Benji Marshall freely admits he doesn't know what to expect, or how he will feel on Sunday when he comes up against his former beloved Wests Tigers for the first time.
After agreeing to a code switch to Super Rugby's Blues in Auckland last year, Marshall declared he would never play against the NRL club where he became a superstar and claimed the 2005 premiership.
But, of course, times and circumstances change and Marshall will line up against the Tigers at ANZ Stadium in the Red V of St George Illawarra in round 20.
"It is going to be very different," Marshall said.
"I don't know - I have never really been in that situation.
"In life, things change. The way you feel about things at certain times can change day to day or week to week.
"I know what is going to get played up but that is not what it is about.
"For me, it is about putting my best foot forward and I'm looking forward to putting in a good performance.
"This is footy. It is not really about mates. For me, my priority is getting the two points because we are desperate to get into the top eight.
"Playing the Tigers, that is not going to detract from what I am going to do or change anything I have been doing.
"I just need to get better."
Marshall will come up against a Tigers side including young guns Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Curtis Sironen, an ultra-talented bunch of up-and-comers not seen at Concord since the class of 2005.
Despite his brilliant 200-game, 11-year career at the Tigers, Marshall copped plenty in his final season from fans disillusioned first with his lacklustre form and then with his decision to head to rugby union.
Tigers skipper Robbie Farah has said he doesn't want fans to give Marshall a hostile reception and the Kiwi playmaker says he doesn't know how he will be received.
"I'm not sure. We will see when I get there," he said.
"As far as I am concerned, I had 12 years there and they were the best years of my life.
"I won a competition there, made some great friends and became friends with a lot of the fans.
"I know there is a lot of emotion in sport and people get a little bit filthy on players who leave clubs but I'm not the first person to leave Wests Tigers and I won't be the last.
"From my point of view, whatever happens on the day happens on the day. I'm just going to play footy and try and win for the team."
Share
