WHAT words come to mind when I mention the name Benji Marshall? How would you describe him?

Brilliant, talented, gifted, fast, skilful and elusive would be on the list. And definitely exciting. Unpredictable is a good word, too.

I'm sure words such as erratic, brittle or even injury prone would also get a run. Misguided opinions, I believe.

I see him as tough, unbelievably tough. I'll come back to this.

I've always been an admirer. As a football fan, he excites me. I love watching him play. I enjoy his unpredictability. I understand he won't always get it right, but I love the fact he keeps trying.

As a football coach, though, I can see where he could just as easily frustrate me. He often runs bad lines when ball-playing, putting his teammates under unnecessary pressure. He throws bad passes way too often, and too many passes that just don't need to be thrown. The simple option is never his first thought.

He seems to have no solid foundation to his game that he can fall back on under pressure as he patiently waits for another opportunity. It's all or nothing every time.

These are valid criticisms, but when you consider the interrupted run he's had with injury, and that every time he takes the field it's widely publicised that the hopes of his team rest squarely on his aching shoulders, you realise this young man has never really had the opportunity to develop his game and take it to another level.

I first saw him play in schoolboy football. His speed, elusiveness and unique skill set were grades above the boys of his own age. I had not seen such a dominant schoolboy talent since the likes of Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler.

Within two years, Marshall was not only playing first grade, he was a major force for the Wests Tigers, who of course won the 2005 NRL premiership.

For one so young (only 20) to play such a starring role on the big stage was impressive enough; however, it should be remembered Marshall played that final series virtually with one arm.

In April 2004 Marshall dislocated his left shoulder and missed four games. In June 2004 he popped the shoulder again and immediately had reconstructive surgery, missing the remainder of the season.

In his return match in a trial game in February 2005, Marshall injured the right shoulder.

He carried these injuries all season. His tremendous partnership with halfback Scott Prince, however, steered the Tigers to an unexpected lap of honour on grand final day.

Marshall had the world at his feet. He had the football gifts enjoyed by only the chosen few. The football gods, though, decided they wanted to test this young man's resolve.

In March 2006 his cheekbone was fractured in the season-opening match against the Dragons.

In April 2006 he again dislocated his right shoulder. He returned a few weeks later. Then in June he suffered a recurrence of this right shoulder injury and was ruled out for the season to have another operation.

In May 2007, Marshall again injured his right shoulder and missed 11 matches.

In September 2007 he had further surgery on his shoulder.

He returned to football the following year only to suffer a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in round one against the Dragons and was again forced to watch from the sidelines.

It should be noted that in suffering each of these injuries, Marshall was not running away from anyone. He threw himself into collisions with courage and conviction. Perhaps he could have played smarter and avoided such physical confrontations but somehow I just do not think that's his style.

When we talk about tough footballers we generally look to the big, robust, hard-hitting, hard-running types who leave a trail of destruction in their wake.

The word tough is attributed to the players with great endurance or the ability to play long periods in games week after week, year after year.

Yep, these people are tough.

But what about the man who gets knocked down, knocked out or even seriously injured time and again, yet keeps dusting himself off to get back in the race?

What about those who play under heavy scrutiny and constantly deal with the weight of expectation from the public and media

Every move they make, every pass they throw, is analysed by experts in the grandstands as though rugby league was supposed to be an exact science and players should strive for robotic consistency and accuracy.

What about the players who are given every reason to throw in the towel yet continually find the courage to keep fighting for their dreams.

A tough person is capable of enduring strain, hardship or severe labour.

Benji Marshall is tough for all these reasons.

Since debuting for the Tigers in 2003, Marshall has played only 80 first-grade games.

Most of these he's played injured. His coach, Tim Sheens, has shuffled his positional play all over the field to protect him from the defensive workload opposition coaches send his way.

When he returned from yet another injury early last season, I saw him score an individual try against the Newcastle Knights that not only defied belief, but typified this young man's constant battle with injuries and challenges.

Marshall beat several players in a weaving 40-metre run before leaving the fullback clutching at fresh air as he stood him up and ran around him to score under the posts.

Marshall has scored breathtaking, long-range tries before. The difference with this try was that he limped all the way.

The strapping on his injured knee was so tight and protective that he couldn't stretch out on his usual manner. He clawed at the ground with his good leg and virtually dragged the bad leg from behind for the ride.

I thought to myself: how tough is this boy?

Since that day he has improved every time I've seen him play. The confidence has returned. He has started to inflict his skills upon his opponents with a mischievous smile on his face. It's a great sign.

I guess some coaches might see him as an expensive luxury they can well do without.

On the other hand, he's a match-winner. Few players earn that tag.

Again during the week we saw the headlines that he could engineer an upset victory for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos tonight.

Such hype is unfair on this talented young man.

Marshall cannot beat Australia tonight. The Aussie boys won't let him. But perhaps the football gods are ready to cut this kid a break. He's proven his toughness.

Let's hope the rest of his career is played without injury.

Let's hope that at all times his spirit is allowed to run free.

Such an approach might scare the life out of his coaches but it sure thrills the hell out of his fans.