Benji re-injures knee, set to miss Test
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall has been ruled out of Saturday's NRL game against Brisbane and is almost certain to miss next week's Centenary Test after re-injuring his knee.
Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons said the Kiwi five-eighth had torn scar tissue in his left knee after returning from a five-week absence against Cronulla last Sunday, with the club doctor recommending Marshall miss this weekend's game with the "minor" injury.
Simmons said the club wanted to keep open the possibility of Marshall being fit to play for New Zealand in the May 9 Test against Australia.
But the Tigers assistant said if it was up to him, Marshall should not be picked.
"At this stage we'd probably leave that a bit open, but if you ask me, Benji's not ready to play," Simmons said.
"I think New Zealand would be doing an injustice to their other players (if they picked Marshall).
"They've got plenty of quality players. Benji isn't right to play in a game like that.
"Even last weekend he spoke about how fatigued he got in the game (against Cronulla). He needs more time on the training park and more time in club footy before he's ready to go into a Test match to play a side like Australia."
New Zealand name their side for the May 9 Test against Australia on Sunday.
Marshall said after the Sharks game he would rule himself out of the Test if he didn't feel up to the task after admitting he came back from a shoulder injury too early to play in last year's Anzac Test.
The Tigers have the bye following Saturday's Broncos game.
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