images

After Josh Kerr and Gerard Beale serve their suspensions this weekend, the club will finally have its full complement of players available.

In a cruel twist, one of the only senior players not in attendance at the illegal gathering, Ben Hunt, has been rubbed out for at least a month with a broken arm suffered in the Dragons’ round 20 loss to South Sydney.

Originally published as Wayne Bennett’s cheeky swipe at Benji Marshall ahead of first game since completing hotel quarantine