Steppin' with Benji Marshall

By David Riley

Steppin' with Benji Marshall is the inspirational story of how a young man from a small town overcame huge challenges in life to become an NRL Premiership winner, a World Champion, an All Star and one of the best rugby league players in the world. Learn how Benji did it and how you can achieve your dreams too, no matter what struggles you're facing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Riley
• Release date: Oct 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301009114

David Riley

David Riley lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his wife, Nealy. He currently exhibits his artwork in Prescott and Flagstaff, Arizona. David is often driven to paint by the desire to capture human emotion and the power of telling stories.

Book preview

"Dear reader, as a young Maori boy from a small town, my life shows that anything is possible. If I can do it, then so can you! Dreams come true."

Benji

'Bash Benji!'

It’s three days before the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final. The Australian Kangaroos are favourites to win, just like they always are.

They meet for a special, secret video session. Their mission: create a game plan to defeat the Kiwis. One name comes up over and over - Benji Marshall.

‘Petero Civoniceva. Brent Kite,’ the Aussie coach says to his giant forwards. ‘Run straight at Benji. Force him to try and tackle you. He’s got no chance!’

‘Paul Gallen. Glenn Stewart,’ he continues. ‘ Whenever Benji has the ball . . . BASH him!’

It’s unusual for one player to receive so much attention from the opposition before a big game. But then again, Benji Marshall is an unusual player!

There are many great players in the NRL. Jarryd Hayne can step off both feet. Greg Inglis is quick and strong. Johnathan Thurston has tremendous passing skills.

What makes Benji so special? Well, he doesn’t just have one of these talents - he has them all!

Stupefying Sidestepping

Benji developed his famous sidestep while growing up in New Zealand. Youngsters in his neighbourhood competed to see who could come up with the best steps. Benji tested his out on his younger brothers in their backyard, experimented with them while walking to the shops, perfected them in touch tournaments at his local park.

Dr. Jodi Richardson is a Sports Scientist who has studied sidestepping. ‘A great sidestep requires not only fast feet, but quick thinking too,’ she says. ‘Those who execute this skill to perfection know when to use it through reading the play, planning ahead and being fast!’

Benji has ‘executed’ some of the best players in the NRL with his deadly sidesteps.

‘You’re thinking, When’s it coming? When’s it coming? says commentator Peter Sterling. ‘And by the time you’ve thought about when it’s coming . . . it’s already happened . . . it’s too late!’

Phenomenal Passing

Benji is one of the deadliest passers in rugby league. He can fire twenty meter taser-like spirals to his wingers, or pop up delicate floaters to his forwards, putting them through the tiniest of gaps.

But it’s the trick passes that have made his fame: the ‘no look’, the ‘round the back’, ‘the flick’.

Other players can do trick passes. But what makes Benji different, is that he’s brave enough to actually do them . . . even in the biggest games! To Benji, the ‘no look’, the ‘round the corner’ and the ‘flick’ are the kinds of passes he’s done all his life.

‘In Australia they don’t really practise those things,’ Benji says. ‘They think you have to be real talented to do that kind of stuff. But kids in New Zealand have been doing it since they’re seven years old!’

Sizzling Speed

Speed is one of the most important tools for a rugby league player. Off the mark speed upsets defense lines. Open field speed helps players elude the opposition. Benji brings this kind of speed to the football field every weekend.

Throughout his career, Benji has set up and scored some of the greatest tries ever seen through his combination of stepping, passing and speed.

The Australian team didn’t want that to happen to them in the 2008 World Cup Final. That’s why they planned to, ‘BASH Benji’.

Toughness

But there’s another quality not many know about Benji: he’s incredibly tough! In this book you’ll read how Benji missed a lot of games due to