Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says a week off will do a world of good for rising star Heamasi Makasini, who limped into training on Wednesday morning in a moon boot a day after he was left out of the team to face the Raiders.
There had been speculation that the 18-year-old had been dropped after a tough night against Brisbane on the weekend, but bone bruising in his foot emerged as the reason he wasn’t picked.
Even if Makasini was fully fit, Marshall may have given the towering outside back a week away from the NRL spotlight after what’s been a meteoric rise in the space of a few months.
“He’s got a bit of bone bruising in his foot, so he wouldn’t have been available this week anyway,” Marshall said on Wednesday morning ahead of his side’s captain’s run at Leichhardt Oval.
“But it was probably timely because I think he was ready for a rest. But one thing I will say about Heamasi is he’s such a bright talent and he’s got a great future ahead of him, and he’ll just get some confidence back and come back into the team.
“I want to praise him actually for how awesome he’s been to start the season. Eighteen years old coming in and playing centre, which is probably the hardest position to defend on the field, he did a great job.
“But part of my job as a coach is also to know when to take the pressure off him. I just felt like he’s been up for so long with his intent and his enthusiasm, and players have been actually going after him, that it was a timely rest.
“And he does have a little niggly injury on his foot as well.”
Makasini made his debut last year and then earnt comparisons to All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu with a barnstorming run in the trials that steamrolled Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards to score a try.
Makasini has been playing against men much older than him this year, with the teen still growing into his hulking frame and learning what it means to play in the NRL.
He had strong numbers with the ball on Saturday night against Brisbane but came up with four costly errors, including a few late in the game as his side lost by a point.
Marshall knows what it’s like to burst onto the scene as a teenager, with all eyes on him when he made his Tigers debut, which is why he’s the perfect man to help Makasini as he navigates his way through a few issues.
“One of the bonuses of being in that position is I can explain to the players what that’s like and how to navigate through that,” he said.
“But in Heamasi’s situation, he is a unique talent and someone we see as a long-term future for us. He’s having a bit of confidence issues at the moment, but he’ll bounce back.
“I think it’s just a good reminder for a lot of people out there that sometimes we go off early on young blokes and we compare them unfairly to some of the greatest athletes that ever played, and it puts a lot of pressure on some of these kids.
“The pressure is already big enough playing in this environment in the NRL. Like I said, part of my job is to make sure I do the right thing by our players, and Heamasi is no different.
“I love what he brings to our team, I love his enthusiasm, I love the way he plays, but he’ll earn his way back into the team at some stage.”
Makasini is only expected to miss one game with the injury, but he could spend some time in NSW Cup to regain confidence, with the Tigers welcoming back experienced centre Starford To’a this week.
“A lot of people sometimes look at reserve grade for example, and if someone goes back to reserve grade, it’s looked at as a punishment,” the Tigers coach said.
“Sometimes it’s actually the best thing for you to go and learn your trade, get some confidence. Like for Starford’s case, going and getting some game time and some match fitness.
“So it’s not always a demotion, sometimes it’s what’s best for you at the time. And Heamasi is no different.”
Originally published as ‘We go off early on young blokes’: Benji Marshall perfect man to help rising star Heamasi Makasini