Benji Marshall says furore over Wests Tigers playing pokies on eve of match is a ‘storm in a teacup’
Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall has slammed the furore over two of the team’s star players playing poker machines the night before an NRL match, labelling it a ‘storm in a teacup.’
While some sections of the media believe Daine Laurie and James Roberts gambling in a Newcastle pub on Saturday night was disrespectful to coach Michael Maguire, Marshall – a 2005 premiership winner with the joint-venture club – had a different take.
Speaking on Fox Sports’ NRL 360, the retired great said the players were ‘grown men who can make their own decisions’.
‘They’re not breaking the law, they’re not drinking alcohol, they were home by 10.30pm,’ Marshall said.
‘Everyone’s routine is different. They’re entitled to do what they want to do before a game. The outrage has been out of control and over the top.
‘Some do the same preparation throughout their career, win or lose, so if that’s the way they do it the what’s the problem?’
Benji Marshall has called out the furore over two Wests Tigers players feeding poker machines the night before an NRL match, labelling it a ‘storm in a teacup’
Some sections of the media believe Daine Laurie (pictured) and James Roberts gambling in a Newcastle pub on Saturday night was disrespectful to coach Michael Maguire
On Sunday afternoon, the Tigers were flat from the outset and were outclassed 26-4 by the Knights, with James Roberts (pictured) suffering an early cork in a performance to forget
On Sunday afternoon at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Tigers were flat from the outset and were completely outclassed 26-4 by the Knights.
Ominously for Tigers fans, the home side were significantly down on troops, with key quartet Kalyn Ponga, David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey all sidelined.
It makes the Tigers’ round three clash versus the New Zealand Warriors on Friday a must win encounter.
A third successive defeat will heap even more pressure on Maguire, who had already received the dreaded declaration of confidence from Tigers football chief Tim Sheens.
Roberts, who is no stranger to controversy, signed a cut-price, one-year deal in the off-season to remain at Concord after playing just 11 matches in 2021.
The Tigers were prepared to cut him loose, but a noticeable shift in Roberts’ attitude at training saw the club give him a final chance.
A NSW Origin player in 2018, Roberts’ inconsistent form has seen the journeyman represent the Rabbitohs, Panthers, Titans, Broncos and Eels since 2011.
Numerous alcohol-fuelled incidents have proven to be detrimental for Roberts, who endured a troubled upbringing and has admitted to ongoing mental health struggles.
He was homeless when he signed for the Panthers in 2013 and last July almost caused the NRL competition to be suspended after breaching quarantine protocols within the Covid player bubble.
Roberts, 28, was pictured soaking in the sun of his hotel balcony despite being told to stay in his hotel room – with the images from the Novotel in Surfers Paradise infuriating Queensland Health authorities at the time.
A fortnight earlier, the NRL had moved the entire competition to Queensland in the midst of Sydney’s spiralling Covid outbreak.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk