When Benji Marshall first saw an email about being awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), in his spam folder, he thought it was a joke.

The 37-year-old has been recognised for his services to rugby league and a career where he played 346 games in the NRL, represented New Zealand 31 times and led the Kiwis as captain in 21 tests.

He has been one of the biggest names in the sport over the past two decades in Australia and New Zealand, and has inspired countless kids and backyard footy players to try to emulate his famous side step.

However, when Marshall first saw something about being named a CNZM, he wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“I got an email and it was in my junk mail, actually. But I checked it and it said royal honour or something,” Marshall said.

“I actually thought it was a joke, to be honest, but I opened it and it said I’d been nominated.

“There was a full process I had to go through, I had to reply that I was happy to accept the nomination and that there were no guarantees,” he said. “I also had to keep it quiet and I hadn’t told anyone about it apart from my wife, so no-one else in my family knew. So it’s lucky that I opened the email!”

Marshall grew up in Whakatāne. His mother, Lydia Marshall, gave birth to him when she was 15 and he never knew his biological father. But he was surrounded by a tight and loving community, and he hopes that his journey has inspired other young kids in New Zealand that they can follow their dreams.

“One of the biggest things for me is that I had to work for everything I achieved. It wasn’t just given to me,” he said.

“Growing up in Whakatāne, I thought I had no chance of ending up where I am now and to be able to go through all the adversity I had to face – the injuries, moving away from home when I was 15 and the constant scrutiny throughout – is pretty crazy.

“That’s one of the proudest things I think I achieved, being a positive role model to kids, and maybe kids who were in the same position as me, growing up in a small town.

“I was fortunate, I had great people around me, a great family and support network, so this award is more for the people who were on the journey with me.”

Marshall played for the Kiwis from 2005 to 2012, before being dropped by the then-coach Stephen Kearney.

He spent seven years hoping to eventually make it back, even when that seemed highly unlikely.

But in 2019, he eventually got the call-up by the Kiwis’ current coach Michael Maguire.

Tears streamed down his face during the national anthem in his first test back as he stood between Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at Mt Smart Stadium, in a release of emotion that showed just how much playing for New Zealand meant to him.

“One of the biggest things in playing the game is that you want to get to the highest level and for me, representing the Kiwis, it doesn’t get any better,” he said.

“So to be out for that long and then get the opportunity to not just play again, but be an integral part of that side, to captain the team in the Tonga test, was pretty special.

“Then also at the end of that season to play against Great Britain, to finish that way, was also incredible.”

Marshall eventually hung up his boots at the end of last season, but has stayed involved in the game working for Fox TV in Australia as a pundit, as well as hosting his own show.

“I feel lucky, I’m still living the dream,” he said.

“I don’t miss playing at all, I don’t miss waking up sore or having to get the mind and the body physically ready to train and play.

“I also get to spend more time at home with the family now, which has been nice, too.”

Credit: Stuff.co.nz