Liam Marshall hoping to seize Knights opportunity and catch Shaun Wane's eye
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:23 am
The Wigan winger is in line to feature against Jamaica on Friday night
The England Knights programme is all about catching the eye and proving you are ready for the transition to the senior England squad - and few players recognise that opportunity this weekend more than Liam Marshall.
The 25-year-old is one of the senior names in an incredibly youthful Knights squad that will face Jamaica in Castleford on Friday night. "Maybe I'm closer to retirement than I thought when I look around and see all these young kids," he laughed this week.
But amidst the joking, there is a serious side to Marshall's approach to this Friday's game. On one hand, it affords the winger a chance to put a disappointing end to the season with Wigan behind him, but it could also be an opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream in the process.
A number of senior, front-line wingers will not be available for England's trip to France next weekend, including the likes of Jermaine McGillvary. That could leave the door ajar for someone to force their way into Shaun Wane's thinking if they perform this weekend: and Marshall is acutely aware of that potential.
I've seen a few names rule themselves out, and it's no surprise really," he told Rugby League Live. "It's been two years with playing so many games on short turnarounds and Covid issues.
"If I can put on a good display on Friday, it might lead to something else. But I'm just excited about getting a chance to play for the Knights for now. It'd be incredible to represent my country - it's almost the end goal, a senior England call-up. You're always nervous when Shaun's number pops up on your phone; it's been a talking to in the past about something I've done wrong but maybe next time, it'll be good news."
Marshall is arguably at an advantage given how Wane knows full well what the winger is capable of, having worked with him closely during their time together at Wigan. "The calibre of wingers in Super League is top quality," he admitted.
"There are standout names everywhere, and they're the benchmark. I need to be playing to the same standard as them to get picked, or even be considered. But it's good to be with the Knights and working in the system, and it means if the chance comes up, the transition could be flawless.
I've not spoke with Shaun too much throughout the year, but I've worked with him before and I know what he expects from a player. He'll demand the highest standards, and it's up to me to do what I did with him when I was younger."
Marshall can also banish the memories of what was a painful season for the Warriors by performing well for the Knights on Friday - and looking ahead, he is optimistic about what 2022 could bring under another man he knows very well: new Wigan head coach Matty Peet.
"It was a tough end to the year for us and not the way we wanted to go out," Marshall said. "We had aspirations of defying the odds and getting to the Grand Final but we ended up licking our wounds for a few weeks. For me personally, coming into camp and getting that Knights call-up has been great for me to take my mind off a difficult end with Wigan.
"Matty was the head coach of the academy when I first came in on trial, and it's great to see him work his way up and get the job, which is well deserved. I know him really well, he knows me and he knows what to expect from me and vice-versa. It's exciting to get a homegrown guy in charge of Wigan, and hopefully, it's a very similar story to Waney when he was in charge."
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... t-21862808
The England Knights programme is all about catching the eye and proving you are ready for the transition to the senior England squad - and few players recognise that opportunity this weekend more than Liam Marshall.
The 25-year-old is one of the senior names in an incredibly youthful Knights squad that will face Jamaica in Castleford on Friday night. "Maybe I'm closer to retirement than I thought when I look around and see all these young kids," he laughed this week.
But amidst the joking, there is a serious side to Marshall's approach to this Friday's game. On one hand, it affords the winger a chance to put a disappointing end to the season with Wigan behind him, but it could also be an opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream in the process.
A number of senior, front-line wingers will not be available for England's trip to France next weekend, including the likes of Jermaine McGillvary. That could leave the door ajar for someone to force their way into Shaun Wane's thinking if they perform this weekend: and Marshall is acutely aware of that potential.
I've seen a few names rule themselves out, and it's no surprise really," he told Rugby League Live. "It's been two years with playing so many games on short turnarounds and Covid issues.
"If I can put on a good display on Friday, it might lead to something else. But I'm just excited about getting a chance to play for the Knights for now. It'd be incredible to represent my country - it's almost the end goal, a senior England call-up. You're always nervous when Shaun's number pops up on your phone; it's been a talking to in the past about something I've done wrong but maybe next time, it'll be good news."
Marshall is arguably at an advantage given how Wane knows full well what the winger is capable of, having worked with him closely during their time together at Wigan. "The calibre of wingers in Super League is top quality," he admitted.
"There are standout names everywhere, and they're the benchmark. I need to be playing to the same standard as them to get picked, or even be considered. But it's good to be with the Knights and working in the system, and it means if the chance comes up, the transition could be flawless.
I've not spoke with Shaun too much throughout the year, but I've worked with him before and I know what he expects from a player. He'll demand the highest standards, and it's up to me to do what I did with him when I was younger."
Marshall can also banish the memories of what was a painful season for the Warriors by performing well for the Knights on Friday - and looking ahead, he is optimistic about what 2022 could bring under another man he knows very well: new Wigan head coach Matty Peet.
"It was a tough end to the year for us and not the way we wanted to go out," Marshall said. "We had aspirations of defying the odds and getting to the Grand Final but we ended up licking our wounds for a few weeks. For me personally, coming into camp and getting that Knights call-up has been great for me to take my mind off a difficult end with Wigan.
"Matty was the head coach of the academy when I first came in on trial, and it's great to see him work his way up and get the job, which is well deserved. I know him really well, he knows me and he knows what to expect from me and vice-versa. It's exciting to get a homegrown guy in charge of Wigan, and hopefully, it's a very similar story to Waney when he was in charge."
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... t-21862808
no sh*t