Does NZ Rugby need Marshall or Does Marshall need NZ Rugby?

Question

Former AB player Justin Marshall wants back into NZ Rugby,

and has made overtures to the NZRU to come back in.

NZRU says that it cant afford him, and there are up and coming players coming thru the NZ system.

Is this typical Marshall speak, and over the top from him, or should we welcome back an aging hack from overseas to play NPC?

Answer 1

It was only 5 minutes ago Marshall was saying how great European rugby was and how c**p it is in NZ now he wants back!

Answer 2

he would be good for the game , he brings experience and direction for the younger players under him , and it might set a trend for other players to come home and finish there career here and pass there experience on to the younger players

Answer 3

Don't call us we will call you.  Good on the NZRU we need to spend money on the future not the past.

Wasn't this guy rubbishing NZ rugby a few months ago?

Answer 4

It would be a great move by the NZRFU to allow Marshall to come back but maybe into the Grassroots of rugby with say King Country. Would that not bring fans back to the grounds. I am positive school kids in towns like Taumarunui, Taupo, Te kuiti would love to watch KC Playing with Marshall in the team. He would be past Super 14 but then again we are not actually blessed with good halfbacks at the moment. Leonard, Ellis, Cowan are good players but are they a Bcahop or Marshall (NO WAY).

Bring hime back and carlos spencer back to Horewhenua where he started.

It worries one when the NZRFU say they cannot afford him, what has happened to the millions they receive and they seem to be wanting to pay Carter for playing in France, makes you wonder.

Answer 5

I've just returned from the United Kingdom after 6 years and nzers are still talking about Justin Marshall. Is NZ rugby talent that shallow that we need to select another has been because of his experience? He should be donated to auckland museum to accompany the eygptian mummy. If he was slow to pass the ball 8 years ago imagine how slow he is now. The nzrfu should reward him with a complimentary wheelchair nurse and retirement home for rugby players. ENuff said.

Answer 6

Justin was a great player when he was in NZ and I enjoyed watching him play even if I am a Chiefs and Waikato supporter. He should be allowed back to play the NPC. If the NZRFU are taking that attitude then it is Tew, Hobbs, and Henry who should be put out to grass. They've had their day, let up and coming coaches and administrators have a turn. After all it is the players that fans pay to see, not the administrators.

Answer 7

Why not take him back as a coach if he wants to come back?

Answer 8

Personally  i would prefer to see Sid Going come back, a far superior halfback, without the big head and ego.

Answer 9

marshall is dreaming if he wants to get a super 14 contract.NZ rugby doesnt need him at all,he wouldnt even be in the top ten half backs in NZ if he came back.NZ rugby is blessed with halbacks with more steel and calibre than marshall at the moment.

Let him stay overseas and keep shooting down NZ rugby like he has for the past few years.

People that want him back must be living way in the past,good ridence

Answer 10

Just saw a interview with the fella...Marshall talked about the possibilty of joining a nzedder team over the summer to get his conditioning right for next season and the heinekien cup...and it all blew up into speculation in the nzedder media.

Answer 11

Having watched Marshall play in the UK it is fairly obvious that the NZRFU would be less than prudent to take him back.

Answer 12

The NZRU should not be so hard nosed about this thing that is happening in rugby. Its not the holy grail of sport, as soccer has shown us. We don't have 40 million souls living here do we? So NZRU should look at the bigger picture and not become so tunnel visioned.

Answer 13

Yes I agree with all the others. He maybe bit a bit past it now for the AB`s and super 14  but he would certainly help alot of our younger players too and maybe start a trend of overseas players coming home. Awesome player in his prime though.

Tackled like a loosie. I`d pick only Graeme Bachop ahead of him in my all time best team.

Answer 14

Justin has had his cake and wants to l**k up any crumbs he may have left lying around before getting an 8 to 5 job back in NZ. The game even in three years is quicker than when he left and although his bursting runs may suit the new freekick rules, at 35 and physically battered by a long hard carreer he would struggle to match up to the hungry young bloods in our game. He may have to settle for an assistant coaching role with a province if he is sincere in wanting to put something back into NZ rugby and learn what not to say to the media.

Answer 15

This kind of thing should be based solely on form and performance.  If he's better than all the other halfbacks eligable then he should be first choice (he likely isn't though).

Answer 16

we need marshall to steady the young bucks

Answer 17

I believe that Marshall and all the rest of the ex all blacks that have failed to return the world cup to us should return and help others who will try the experience of our players are now lacking the Senior players influence and guide and to be a all black the one thing you can give us is the world cup either win it for us or play a part in winning it for us.This last world cup was heart breaking and to add to this the players who played in it are going overseas. Why? are they going they owe us the cup they should stay and make amends CALLING ALL BLACKS YOUR JOB IS UNFINISHED THE PRIDE OF THE JERSEY CALLS FOR YOU. The people call for you and the  nation lowers their heads in a shame.

Answer 18

hes living in the past the only thing that hasnt changed is his hair.

Answer 19

Don't need him.

Answer 20

Just a couple of months the big homo was farting on about how Northern Hemisphere's club Rugby's now supposedly better than the Super 14, which he derided as 'boring'. His opinion's a bit fickle if you ask me.

If someone wants to pay for him, then fair enough, but he's nowhere near the player he was in 1996.

Answer 21

We have some good halfbacks here and I think Marshall has reached his use by date.    His overtures are typical Marshall arrogance and second only to Kelliher who we don't need either.

Answer 22

Although he was a good player in the days, I think he should stay where he is.  He's passed it now, so lets give other players a decent shot.

Answer 23

He is in need of NZ Rugby but NZ needs to put something in place for players to be able to comeback and play for the AB's like SA or AU has in place

Answer 24

With the loss of so many top players and the impending loss of even more, coupled with the poor crowd attendances at ANZC games we certainly could do with a Marshall type of player coming back to play. However, he should not be paid any more than any other player or receive any special treatment, if he wants to come back he must first play his way back into the ANZC at club level.

He has the worldly experience needed to give back to NZ rugby, young players could definitely learn a lot from him and his natural exuberance and leadership is something that is lacking in NZ rugby at the moment.

I doubt his return will prompt others to do the same, and I doubt his return will make others stay but his return could ensure that rugby in NZ is not in the downward spiral that it would appear to be in at the moment.