Wests Tigers star Brent Naden reveals why Benji Marshall was ‘off’ him

After a turbulent 2024 Wests Tigers star Brent Naden has opened up on his falling out with coach Benji Marshall and addressed the speculation surrounding his future.

Brent Naden had plenty to contend with last season. There was his broken relationship with coach Benji Marshall which needed instant repairing, and the fact that he had been openly shopped around to rival clubs in Australia and England.

The speculation may have broken Naden in the past but after an up-and-down 2024, he returned to pre-season training at the Tigers refreshed and reinvigorated as he looks to resurrect his career.

Brent Naden has opened up on a turbulent 2024 season. Picture: Getty Images

RELATIONSHIP WITH BENJI

There is little doubt Marshall lost faith in Naden last year.

The Tigers coach publicly criticised the outside back following a match against the Dolphins which led to Naden being sin-binned.

Privately the pair had fallen out too with Naden refusing to shake Marshall’s hand following that game in Magic Round. He would go on to play just four more matches in the top grade.

“Benji lost a bit of trust with me,” Naden conceded.

“Benji and I had a thing but we cleared the air.

“He said what he had to say. It was a good rocket up the arse but I’m ready to go and rip in.

“I had a yarn to him just after pre-season started and the talk has been positive since.”

Naden admits coach Benji Marshall lost faith in him, but says they have cleared the air. Picture: Getty Images

SHOPPING SPREE

A host of Tigers including Naden were told they were free to leave the club last season. Two of them are already gone in Jayden Sullivan and John Bateman.

Naden has instead remained at the club and wants to see out the final year of his deal this year.

Multiple reports had him all but gone to the Super League for this year, but Naden said he never really considered moving across the globe.

“I tried to block it out,” Naden said.

“I didn’t read it. I don’t read the papers and I only have social media to keep up with family and friends. Everyone has the right to an opinion. It added fuel to my fire this year.

“My family does talk about it a fair bit.

Marshall was critical of Naden after he was sin-binned against the Dolphins in Round 11. Picture: NRL Images.

“It got hard but when I switched off from footy and refocused, I felt like I am ready now. I am not done with footy. I’ve set myself up for a good year.

“I wasn’t ready and I’m still not ready to leave the NRL. I still want to play in the NRL.

“I had a conversation with Richo (Tigers boss Shane Richardson) at the end of last year. It was a good chat and I have a point to prove that I have plenty of football left in me.

“When eventually I do leave here I don’t want to leave on bad terms.

“I’ve never left a club on bad terms. “

Naden has impressed Wests Tigers during pre-season training. Picture: Jonathan Ng

RETURNING STRONG

While Lachie Galvin continues to set the fitness benchmark at the club, Tigers insiders have been nothing but impressed by the way Naden trained before Christmas.

He was fitter and stronger than he had ever been and the 29-year-old looks prime for a strong season. Naden said the secret was simple.

“I simply switched off in the off-season,” Naden said.

“Footy is always around. If you’re not playing, you’re watching the other games. When you go out people are talking to you about footy.

“You can’t switch off but this season I’ve tried. I turned my phone off in the pre-season. I went camping and hung out with my family.

“(In previous years) I’d train a couple of days and then stress about making my times. When I switched off mentally I wasn’t thinking about it. I wasn’t stressed.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers star Brent Naden reveals why Benji Marshall was ‘off’ him