Ben Guild: Marshall made the right move back to league

Marshall is on the verge of regaining some of his better form for St George Illawarra in the NRL. Photo / RDP

Whakatane's Benji Marshall is getting closer to being back in a league of his own.

The former Kiwis captain, whose high profile experiment with the Blues on a purported $500,000 per year contract came to an end in late-April, is on the verge of regaining some of his better form for St George Illawarra in the NRL.

The Dragons have compiled just a 5-5 record with Marshall in the fold, but that has come during a tough stretch in their schedule that has pitted them against every top-nine side apart from the Bulldogs and Warriors.

Marshall has overplayed his hand at times, and admitted he demanded too much of the playmaking responsibilities alongside Gareth Widdop when he first arrived at the club, but there is little doubt his skill set and style is a much better fit for rugby league.

He has amassed 21 errors and 22 missed tackles since his return, but has also dotted down twice and laid on numerous tries while building a burgeoning partnership with fullback/centre Josh Dugan.

The difference in performance is staggering, although perhaps not entirely unexpected.

Marshall played just eight Super Rugby matches, seeing 212 minutes of action and recording just one start.

He scored only one try, one penalty and one conversion for 10 points — less than 104 other Super Rugby players compiled in 2014. His decision to return to league stemmed from a frank conversation with Blues coach Sir John Kirwan, who agreed with Marshall's view that the former Wests Tigers star was a league player trying to play rugby union.

"I gave rugby a go and it didn't work out," Marshall said.

"However, I feel like through being at the Blues I was able to find myself again, find some hunger, get fit and on top of that and, more importantly, I feel like I've become a better person.

"On the field, I certainly wanted to achieve more than how it panned out. It didn't go that way but, in terms of life, it did 100 per cent."

In retrospect, Marshall's lateral style and suspect defence were never going to be compatible with the flat rushing union defences that do not have to retreat 10m after every tackle. He is back playing the game he was made to play, and fans of both codes should be more than happy about that.