Benji Marshall says he isn’t embarrassed about crying during the national anthem

‘I lost it there’: Footy star Benji Marshall cries during the national anthem as he remembers his dead grandfather

  • The halfback couldn’t contain his emotions during ‘God Defend New Zealand’ 
  • Marshall admitted the anthem triggered emotions about his grandfather Koro
  • He wept knowing Koro was unable to see him wear the jersey again after he died  
  • The New Zealand Kiwis won 34-14 against Mate Ma’a Tonga on Saturday evening 

NRL star Benji Marshall says he wasn’t afraid of bursting into tears during the national anthem before a rugby league test match against Tonga.

The halfback couldn’t contain his raw emotions during ‘God Defend New Zealand’ while standing next to his teammates at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

Marshall, 34, admitted he ‘lost it there a bit’ after the anthem triggered emotions about his grandfather Koro, who died on August 1 aged 93.

The veteran footy player, who returned the country’s test squad after seven years, wept knowing Koro was unable to see him wear the black jersey again.

The halfback (pictured right with wife Zoe and son Fox) couldn’t contain his raw emotions during ‘God Defend New Zealand’ next to team mates at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night

Marshall, 34, admitted he 'lost it there a bit' after the anthem triggered emotions about his grandfather Koro (left with Zoe), who passed away on August 1 at age 93

Marshall, 34, admitted he ‘lost it there a bit’ after the anthem triggered emotions about his grandfather Koro (left with Zoe), who passed away on August 1 at age 93

‘Regarding those emotions, it was just everything put together,’ Marshall told media on Saturday.

‘I knew I missed the jersey, but I didn’t know how much it really meant to me until this week and that sort of moment and it just hit me.

‘I didn’t think about it during the week, but at the time I just realised… he never got to see me wear the jersey for another time.’

The West Tigers pivot led the haka for the New Zealand Kiwis, before the 34-14 victory over Mate Ma’a Tonga in the opening game of the Oceania Cup.

The 2008 World Cup champion said having his wife Zoe Marshall and his one-year-old son Fox was a ‘special’ moment, which contributed to the team’s win.

‘Being on the field and knowing that his dad played for the Kiwis and he got to see it, is something I’m going to treasure for life,’ Marshall said.

The 2008 World Cup champion said having his wife Zoe Marshall and his one-year-old son Fox was a 'special' moment, which contributed to the team's win

The 2008 World Cup champion said having his wife Zoe Marshall and his one-year-old son Fox was a ‘special’ moment, which contributed to the team’s win

The Kiwi’s 34-14 victory against Mate Ma’a in front of a 24,000 strong crowd follows a disappointing 28-22 loss against Tonga during the 2017 World Cup.

Marshall hopes he will be able to play for the Kiwis as they compete against Australia and Great Britain in October and November.

The veteran footy player, who returned the country's test squad after seven years, wept knowing Koro was unable to see him wear the black jersey again

The veteran footy player, who returned the country’s test squad after seven years, wept knowing Koro was unable to see him wear the black jersey again

 

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