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Fans will remember the slick footwork and audacious ball playing, the bag of tricks that was dipped in to regardless of field position – but the impact he had on those around him can never be fully quantified.<\/p>\n
"I was looking back at some highlights this morning, and I've done some good stuff," he said to laughter.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> The NRL may never see a player like Benji Marshall again<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> NRL legend Benji Marshall hangs up the boots<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "From a flashy young kid doing all this weird stuff, to a man who was given this opportunity – I feel really lucky."<\/p>\n He enjoyed an embrace with his outgoing coach as the press conference concluded, while teammates including Tom Burgess and Damien Cook sat in the front row and applauded.<\/p>\n "How he's presented himself today makes you realise what the game's done for him and what he's done for the game," Bennett said.<\/p>\n "He influenced a whole generation of his family, but he also had a great influence on a whole generation of rugby league people, particularly those who played the position.<\/p>\n "Allan Langer was the guy everyone wanted to watch, but then along came Benji, and he was the guy everyone wanted to watch."<\/p>\n Bennett coached Marshall at the Broncos and with the New Zealand international team before reuniting in 2021 for one last ride at the Rabbitohs.<\/p>\n Recalling a pre-season promise where Bennett guaranteed the veteran the number 14 jersey, he said that Souths' first home game instantly vindicated the decision.<\/p>\n "You got up and started to warm up and the crowd started to go off, they wanted you on the field and normally I don't listen to all that stuff, but they carried on there for about two or three minutes," he said to Marshall.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Bare knuckle fighter dies weeks after brutal knockout<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Sacrifices' needed for Panthers to win multiple premierships, says Gallen<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "You weren't warming up, you were just trying to get my attention – and I thought they would have hung me if I didn't put you on. I loved the way the Souths fans accepted you into the club as well mate, they just thought you were one of theirs all of your career."<\/p>\n The 36-year-old didn't get the fairytale send-off most neutrals were hoping for on Sunday, but he acknowledged that if not for an intervention from Bennett in 2017, he could have been gone much earlier.<\/p>\n "I know Wayne knows this, but I would have been retired about seven years ago if it wasn't for him giving me the opportunity at Brisbane," Marshall admnitted.<\/p>\n "Sometimes you just have a special connection as player and coach… some people say father and son. I really want to thank you for the opportunity, and for you believing and trusting in me to have this moment today."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong> clicking here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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