Benji Marshall’s tears of pride at his brother, Jeremy’s New Zealand call-up
Wests Tigers veteran Benji Marshall has done pretty much everything in rugby league - but there is one achievement he is most proud of, and it’s not one of his own.
Tigers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tigers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tears of pride were replaced with ear to ear smiles for Benji Marshall and Jeremy Marshall-King at a picturesque Leichhardt Oval.
Marshall told The Daily Telegraph he could not contain his emotions when he heard the news that his younger brother, Jeremy, was selected in the New Zealand World Cup Nines squad.
The veteran West Tigers playmaker famously broke down in tears earlier this year during the New Zealand national anthem after earning a Test re-call following a seven-year international hiatus.
Live stream the inaugural Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
For Benji, learning about Jeremy’s Kiwis debut invoked a similar reaction.
“It’s a very similar feeling, it’s up there. It sounds funny, but I’m more proud of his achievement in making this than any other things I’ve done,” Benji said.
“He’s my little brother and the youngest in the family. I think I cried more than he did when he made it, which is pretty big.”
Jeremy said he wasn’t surprised to see Benji so emotional considering his older brother knew first hand how hard he has had to work to even play NRL let alone on the international stage.
“He told me cried and I reckon he did. I have come a long way from where I started to be where I am today. I couldn’t even make any school sides and I was playing in division three. So it’s a really big achievement for me and my family,” Jeremy said.
Benji told The Daily Telegraph he is most ‘proud’ of the persistence Jeremy has displayed in pursuing his ambitions of playing in the NRL.
“All the hard work he has put in over the years and not expected to make it... he was always smaller and played a lot of touch so the expectation was never there. He paved his own way and made his own path. That is what I was most proud of, he’s done it his own way,” Benji said.
Tuesday afternoon’s training session at Leichhardt Oval was a surreal moment for the brothers.
Despite Benji having played 201 games for the Tigers between 2003-2013 and Jeremy coming through the junior ranks at the club, the two have never trained in the same side together.
MORE NEWS
Roosters need to shed a superstar
Titans captain James to cost club thousands
“It’s the first time we’ve been [in camp] together. We’ve never really even trained together. We didn’t even train together at the Tigers way back in the day. But we’ve played a lot of touch footy together though,” Benji said.
While the brother are in the same squad it’s unlikely they will play a full Test match together, at least not this year.
But it’s one dream that Canterbury hooker, Jeremy, is hoping can still come true given Benji, 35, has re-signed for one more season with the Tigers in 2020.
“It’s something you dream of, training alongside your brother… especially when it’s for the country you are from. My next goal is to hopefully to play with him soon. Hopefully it comes before he retires,” Jeremy said with a laugh.