Bennett ready for Benji's sneaky game plan

Wayne Bennett isn't one to bow to pressure but if the crowd demands Benji Marshall be put into Saturday's game early he could be persuaded. At least that's the game plan he thinks Marshall may have brewing as he prepares to face his former club Wests Tigers for the first time in a South Sydney jersey. Ex-Tigers star Marshall returns to the bench this week after deputising for suspended five-eighth Cody Walker and Bennett knows he'll be angling for more game time. "I reckon he'll stand up a bit earlier, the crowd will go off and that will put pressure on me to put Benji on and that'll be his game plan, he'll have one to get himself out there," Bennett said on Friday ahead of the clash at Stadium Australia. Said with the wry smile he's famous for, Bennett still knows he's boss. But coaching 36-year-old Marshall brings out a sillier side of the mastercoach. "(I love his) commitment, his energy, his sense of fun and enjoyment. "He's a result of 19 years in the NRL and he's finally learnt it, he's got it all. "He's really good with the players. "He's really good for me too, he makes me laugh and tries to wind me up and that's not a bad thing for me." The Souths team have not addressed it, but the meeting of Marshall and the Tigers could stir some emotion for the Kiwi legend who was not offered a contract extension for this year.

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