‘Shattering’: Benji Marshall’s horror farewell
Îïóáëèêîâàííî 28.09.2020 08:15
Earlier this month, the Tigers dropped a bombshell by confirming this would be Marshall’s final season with the club.
With the Tigers unable to qualify for the finals series, Saturday evening’s clash against the Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium would be the New Zealander’s last match in orange and black.
Rugby league fans were eager for Marshall to pull off one last golden moment in his farewell match, but it wasn’t to be.
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In the 18th minute, Marshall was tackled by Parramatta’s Andrew Davey before Will Smith’s shoulder made contact with the 35-year-old’s head.
Benji Marshall is attended to by a trainer.
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A trainer immediately rushed onto the ground when Marshall was spotted limping and clutching at his ribs.
Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said: “That’s not good. He looks gone.
“Benji is really struggling back on the 20m line. He’s out of the play. He’s signalling to the referee even with the Tigers with the ball.
“This doesn’t look like something he can just run out.”
Replays showed Marshall’s left knee had awkwardly bent behind his body as he hit the turf, causing immense pain for the Tigers captain.
After reviewing the footage, referee Ben Cummins put Smith on report for high contact, and Marshall was taken off the field for an HIA.
Voss muttered: “He has three injuries to deal with form the one tackle.”
Before halftime, Fox Sports reporter Megan Barnard confirmed Marshall had been ruled out of the match with a suspected MCL tear and broken ribs, prematurely ending his season.
Benji Marshall unfortunately won’t return with suspected MCL injury. Likely moderate/high grade (partial/complete tear) considering mechanism & inability to return. Silver lining ACL likely spared.Worst case: complete MCL tear & 10weeks.Horrible way for his Tigers career to end pic.twitter.com/Nx1gzYiQcf— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 26, 2020
Benji Marshall gone for the night. Has broken ribs to go with medial ligament damage in his left knee. We won't see him again in Tigers colours, hopefully that's not the end of him in the NRL.#NRLTigersEels— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) September 26, 2020
I truly hope that’s not the last we’ll see of Benj in the NRL. He’s been such a brilliant player and we should all feel privileged to have followed his playing career. He’s just one of those guys who’ll go down as a legend. Let us never forget the Benji step.
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