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Benji seeing stars

Benji seeing stars

01/29/2010 09:38:41 PM

NRL All Stars half-back and current New Zealand captain Benji Marshall insists he'll happily take orders from Australian skipper and new team-mate Darren Lockyer during next month's inaugural clash against the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast.

Marshall, one of four automatic selections in the 20-man squad alongside Lockyer, Cameron Smith and Adam Blair, will partner his boyhood hero in the halves for the February 13 fixture.

The remaining 16 positions were announced on Friday, with the most popular eligible player from each of the NRL clubs earning selection following a public vote.

Israel Folau, Billy Slater, Jarryd Hayne, Dave Taylor, Anthony Watmough and English enforce Gareth Ellis, were among the players selected at the conclusion of the online ballot.

"On a personal level it's great for me obviously being a Kiwi it's rare that you get the opportunity to play with some of these Australian stars," Marshall said of the All Stars concept.

"You're usually on the other side of the field so to get the opportunity to play with some of these players and be coached by the man Wayne again is something special and something I'm looking forward to."

But the 24-year-old admits the chance to play with Lockyer is particularly special.

"He's been around for a long time and it's like I'm a little kid again and playing my first game," Marshall said.

"To get that chance to play with a player who I've looked up to my whole career and taken a lot of my game off so he'll definitely be the boss, I'll just follow him around."

"It's not a relief (to be on the same side rather than playing against Lockyer), it's always a challenge playing against him but it's more of a buzz than anything to get the chance to play with him."

NRL All Stars coach Wayne Bennett said of his mouth-watering halves combination: "Darren and Benji, I just know what they both bring. I worked with Benji last year in the New Zealand team and I just hope we get it right on the night."

"They'll want to get it right and I just hope we do. If we can get it right on the night we're going to see some wonderful football and they'll be the guys that generate it."

"The difficult part is it's everybody's first game (of the season) and I'm trying not to build up my hopes too high because I know that timing and match fitness are issues.

"But I'm sure we'll play some great football."

NRL All Stars:
1.Billy Slater, 2. Israel Folau, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Matt Cooper, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Darren Lockyer, 7. Benji Marshall, 8. Adam Blair, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Dave Taylor, 11. Anthony Watmough, 12, Gareth Ellis, 13. Luke O'Donnell.

Reserves: 14. Kurt Gidley, 15. Anthony Tupou, 16. Nate Myles, 17. Alan Tongue, 18. Luke Bailey, 19. Josh Morris, 20. Jarryd Hayne.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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