Photo: Kate Czerny (Queensland Times)
NORTHS have set themselves for the defence of their Ipswich Rugby League A grade title with the addition of Brendon Marshall.
The 34-year-old, recently retired Ipswich Jets long serving centre believes there is plenty of footy left in him.
Jets legend Brendon Marshall joins IRL premiers for 2015
Jay Buchan, The Queensland Times, 17/11/2014
http://www.qt.com.au/news/jets-legend-brendon-marshall-joins-irl-premiers-fo/2454635/
Just not at the intensity required to play Queensland Cup any more, after more than 150 first grade games.
“I believe I’m not ready for full retirement yet,” Marshall said.
Norths was the perfect fit to continue playing.
Marshall lives at Brassall and his son Ty-James plays for the club’s juniors.
“It might be less gruelling on the body,” Marshall said of the step down from Q Cup.
“You pick up niggly injuries that won’t go away.”
Marshall injured his shoulder early in the 2014 season, popping a rib cartilage, but played on despite it, helping the Jets into the semi-finals.
It prevented him lifting weights for the rest of the season and he has only just been able to do a push-up again.
Queensland Cup retirement hasn’t slowed him down, however.
Marshall has played in the Queensland Murri titles, been on a Queensland Indigenous team tour to Fiji and played a Murri touch footy carnival in recent weeks.
This is the first and only week’s rest he will get before Norths pre-season training starts on Tuesday.
And while Marshall doesn’t expect pre-season training at Pelican Street to be as tough as the Jets, he knows he cannot take it easy either.
His standing means he has to set an example, even though Norths will enter 2015 as defending champions.
“I’ll have to train and fight for a spot,” Marshall said.
He is also looking forward to mentoring some of the young Tiger cubs coming through and perhaps giving something back to the Jets in the process.
“I’d like to make (coach) Mick Newton’s job a bit easier,” Marshall said.
“And get into some of the young guys’ ears.
“They’ve got young Ritchie Lowe in the halves. It would be good to work with him for 12 months then see him take off down the road (to the Jets).
TIGERS COACHES:
North have announced their senior coaches for 2015
A grade: Mick Newton
Reserve grade: Val Brown
Under 19s: Chris Doyle