Most of you guys thought Benji was only a step.

I bet you'd like him controlling your side now, especially you Brandell.

*Shrugs*

If anyone watched today's game, they'll see that Jarrod Mullen is the superior package. Backed up after a week of schoolboy trials (and making the Australian schoolboy squad) to score two tries, make Joey look like the support player, and guide Newcastle to a win over the third placed Cowboys.

Benji? He's a step with the occasional flash of quality.

Chris

8 tries in 5 matches. That is not counting the ones he helped to create. Benji has also played test football.
You call Mullen the superior package, yet if he was born in kiwiland, he'd NEVER make the team in front of Benjamin Marshall. That is a fact.

One game does not make a superstar. Yet, I do acknowledge that Mullen has potential to be a regular first grader.

Enjoy Newie's rare victory, while we enjoy our second stomping of the chooks.

Yeah, I seem to recall Benji being completely out-classed for New Zealand. He's playing test football because he's the only New Zealand five eighth around. Who'd he have to beat out? Lance Hohaia? Please. Long term, Mullen will achieve far more than Marshal. He's the current NSW Under 18's five eighth, the current Australian Schoolboys five eighth, and he'll be the Junior Kangaroos five eighth in the near future.

Mullen has managed to shine without the presence of Johns and Buderus. Imagine what he's capable of in a side with actual class players (as opposed to Wests, who might actually look decent next year)

Outclassed??? He was the only guy who had a go in that test match. I thought it was a solid debut with some things coming off.
Sheens has Benji in a contained role, where he can inject himself as he pleases. He is getting better with every week. His last four matches were outstanding. Even in that heavy loss to the broncos, he showed some class.
He has good vision, great off the mark pace, good passing and a good short kicking game.
BTW, Benji was the Aust Schoolboys 5/8th as well, so Mullen has not beaten Marshal yet, and never will. Mullen is not even in the ballpark with this gifted talent.

Mate, you're deluding yourself if you think Benji is anywhere near world class. He'll never be more than a freakish step and a good passing game. He lacks Mullen's kicking game, and not even in his wildest dreams can hit make a break like Mullen. That's the perk to being trained by the world's greatest player, you don't just end up as another disappointment - like so many Wests Tigers' up and comers.

We all remember the wraps on Bronson Harrison. Bronson who?

Benji Marshall may be good but he's not incredibly as some people make out, firstly I'd like to see how good he'd play without Scott Prince.

I could name a few more players better than Marshall, Lockyer, Smith, Johns (When fit)

Broncos wouldn't need him, we have Lockyer

I wouldn't take him at Newie. I rate Mullen well ahead of him (especially with the fact he's not as experienced).

Comparing Marshall against Lockyer? Guys, he's not even in the top 10 five eighths in the country

Mullen vs Benji? lol why is this even being talked about. Benji owns, Mullen played a good game today, so did Ben Kusto once.

Idiot. I know you don't have Foxtel, so you've seen Mullen play, what? Once? Leave talking about it to people who can actually have formed an opinion.

Oh wait....Roger's seen Mullen play....once!

Point taken with the kicking game. Mullen is a better striker of the ball, while Benji does not have a long kicking game. But, fine footballers like Jason Smith, Laurie Daley and Anthony Mundine didn't have great kicking games either, yet were great players.
In every other facet, Benji is the better player.
I had to laugh when you mentioned that so many of our juniors turn out to be disappointments. You need to look at your own backyard over the last two to three years.
Our lack of success is due to the crappiest coaches in the league. Before Sheens, the last good coach we had was Warren Ryan in 1990.
In 1991, tigers management made the dumbest decision in history in signing up a coach who had NO experience in coaching league (Alan Jones). This decision set the tigers back through to present day. To this day, we still have not totally recovered from those days, though we are getting there.
Since Sheens came in, I think that our juniors have been largely successful. Sheens has kept the guys he wanted to keep. Newcastle have had many failures in keeping their juniors.
Bronson has been a great disappointment. He may come up again, but I don't think he will reach great heights.
BUT, a guy who has had even bigger wraps on him (Kade Snowden) has turned out to be a TOTAL failure. Those Johns perks must not have rubbed off on old Kade. Kade was meant to be the next Ben Kennedy. He is not even the next Kirk Reynoldson.

I wouldn't expect him to be, since he's out for the season...

As for that, time will tell. Mullen's looking good after only a handful of first grade games, and he's only going to improve at a side with plenty of quality juniors coming through. I do believe those quality juniors scored a good win over your 'lesser quality' juniors earlier today

Kade had his shot and didn't take it. He was dropped before he got injured. I think he even played Flegg this season.

Harly the sign of a Ben Kennedy-type player.

Again, you need to do your research. He played a handful of games in a heavily undermanned side after being promoted straight up from Flegg. When players came back, he went back to Flegg, and until he got injured he was playing Premier League. The one area Newcastle haven't lacked troops this year in the back row. Newton and Simpson have the starting spots nailed down, and then the likes of Abraham, Tanner, Reynoldson, Lowrie, and Mueller all have experience and size over Snowden.

I've seen Mullen play three times. The first two games were average. He had a good game today, but Andrew McFadden had a good game or two as well.
You are raving on about Mullen on the basis of one very good performance. He is a good player, but not a rep player. Too many good 5/8ths ahead of him. John Sutton is a year older, yet kicks Mullen's ass as well.

You need to watch some tiger games. Benji kicks ASS.

You know you're scraping the bottom of the barrel when you have to rip off something Maunder says. Three whole games? Jesus, you're obviously an expert on Mullen.

I've seen Marshall play more than thrice, and aside from today's game, he hasn't really convinced me he'll ever be anything more than a decent first grader. John Sutton? Please. No one in the red and green will ever amount to anything. As long as he's a Rabbitoh, you may as well forget him.

I'm 'raving' about Mullen on the back of his performances all year, in all grades, as well as the 'raving' of plenty of league journalists, players, and former coaches. Sure, Benji got the same treatment when he came through - but, again, I'll fall back on the fact Marshall's yet to prove himself in Prince's absence. Mullen leads our side around with or without Joey.

Mullen leads the side without Joey??? How many games has he won for Newie in Joey's absence???? :D Once again, no Joey and Buderus, they would not have won today's match.
Another comment I found funny was your sledge on Souths. Does Ashley Harrison ring a bell??? Luke MacDouggall is the best winger in the comp not to have played rep footy this year. He WILL play rep footy in the future. As for John Sutton, he is brilliant. There is no way in the world that Mullen would get picked over Sutton in any rep side.

No Buderus, certainly. No Joey? He did fuck all in today's match, aside from land a few goals. Mullen not only picked up Player's Player and Old Boy's Player, but also got every legitimate (i.e. not Channel Nine's) MoM you can get.

Didn't he finally make his Queensland debut this year, after seasons of being overlooked? Yeah, it's a real breeding ground for rep players...

Hahahaha. Luke MacDougall!? Mate, when you get picked behind Luke Covell in the rep scheme, you may as well retire.

The only rep side Sutton would start in ahead of Mullen is AA/TSI, and even then, the selectors would be looking for a way to make Mullen eligible. Sutton's another Preston Campbell or Mundine. Dangerous, but he'll never represent at a decent level. And before you say it, everyone (except maybe you and Mundine) knows that 'The Man' got rep selection because he bandied about the racism term far too often.

On a good note for Newie, I was very impressed with Josh Perry. Must be playing for a heavy contract offer, which Newie are silly enough to give him.

Mad Pup is a gun player. One of the great mysteries of the world is guys like Hazem for City and Covell for country being selected over McDouggall. I still don't know why he didn't get picked for that game.

But, he'll play more rep footy than Mullen, guaranteed. Same with Sutton.

You know, your igorance astounds me. Honestly. I generally agree with your opinion on players, but if you don't rate Mullen as a future superstar, you're insane.

Benji -> Kiwi -> Incapable of playing Origin -> Will never be considered elite

Sutton -> Will burn out after playing in a losing side for the entirity of his career. I mean, who have Souths signed? Anybody?

Why is Sutton even being brought up, Roger? Can't defend Benji?

I really don't see Mullen as a superstar. He has the ability to be a regular first-grader, but not more than that, with the gun 5/8ths around the NRL.
I'll remind you of this email when Sutton plays for City.

Which would be his first ever rep selection, right? Is he ineligible for all of the various junior rep games they play every year?

Benji is a kiwi and has already made it.

I've brought Sutton up because he is in the same boat as Mullen. A New South Welshman who will compete with Mullen for spots in the same side over the coming years.

And as I said before, one wonders if he's in the spot for talent, or because there's not a single other decent Kiwi half remaining. Lance Hohaia? Thomas Leullai? :lol:

Selections in junior rep sides do have a bearing on wether a player is going to be successful, but they are not everything.
Billy Slater was NEVER picked in any junior rep side in his career, yet has achieved success at the elite level. I have never heard of Sutton succeeding at junior level, but still whips Mullen in the ability stakes.

I'm going to put this down to your obsession with the Aboriginal players going around. I mean, you're the only person I know who considers Mundine to have been world class.

As for Sutton vs. Mullen, I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree. You've not seen enough Mullen games, and I've not seen enough Sutton.

That said, I've seen enough of Mullen and Marshall to decide that Marshall is exactly what you call Mullen "He has the ability to be a regular first-grader, but not more than that"

Ok.
When Mullen guides Newcastle to more wins than you can count on one hand, talk to me about his ability. :lol:
Btw, Im having difficulty with my msn chatbox, so I am unable to argue in person :D .

Might be a while. I doubt I'll see Mullen play in a full strength Newcastle side this season. (Well, I can guarantee it, since there's a few out for the season). Marshall wouldn't be able to guide the weakened Knights' side Mullen usually plays in (today being an exception) any better.

It's probably a good thing. I know how flustered you old people get when you have to think on your feet. This way you can take a while to formulate a response.

Do you think Hages will be a goose and dump Mullen? Even I can concede that Mullen has more potential in that position than Kidley.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. Kidley's position is undoubtedly centre, but Hagan's a persisent bastard. He's named Carmont every week this year, despite him being (with the exception of today's game and one against Saints) been our worst on deck every day.

Jesus hasn't this got catty meeeeeeeeeooooowwww hahaha! I will step into this but not carry on like everyone else haha. Marshall has it all over Mullen, I watch every game of League on fox sometimes twice a week and yes Mullen has a bit of talent but Benji is a gun. I saw Benji play for Keebra and even as a schoolkid he was just amazing to watch. Benji is just a special player and can turn a game at anytime, hsi step is freakish, and his skills are just awesome. He will just get better. Comparing Mullen to him is not right, where Mullen is an up and comer he is not a proven player. If he was so special maybe he could have helped Newcastle a bit more when they were getting towled week in week out! Mullen played well today against a Cowboys team missing a couple of stars and backing up from Origin. Admittedly the Knights did fire in the 2nd half, but I think if they faced a Cowboys side when no one was backing up from Origin including Johns and Buderus I think the Cowboys would have gone away with it easily. As for up and coming halves there is a few even going around that are better then Mullen as well. Sutton for sure. Tim Smith for damn sure. I don't know how this has blown up so much seriously, there is no debate. Marshall is proven, has played tests for the kiwis and did a good job for them. Mullen has really played 1 standout game, and it was not even really a standout today. Marshall is the pick, in my opinion he steps all over Mullen :P

No surprise that Hussey went with a Queenslander... <_<

Ladies ladies ladies.

please...stop bickering

I was at the Tigers game yesterday and while Benji was good...he had nothing on the performance of Mullen.

When Benji can take a game by the scruf of the neck when 14 points down against quality opposition and lead his team to win, then come back.

I've got no doubt all three of Sutton, Mullen and Benji have maturity beyond their years.

For mine Sutton shits all over both of them...and if he was in a DECENT team he would have been in contention for NSW five-eight.

The future of five-eight is looking bright for NSW, and for New Zealand...oh wait...not Qld.

which of the halves at newcastle is likely to be released, witt and ...........

Witt's the only one who is definitely on his way out. Mullen's secured, as are Kidley and Joey. Dane Campbell might go, since we've really got no use for him.

sweet as, just mentioned i cause in the nz papers they said george carmont wanted to come back to bartercard and play for the warriors. in the article it mentionede players that newcastle was releasing, thought it said mullen (might have been campbell) but the paper was used to start the fire today. doh.

I doubt we'll be releasing Mullen, but I know we've given Carmont permission to negotiate. Good luck to him, he's shithouse :P

coming from a guy who is a big fan of international football, im really surprised to hear you say that benji marshall will never be elite just because he cant play origin.