SPORT llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ntnews.com.au Captain Stars in coach’s eyes fantastic

RUGBY LEAGUE ‘‘I can totally see Benji and an Olympic gold medal in Rio Roosters, is expected to re- ‘‘They have incredible vi- mulls his By JAMIE PANDARAM Sonny Bill playing together de Janeiro. turn to New Zealand rugby sion for the game, and back for the All Blacks, I reckon Even the potential to be in- for the World Cup, and the that up with skill and excite- THE man trying to lure Benji they will play in the World volved in New Zealand’s de- lure of an Olympic medal is ment, and also performance next step Marshall to New Zealand Cup and then play in the fence of the World Cup in sure to be strong. under intense pressure, with rugby believes the Tigers star Sevens at the Olympics,’’ Kir- England would be an incred- Marshall is being pursued the responsibility of carrying By NICK SMART and will wan said. ‘‘I would not be pur- ible feat for a 28-year-old by the and Australian a team on their shoulders. be playing for the All Blacks suing Benji if I felt he player who has not played the franchises NSW Waratahs ‘‘They are traits you can’t is set in the 2015 World Cup and couldn’t, part of our philos- game since he was 16. and Melbourne Rebels. actually coach. to commence formal talks Sevens at the 2016 Olympics. ophy at the Blues is to create But the combination of While his move has been ‘‘Sometimes a change with skipper Cameron Sir , coach of great All Blacks.’’ Marshall and Williams in a panned by some given his age really re-motivates you and Smith describing his reap- the Blues, will fly to Sydney Marshall missed out of Sevens team is a exciting and lack of experience in top gives you a new lease of life. pointment as ‘‘imperative’’. tomorrow to sit down with playing in the pinnacle of prospect for Brazil, where level rugby, Kirwan coun- ‘‘I did it, I was bored in The star hooker is not out Marshall and has predicted a , the State of Or- Sevens makes its debut as an tered: ‘‘There are players I rugby union and played of contract until the end of rapid rise for the rugby- igin, but that pales in com- Olympic sport. call X-factor players, they are league for two years and had next year, but Storm ident- bound playmaker. parison with a chance to win Williams, playing with the a little bit different. the greatest time of my life.’’ ify the retaining of its cap- tain as a key priority. Storm and Smith’s man- agement have spoken, but it was agreed upon the two Johnson parties would wait until af- ter the State of Origin period before sitting down. crashes They are waiting for the green light from Smith be- fore attempting to lock away PUB: Benji’s arguably the game’s most valuable player. ‘‘It has informally com- TNEWS NT farewell menced, but it is something that will be done when Cam V WARRIORS is ready,’’ Storm football manager Frank Ponissi ’s heir appar- said. ‘‘There was no way we ent stole his thunder to fire were going to do anything the Warriors to a 24-14 come- during Origin and given Or-

DATE: back win over Wests Tigers igin has just finished, the at last night. last thing we will do is Playing his last game at the knock on his door. Tigers’ spiritual home after ‘‘It will be done at a re-

20-JUL-2013 requesting an early release spectful time when both par- from the club at season’s end, ties are ready. Marshall was unable to ‘‘But we will give Ca- match the brilliance of his meron some breathing young New Zealand Test space after a pretty tough teammate . Origin period.’’ Johnson delivered a Smith’s currency could second-half masterclass to not be higher having just led haul the Warriors back from to its eight con- PAGE: an eight-point deficit and all secutive series win and col- but extinguish the Tigers’ lecting the flickering finals hopes. Medal for player of the Dubbed the ‘‘next Benji series. He made it clear he 48 Marshall’’, Johnson kept the would not rush the process Warriors in at 14-6 and indicated he would be

COLOR: down at the break with his seeking a long-term deal. side’s only first-half four- ‘‘I’m 30 this year so if I pointer before igniting the re- sign a lengthy deal, it’s more vival with a 95m runaway try than likely going to be my in the 56th minute. last one . . . so it won’t just The 22-year-old then laid on come down to someone

C the match-winner for skipper throwing an offer and me ac- with a is crunched by the Tigers defence at Leichhardt last night Picture: GETTY IMAGES cepting it,’’ Smith said. M WARRIORS 24 well-placed kick ahead after ‘‘When I first started play-

Y shredding the Tigers’ defence. Tigers, Marshall was teary- sion attempt struck the up- lead was cut to two when Jo- TIGERS 14 ing, I always said I wanted Mannering’s try came just eyed at kick-off after receiv- right but the Tigers were up hnson crossed for the first of NEW ZEALAND: S Johnson 2 K to be a one-club man but as K six minutes after he was de- ing a rousing reception from and running with a 4-0 lead. two tries in the 34th minute Hurrell S Mannering tries S we’ve all seen with ‘JT’ (Jo- nied one off another Johnson the loyal crowd. The hosts doubled their ad- and added the extras. Johnson 4 goals hnathan Thurston) and his grubber when the two video In the sixth minute he ri- vantage when Chris Law- A spectacular 65m solo try WEST TIGERS: C Lawrence D last negotiation, it is a Nofoaluma T Simona tries B referees ruled the Warriors fled a beautiful left-to-right rence ran off five-eighth Cur- to exciting young winger Tim Marshall goal pretty important contract.’’ captain had knocked on try- cut-out pass for Blake Aysh- tis Sironen and bounced out Simona on the stroke of half- Crowd: 11,436 at Leichhardt Smith is set to explore his ing to ground the ball. ford to put winger David of a tackle to cross for the time again put the Tigers up Oval value in the same way Thur- Seemingly headed to rugby Nofoaluma over for the first Tigers’ second four-pointer. by eight, but the Warriors Referees: Gavin Badger, ston did last year before union after being unable to try of the night. Marshall again missed the stormed back in the second Luke Phillips recommitting to the Cow- reach an agreement with the Marshall’s sideline conver- conversion and the Tigers’ half to claim the points. boys. Raiders seeking redemption on home soil

By GREGOR MACTAGGART was a one-off,’’ Sultana said. being played at three separate playing-coach Jesse Maclean ‘‘We don’t get that many venues, a rarity in the Top and lock Lee Wallace have PALMERSTON is looking for chances to play on our home End league scene. been influential performers a swift return to the NTRL ground, so the boys are keen Nightcliff makes the trek during the Dragons’ current A-grade winners’ list when to put on a great show for all down the Stuart Highway to winning streak. they play host to Litchfield at the Raiders supporters. play a resurgent Katherine Richardson Park is the Allphones Park today. ‘‘It’s a big day for the club Tigers in Katherine. scene as South Darwin and The Raiders suffered their with the juniors from 8.30am, The Dragons are chasing a University meet in a potential first loss of the season last the women’s team playing at seventh straight win, while wooden-spoon decider. week when going down 32-30 2.15pm, reserve-grade at the Tigers are back in form Victory for the Rabbitohs to Nightcliff, but the league 3.30pm and A-grade at 5pm.’’ following a hard-fought 22-10 would move them two games leaders will still go in as Sultana said the Raiders, victory against University clear of the bottom-placed warm favourites against the who will be boosted by the marked by a quality display Sharks, who know a win in fourth-placed Bears. return of dynamic from five-eighth Josh Jukes. their favour would mean only Palmerston forward Jarrod Mahn Darley, were expecting Skipper Paul Jennings also points differential separates Sultana expects a response no favours from the Bears. made his presence felt and the cellar-dwellers. from his teammates in what ‘‘It is always a great local will need to again shine if South Darwin’s form has is the club’s last match on derby between the two clubs Katherine are to secure a first certainly tapered off in recent home soil for the season. and they give as good as they home A-grade win. rounds and while University ‘‘The boys are particularly get,’’ he said. Nightcliff is expected to has improved, they still lack hungry to bounce back after Round 15 is highlighted by welcome back Sunia Radravu that killer instinct when it last week’s loss and prove it the three A-grade games and Maika Salaa, while comes to winning matches.

48 NT NEWS. Saturday, July 20, 2013. www.ntnews.com.au