NRL Finals 2021: Benji Marshall and Wayne Bennett deliver for each other in grand finale

Benji Marshall’s career was never meant to sputter it out, it deserves to finish on the biggest stage, and Wayne Bennett ensured it will.

Benji Marshall has vowed to repay Souths super coach Wayne Bennett with the game of his life in next Sunday night’s grand final as the Rabbitohs veteran prepares to retire from rugby league with a fairytale premiership ring.

After months of speculation over his future, Bennett revealed Marshall will retire at season’s end, setting the stage for the 36-year-old to enjoy a dream finale - 16 years after his flick-pass heroics in Wests Tigers’ 2005 premiership victory.

Back then, Marshall was a debonair 20-year-old and the jewel in Wests Tigers’ crown.

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Benji Marshall will call it a career after the grand final.

Next Sunday night, he will be the sage, no-fuss cog in the wheel for South Sydney, revelling in a utility role on a cut-price $120,000 deal brokered by Bennett that saved Marshall from an earlier retirement.

Even after Souths’ 36-16 disposal of Manly on Friday night in the preliminary final, Marshall couldn’t bring himself to mouth the dreaded ‘R’ word.

But he knows he has reached the end of the road at Redfern with the departing coach that has been a veritable father figure for the Whakatane Whiz.

“I don’t know if it’s the end yet, but if he (Bennett) has retired me, it might be,” said Marshall as he braces for a remarkable return to the big dance at Suncorp Stadium.

“This (playing in another grand final) is incredible.

“I just said to the boys, ‘You have to enjoy these moments’.

“Grand finals are hard to get to and there was a lot of talk about (Souths losing) three prelims in a row, so to get the opportunity to get through to the grand final, it’s a relief.

“You have to back yourself. You have to give yourself every opportunity. I didn’t come here for a lot of money but I came here for the opportunity and looking back now, it’s all been worth it so far.

“When you have a 17-man squad who are willing to do whatever it takes, it’s pretty powerful.”

That flick pass 😍
Benji Marshall announced himself to the rugby league world during the 2005 Grand Final against the @nthqldcowboys in what would become an iconic moment. Watch the full game replay from 4:00pm AEST @NRLcom 👉 – https://t.co/qnjbChdIAJpic.twitter.com/9LfETYEPzl

— NRL (@NRL) April 12, 2020

Marshall will play his 347th and final game in the 2021 NRL decider.

A veteran of four clubs at Wests Tigers, the Dragons, Broncos and Souths, the playmaking maestro will walk into the NRL sunset as the equal-seventh most-capped player of all-time, joining former Brisbane warhorse Corey Parker.

Underlining his longevity, not one of his Rabbitohs teammates was even close to making their NRL debut when Marshall carved up Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys to seal a 30-16 victory in the 2005 grand final and seal the Tigers’ maiden premiership.

His magical flick pass that night at Homebush, releasing Pat Richards for his 35th-minute try, has stood the test of time. So has Benji.

“Ten months ago I was at the rubbish dump and no-one wanted me but Wayne,” Marshall recalls.

“My wife is taking the credit (for Marshall playing on this season) because she made me call Wayne.

“I was just going to retire mate, seriously. She said just give Wayne a try and see what happens.

“I called him. He said, ‘Mate I have one spot left, come and join us and see what happens and that was it.”

Bright-eyed Benji with the 2005 premiership.

Asked to explain Bennett’s influence and their special simpatico, Marshall says: “He has saved my career two times and given me an opportunity because he knows what I can bring.

“It’s the care factor of feeling loved by your coach and feeling confidence from your coach.

“I have never played lock or hooker in my life until this year. I have played every position bar wing this year and Wayne gave me the confidence to do that and be me.

“The (No.14 utility) role has been revolutionised this year because of what Wayne has tried to do with me.

“He just loves coaching. If you see him before a game and how he talks to the team, he still has the touch.

“You still get the goosebumps and you want to play for him. He did a speech on Thursday (before the Manly clash) where he gave himself goosebumps before the captain’s run.

“I said you should have saved that speech for the game.

“I love Wayne. I am so happy for him. This is his last year as well and we want to send him out a winner.”

For Bennett, the feeling is mutual.

“Like a lot of us, Benji doesn’t want fanfare or fuss about it (Marshall retiring),” he said.

“But you can’t retire in a better moment in your football career than a grand final. It doesn’t get better than that.

Benji has revolutionised the No.14 utility role.

“I remember Benji rang me up and said look, the deal (to play with his brother at Canterbury this season) has fallen through, I would like to come to South Sydney.

“I went and saw Adam (Reynolds) and Cody (Walker) because I didn’t want them to think I was undermining them.

“They wanted him to come, so I rang him back and I said, ‘Why do you want to come South Sydney?’

“Benji said, ‘I think you can win the premiership or be in a grand final and I want to go out on a good note’.

“I said, ‘Ok, let’s do that. I will make you No.14 every week, that’s my guarantee to you’ and he has been wonderful.

“He has been great around the young players, he has been really good just giving them advice.”

The Marshall metamorphosis in his twilight years has been compelling.

After his golden years at the Tigers, Marshall endured some dark days.

He sensationally quit the Tigers at the end of 2013 and had an ill-fated stint in rugby with the Auckland Blues the following season, but it was Bennett’s lifeline to Benji at the Broncos in 2017 that rekindled his love for rugby league.

The Benji-Bennett partnership at the Broncos.

Now they are reunited again, Marshall daring to dream of a Suncorp lap of honour with Bennett. There would be no more fitting finale.

“The best thing I have learnt about being at Souths is it’s not just about you or the players, it’s about everyone,” he said.

“I have never seen a club care about their players so much. I’ve never seen a wellbeing department, through the (Covid) quarantine with all the families, I have never seen a club look after the wives and families so much.

“It amazes me how Souths go above and beyond for the families of the club. That’s what I’m about. It’s a family and when you feel that love you want to give back on the field.

“My job is easy, I just come in and bring the energy. I play every year like it’s my last and I’m happy to be at training and let these young guys relax and I bring some jokes.

“When Wayne is serious at a meeting, I try and spoil his seriousness with a joke.

“He hates me sometimes, but he knows what he signed.

“Some weeks I play five minutes, a couple of games I didn’t even get on the field, but I knew coming here what my role was going to be, so that’s fine.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment of this season, but the job is only half done.

“It’s back to work tomorrow.”