Marshall Talks On Code And Shares Codes

Marshall Talks On Code And Shares Codes

Auckland, New Zealand, October 01, 2009 – An appearance on CODE and some code sharing are on the menu as Kiwi captain Benji Marshall continues to keep up appearances over the next few days.

The 24-year-old Wests Tigers star has been in Auckland working out with the Warriors’ players in the national train-on squad ahead of the 23-man Kiwi team being named on Monday for the coming Four Nations campaign in England and France.

Since arriving home last weekend, Marshall’s schedule has also included a number of appearances as he and the 2009 Kiwis eye their one-off Test against Tonga at Rotorua International Stadium on Wednesday, October 14.

In his next commitment he joins fellow 2008 World Cup-winning team-mate Lance Hohaia in a guest appearance on Maori Television’s CODE at 8.30 tonight.

Tomorrow night he’ll switch to rugby union when he returns to his home region for what has become a dual cross-codes promotion.

The New Zealand Rugby League is sending Marshall on a reconnaissance visit to have a look at Rotorua International Stadium ahead of the Kiwis’ Test there against Tonga. While he’s there the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is hosting Marshall and some of his family from Whakatane at the Bay of Plenty-Hawkes Bay Air New Zealand Cup match.

Marshall will also promote the Tonga Test, the Kiwis’ first outing at home since winning the World Cup by beating the Kangaroos 34-20 in last year’s final in Brisbane.

By Sunday, Marshall will be back with his own code when he makes one of the cup presentations at the NZRL’s NJC finals day at Cornwall Park in Auckland. Lining up in the Kiwi Cup (Under-18s) will be Auckland and Wellington (12.45pm kick-off) with Auckland taking on Taranaki in the Foundation Cup (Under-16s). That match starts at 11.30am.

Marshall will present the Kiwi Cup to the winning side in the under-18 final while former Kiwi captain Dean Bell will present the Foundation Cup to the winners of the under-16 final.

Already this week Marshall has appeared on Sky Sport’s 40/20 show, he spent an hour in the studio on RadioSport’s Sporting Breakfast on Monday morning and he was also on Deaker on Sport on Sky Sport last night.

Tomorrow morning he’ll be in training mode, joining the Warriors’ train-on players Hohaia, Russell Packer, Kevin Locke, Ben Matulino and Lewis Brown for a session that will include a game of touch against a squad of former Kiwi internationals.

The Kiwis begin a 10-day camp in Auckland next Wednesday (October 7) before flying out to England for the Four Nations tournament on October 16. Their opening match is against Australia at the Twickenham Stoop on October 24.

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