Super Cronk
28-09-05, 12:15 AM
TIGERS whiz kid Benji Marshall will catapult into the $1 million earnings stratosphere if he spearheads the club to a watershed premiership in Sunday night's NRL grand final.
Humble ... Benji Marshall, with coach Tim Sheens.
Marketing and television leaders say Marshall, 20, will be rugby league's hottest property if he joins Wests Tigers on a historic victory lap against North Queensland at a sold-out Telstra Stadium.
In a major commercial coup, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Marshall has secured two major sponsorship deals to sell "Benji" football boots and a clothing line in retail outlets before Christmas.
On top of this, Channel 9 television heavyweight Steve Crawley has rated Marshall a "star in the making" and the NRL is considering making him the face of rugby league's 2006 advertising campaign.
But the Tigers five-eighth has moved to play down his new-found status as the code's most recognisable face, admitting he fears being branded "overrated" by his peers.
"It's all a bit overwhelming. You enjoy it at times but sometimes you feel like you're getting a bit too much [attention]," Marshall said. "I know I'm getting a lot of attention lately and no disrespect to Braith Anasta, he's a great player, but he got a lot of media attention early in his career.
"I don't want to end up being called an overrated player because of what the media says about me. There's a lot of expectation and stuff. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting more praise than I deserve."
Nine director of sport Crawley has predicted a bright future in television for Marshall, who has already appeared on Nine's The Footy Show and The Back Page on Fox Sports.
"He's an absolute natural. I can't remember seeing a kid who is so confident without being up himself," Crawley said. "As far as television goes, you can tell he's a star in the making. He's got it."
Marketing guru Max Markson has rated the earning potential of Marshall outside his football earnings as easily above $250,000 a year.
"He could easily earn upwards of $250,000 away from the field if he plays his cards right and his management is aggressive with him in the marketplace," Markson said.
"Television work would mean he could earn considerably more."
Off-contract with the Tigers as of June 30 next season, three star performances in the playoffs are expected to see Marshall's salary soar past the $400,000-a-season mark.
On top of this, the Tigers ace is set to be handed the keys to a new car when Wests Tigers unveil a new major sponsorship next week.
In another boost for Marshall's booming profile, NRL marketing manager Paul Kind said the Tigers five-eighth was likely to be a key figure in next year's TV campaign.
"The same way we used Sonny Bill Williams this year we're hopeful of using Benji next year," Kind said.
"Clearly he's the standout young player of the season."
source: Foxsports.com.au
Do you think benji is worth that much?
Humble ... Benji Marshall, with coach Tim Sheens.
Marketing and television leaders say Marshall, 20, will be rugby league's hottest property if he joins Wests Tigers on a historic victory lap against North Queensland at a sold-out Telstra Stadium.
In a major commercial coup, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Marshall has secured two major sponsorship deals to sell "Benji" football boots and a clothing line in retail outlets before Christmas.
On top of this, Channel 9 television heavyweight Steve Crawley has rated Marshall a "star in the making" and the NRL is considering making him the face of rugby league's 2006 advertising campaign.
But the Tigers five-eighth has moved to play down his new-found status as the code's most recognisable face, admitting he fears being branded "overrated" by his peers.
"It's all a bit overwhelming. You enjoy it at times but sometimes you feel like you're getting a bit too much [attention]," Marshall said. "I know I'm getting a lot of attention lately and no disrespect to Braith Anasta, he's a great player, but he got a lot of media attention early in his career.
"I don't want to end up being called an overrated player because of what the media says about me. There's a lot of expectation and stuff. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting more praise than I deserve."
Nine director of sport Crawley has predicted a bright future in television for Marshall, who has already appeared on Nine's The Footy Show and The Back Page on Fox Sports.
"He's an absolute natural. I can't remember seeing a kid who is so confident without being up himself," Crawley said. "As far as television goes, you can tell he's a star in the making. He's got it."
Marketing guru Max Markson has rated the earning potential of Marshall outside his football earnings as easily above $250,000 a year.
"He could easily earn upwards of $250,000 away from the field if he plays his cards right and his management is aggressive with him in the marketplace," Markson said.
"Television work would mean he could earn considerably more."
Off-contract with the Tigers as of June 30 next season, three star performances in the playoffs are expected to see Marshall's salary soar past the $400,000-a-season mark.
On top of this, the Tigers ace is set to be handed the keys to a new car when Wests Tigers unveil a new major sponsorship next week.
In another boost for Marshall's booming profile, NRL marketing manager Paul Kind said the Tigers five-eighth was likely to be a key figure in next year's TV campaign.
"The same way we used Sonny Bill Williams this year we're hopeful of using Benji next year," Kind said.
"Clearly he's the standout young player of the season."
source: Foxsports.com.au
Do you think benji is worth that much?