Benji

Many lovers of rugby league, on both sides of the Tasman, have long been convinced that Benji Marshall is the best player in the world. That view was confirmed early in 2011 when he was awarded the prestigious 2010 Golden Boot – the international prize for the best player in the game. He is the first Wests Tigers player to win this award, and only the third New Zealander.

Despite being only 26, he has crammed an awful lot into his career so far. Marshall’s talent was spotted while he was only 16 years old, and still at school in New Zealand, when he was offered a scholarship to play for a high school on the Gold Coast.

From then on it has been a fast track to the very pinnacle of the game. He made his debut with the Wests Tigers NRL club in 2003 at the age of 18, and has been with the club ever since. He was a member of the Wests premiership-winning team in 2005 and, despite a string of injuries – including major shoulder surgery twice! – his star has continued to rise. His performances in recent years have left critics and fans on both sides of the Tasman breathless.