RUGBY LEAGUE
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Benji Marshall has been thrown in the deep end at St George Illawarra but his brilliance will shine through in time.
That is the assessment of Dragons star Trent Merrin, who says Marshall can help turn around the battling NRL club, who have won just one of their past seven games.
The Dragons have hit the wall after an impressive start to the year and while Marshall was never touted as the saviour, his first-up effort in the 36-0 capitulation to Parramatta has many wondering what he has to offer the joint venture.
But NSW back-rower Merrin is confident the former Wests Tigers superstar will come good.
"It was a struggle for him to come into a game like that in his first week at the club," Merrin said.
"But I am excited for him, he is definitely going to have a point to prove and he has the skill and maturity to be able to do so.
"I'm sure there is a lot more of Benji to come.
"As soon as you start building confidence and belief and get that mateship around you, it brings out the best in everyone.
"We will give him a few weeks to settle in at the club and make himself feel at home and then I think you will see the best in him."
The Dragons have the bye this weekend, but despite the start of the State of Origin period the focus has not been taken off the future of coach Steve Price, with Blues mentor Laurie Daley linked to St George Illawarra.
Merrin said the players should be under pressure, too.
"We have been all over the shop, we need to have a good look inside the club and take some ownership of what is going wrong," he said.
"It is not the best place at the moment.
"But all the boys have faith in Steve, of course he is going to be under the pump, he is the coach of the team.
"They always look at the coach when the team is going poor, there is some pressure there but we are all behind him.
"We have to get out of the slump we are in, step up and enjoy our footy."
AAP
