Benji to fight back as Reynolds gets second chance

Benji Marshall has vowed to fight his way back into first grade following his shock axing at Wests Tigers.

Josh Reynolds at Wests Tigers training in Concord on Tuesday, a day after he failed a roadside drug test. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Benji Marshall has vowed to fight his way back into first grade following his shock axing at Wests Tigers, which has opened the door for Josh Reynolds to revive his NRL career following 12 months of off-field drama and injuries.

Co-captain Marshall will headline six team changes for the Tigers’ clash against Canberra at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday following the club’s substandard loss to the Titans.

The Kiwi star kicked what looked to be the winning field goal against the Gold Coast before the Tigers conceded a late try to lose.

Marshall’s demotion is a surprise, but he hasn’t had a falling out with coach Maguire.

Instead, the Tigers mentor was disappointed with the five-eighth’s game management and defence against the Gold Coast.

Marshall only missed three tackles, but it wasn’t good enough according to his coach.

The axing isn’t ideal for the veteran playmaker, but it is understood that he could return to the NRL as soon as next week. He is also off-contract at season’s end and weighing up whether to continue his career in 2021.

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Marshall declared he was determined to earn back his position in the Tigers’ top 17 when asked if he deserved to be dropped on NRL 360 last night.

“Yeah, it was a tough one. He (Madge) called me into his office this morning and I was a little bit shocked and disappointed that I got dropped,” Marshall told NRL360.

“Any player would be in that position if you are competitive and want to be part of a team, of course you are going to be disappointed.

“But Madge is the coach and he talked about making a change.

“If you look at last week’s game against Cronulla I probably led us home when we got a lead and game managed us to get home, but against the Titans we got to the same lead and I failed to do that with a couple of seven tackle kicks and an error.

“I just need to be better. I understand where he (Madge) is coming from and I’ve just got to train hard again and show them what I’ve got to get back in the team.”

Marshall is devastated with his demotion, but it didn’t stop him from being pleased for Reynolds to return to the NRL arena after months of drama.

The former Bulldogs star has reacted positively following a tough few months in his personal life, including being pulled up by police on Monday morning.

Reynolds said he had returned a ‘false positive’ to cocaine and methamphetamine in an initial roadside drug test. The second test came back negative and that one has been sent for further examination.

“Deep down, I was very, very confident because I know I’d done nothing,” Reynolds said on Tuesday. “But it still put a shock through me, I’m not going to lie.”

Reynolds will face a tough task against a strong Canberra side who will be desperate to make amends after last weekend’s disappointing loss to Newcastle.

Winger Robert Jennings has also been dropped and replaced by rookie flyer Tommy Talau, who will play his second NRL game after debuting in 2019.

The Daily Telegraph