Marshall the centre of attention

Ipswich Jet Brendan Marshall hopes a new, disciplined approach to training will earn him a starting centre’s spot for Saturday’s Queensland Cup opener against Easts.

BRENDAN Marshall has been around long enough to know the importance of timing.

And while there are no guarantees he will be in the starting XIII when the Jets take on Easts in the Queensland Cup opener at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, he looks to have timed his run to perfection.

An injured thumb ruled Marshall out of the Jets’ trial match a fortnight ago against Souths Logan, a performance coach Glenn Lazarus described as a debacle.

He was back last week for the much improved final trial against premiers Sunshine Coast, scoring two tries and kicking three goals.

“I came back only because I knew I needed some game time,” Marshall said, ignoring the injury to shine.

“I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Marshall is confident if the Jets don’t get any centres back from the Gold Coast Titans when they finalise their top squad, he has a good chance of first crack at his preferred right centre spot.

“I hope I am,” he said.

“That’s one of the reasons I got fitter and stronger.

“I wanted to have a better year than last year.”

Marshall missed the first three rounds last season with a hamstring injury that hampered him throughout the campaign.

It left him sweating on a new contract and he was relieved to be offered a two-year-deal.

He has responded by getting himself in the best shape possible and his times on the training paddock have caught the eye.

While most near 30-year-olds are slowing down, he is slashing minutes off training runs compared to last year.

“I’m a lot fitter and a lot stronger,” Marshall said.

“I’m eating more sensibly.

“If your diet’s right and you’re doing your gym and doing the little things right – getting your injuries looked after, your injuries come good.”

Marshall’s physical state is reflected by the rest of his team-mates and it can only be a good thing.

“Everyone is killing it in their skin folds and in the gym,” he said.

“No-one is taking their foot off the pedal. It is giving (Lazarus) one less thing to worry about.”

Marshall believes Lazarus’ approach has a lot to do with the improved commitment levels.

“He is appearing a bit different,” Marshall said of the second year head coach.

“He’s sounding more confident as head coach.

“In about November he went out to every player for a one-on-one meeting which was good.

“He put down on paper what each person’s goals were and what he wanted from them.”