Benji Marshall was proud of his team for delivering what he knew they could achieve in the pre-season after their massive 32-6 win over the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval.
It was Marshall’s first win as a head coach, but he was much more focused on the team than himself in the post match press conference.
“It feels good for the team… you know it’s not about me it’s about the team and just for the club on a whole,” Marshall said.
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“If I’m being honest what I saw in the pre-season and how much work we put in… was put into 80 minutes tonight and that’s what I’m most proud of is I asked the boys to just follow the game plan for 80 minutes and give us that and they did it.”
Making the win more special was that it came at the club’s spiritual home Leichhardt Oval.
“Yeah it’s special,” Marshall said.
“It is in front of our fans and it is our first home game.
“Off the back last week and our performance to turn it around like we did tonight and it is all credit to the boys because without the effort.
“A lot of people don’t know but this guy next to me was battling heavy gastro before the game and could hardly walk and had no energy.
“And to punch out what he did in the game shows how much it meant to him to his teammates and that’s why he is the skipper.”
Koroisau was typically modest after his stunning display, before Marshall interjected.
“I definitely didn’t feel great,” Koroisau said.
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“I think the boys just playing the way they were made the game a lot easier. A lot of spaces for me to catch my breath.”
“He is being modest, he was very good,” Marshall said.
“It was incredibly gutsy and that’s what I just said to the boys in there. That’s the standards that we have set.
“And to be able to do that and execute. Like they are a red hot side and the game plan was probably executed to a T.”
Another recruit to impress was Justin Olam.
“It’s obvious that’s why we brought him here,” Marshall said.
“There’s the energy, the way he carried the footy and the talk in defence, the way he puts his body on the line.
“Not only that, he had him fully fit as opposed to playing a bit of last season injured really helped, but he’s really fit in nicely looked aside and we love having him in our team.”
Halfback Aidan Sezer was also impressive after being promoted from the bench last week.
“Credit to Aidan he’s had a bit of a point to prove coming back from the UK, with a bit of finished business, I suppose, but that’s his job,” Marshall said.
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“When you’re half back, you’ve got to put us in those positions and I thought you did a really well tonight.”
Despite the enterprising attack Marshall wads more impressed with holding the Sharks to just six points.
“That was probably the most pleasing,” Marshall said.
“To hold them to six who are a really good attacking side. And full credit to John Morris who’s come in as our new defensive coach.
“He’s done a really good job with the boys’ new systems. It takes a bit of time, but again, we have to back it up. It’s one week, I understand that, so we’re not getting too excited or ahead of ourselves. It’s one game, but the one that we needed.”
Koroisau is hopeful the talk that Leichhardt will become extinct as an NRL venue is wide of the mark.
“It’s incredible,” Koroisau said of the support form Tigers fans.
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“Just to hear them getting our backs, especially every time we’ve got the ball inside their 10.
“We made that first tackle in their back five, just hearing the roar that energy that you get, you know, it’s hard to put into words but the atmosphere sort of drives the energy in the play, it’s incredible, mate.
“To come out here and play the way and perform the way we did, you know, it was really special and, yeah, let’s hope that’s not the case.”
Marshall singled out young guns Jahream Bula and Lachlan Galvin for special praise.
“The good thing about those two is they work really hard,” Marshall said.
“They have a good learning mindset. They turn up every day wanting to get better.
“There’s no ego about them at all and probably our two fittest in the side, but I just like the way they just play footy to me and we just ask them whatever comes to their brain first to choose that decision, not think too much.
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“One of the things that gets taken away from some of the young guys is the ability to just play what they see.
“And with those two guys in particular, you got to harness that and try and let them play and, yeah, I thought they were both great and Lachie again tonight was outstanding.”
Marshall refused to get too far ahead of himself and is focused on next week against the Eels on Easter Monday.
“We just want to enjoy the win, but again, we’ve got a lot of hard work to do,” Marshall said.
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