He was nothing short of petulant and players were sick of his grandstanding so it probably came as a relief to many when he was left out the side altogether.
It's similar to the situation around Jared Warea-Hargreaves, and his latest injury has removed the need for selectors to leave him out even though he, too, has been playing well.
The message coach Stephen Kearney is sending by not selecting Marshall is that he is standing by the players who won the Four Nations for him. That's a good thing. Now the players have to repay that faith.
There's no reason why the Kiwis can't win. The forward pack is tough and the likes of Simon Mannering, Martin Taupau and Jesse Bromwich are all playing well — although it's a shame it looks like Jason Taumalolo will be missing through injury.
A few of the backline players are returning from injury, but there's enough firepower there to worry Australia. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Foran suit up because he's a tough player. The only one who is playing inconsistently is halfback Shaun Johnson but we know he is a match-winner.
The Kiwis are in a good place halfway through a World Cup cycle. I questioned the reappointment of Kearney after the nature of the defeat in the last World Cup final but he sold a vision and appears to be delivering. It also needs to be remembered there really wasn't anyone else around.
The Kiwis were outstanding in last year's Four Nations, when they beat Australia twice in a row for the first time in more than 60 years, and clearly have a plan that works.
Australia are in a slightly different position. They have an ageing side but coach Tim Sheens, like Kearney, has faith in the players beaten last year. They will be looking for redemption, revenge, and that can be a powerful motivator.
They don't need to look too far ahead because the most important thing for them now is to win and they worry about the future
For the Kiwis, it's time to build on what they started last year. And to finally win the Anzac test again.
