Roughly translated, it reads: he conquers, who conquers himself. Even more roughly translated, it means those who come to terms with their own weaknesses and limitations– and ultimately their own mortality – are best equipped to win life’s battles.

The phrase comes to mind watching Benji Marshall’s apparent career renaissance at the Tigers this season. It’s been compelling viewing as it was entirely unexpected.

We all expected to see big-money signing Josh Reynolds partner Luke Brooks in the halves. ‘Feel-good’ signing and Marshall would produce the odd cameo from the bench.

Marshall is now shaping as the potential buy of the year – at 33. It’s unlikely he expected it either, which looks to have played a major role in his start to the year.

Apart from the numerous clever touches, Marshall’s performances in wins over the Roosters and Storm showed a self-awareness that has eluded him in the latter part of his storied career.

It shows in some telling comments made to Fairfax Media this week. 

“I accepted that I couldn’t do the things I used to anymore,” he said.

“Since I’ve accepted it, it’s so much easier. I can own that role and contribute in a different way.”

He said much the same thing in his time with St George Illawarra, but it always looked like he never really believed it himself. 

On the field he always looked a man caught between two versions of himself – the veteran older head, or the freakishly talented Golden Boot winner?

Off the paddock, he publicly scoffed at the $300,000 the Dragons offered him to stay. He thought he was worth more. The Dragons disagreed. The market agreed with the Dragons.

As he’s done his whole career, he backed himself, shifted to Brisbane accepting a back-up role that started in reserve grade.

Injuries, and the way the Broncos halves drifted in and out of form, made Marshall a great pick-up, but his contribution extended well beyond the 13 games he played.

It became part of a media blow-up, but all reports are he drew a new level of professionalism out of young halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima.

He’s evidently having the same effect on Luke Brooks. The ability to provide that guidance was clearly where his value lay in the eyes of Bennett. It seems, now, that Marshall agrees.

It’s not a reductive view. He’s shown in the opening two rounds of this season he can still be a match-winner, but Benji now looks very much like a man who has conquered himself.

That acceptance looks like it may just prolong a career that looked on the rocks two seasons ago. Hopefully, we are now witnessing a far more fitting final chapter for one of the game’s greats.