Cowboys coach says Broncos a chance of springing Marshall derby surprise

IT would not be a Queensland derby without some pre-match mind games and Cowboys coach Paul Green believes Wayne Bennett could throw a curve ball in tonight’s blockbuster NRL clash.

Benji Marshall. Picture: Annette Dew

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IT WOULD not be a Queensland derby without some pre-match mind games and Cowboys coach Paul Green believes his former mentor could throw a curve ball and thrust Benji Marshall into tonight’s blockbuster.

Marshall trained strongly with the Broncos yesterday and will be 18th man for his new club tonight.

The ex-Kiwi Test captain was slated to play for Redcliffe against the CQ Capras in their Intrust Super Cup clash tomorrow in Rockhampton.

However, Marshall will not play for the Dolphins tomorrow. He is expected to instead make his Intrust Super Cup debut next weekend.

With Broncos utility Alex Glenn (concussion) still to be assessed by doctors, there is scope for Marshall to make his Broncos debut off the bench at Suncorp Stadium.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he did,” Green said when asked if Bennett could blood Marshall.

“He’s very good at that — coming up with something from left-field.

“If he does he does, but I’m not worried either way.

“We’ve prepared well and I’m confident we’ll play well.”

Benji Marshall has been training well. Picture: Annette Dew

Marshall, 32, has looked slick at training with the Broncos this week.

He filled in at right centre for James Roberts early in the week and ran with an 18-man squad in yesterday’s final hitout.

But Bennett was adamant Marshall would not force his way into Brisbane’s team for tonight’s clash.

“He can’t make the squad at the moment,” Bennett said.

Green cut his teeth as an NRL coach under Bennett, serving as his assistant at Red Hill in the late 2000s.

He got one over his ex-mentor in the 2015 NRL grand final and said Bennett had played a key role in his development.

“I’d like to think there’s plenty I learned from Wayne over the years,” Green said.

“I spent a lot of time under Wayne. He helped me in the early stages of my coaching career.

“I’ve got a very healthy respect for Wayne. He’s been a top level coach for a long time and won a lot of premierships.

“I’ll pay him the respect due. I do have a lot of respect for him.”