Marshall arrived at Red Hill on Friday to start pre-season training, discussing positions, why he joined the club and what master coach Wayne Bennett has in store for him.

The 31-year-old joined the Broncos on a one-year-deal worth about $100,000 after his Dragons contract was not renewed.

With little interest in him from other NRL clubs and a lack of desire to join the English Super League, Marshall decided to head north in a bid show he still has NRL value.  

“It is obviously very surprising but I didn’t come here to play in the halves, that’s the first thing,” the 2005 premiership-winner said.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to step away from that role. I suppose when you are in the halves you have got to do a lot of organising and sometimes you can forget about what you do yourself.

“I think over the years I have forgot about my running game and that is something I expressed to Wayne as I want to find. I just thought with the best coach in the world it is just a great opportunity for him to help me get the best out of myself."

Marshall, who has been mentored by Bennett in the New Zealand and All Stars teams, said the supercoach was a huge factor in his Broncos NRL swansong.  

“That’s one thing Wayne made clear he said I don’t need to come here and be the man I just want you to be the Benji I met 10 years ago when you were smiling and happy and laughing and throwing flick passes at training," he said.

“As a player and as an older player it is probably something that doesn’t get re-enforced enough and I suppose he gave me the confidence in myself to back this move.

“Obviously it’s not about the money and he knows I am here for the right reasons, I feel like I am and I feel like I have got  a lot to prove.”

Marshall, who has spent the majority of his career in the halves, will find it almost impossible to usurp current playmakers Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt.

But he will put pressure on them as he works with Bennett to determine where he fits in the club’s plans for 2017.

“I made my debut at fullback for the Tigers and Sheensy (Tim Sheens) actually made me play in the centres for the first 10 games in 2004 because he wanted me to experience what it was like to be a centre so when you are a ball-player you know what a centre needs," he said. 

“I feel like I could do a job there but it is just an opportunity for me and I can cover a lot of positions. Over the pre-season I suppose I am going to find out a lot about myself and where I can fill in but I am very confident that I can play a few positions so have a big pre-season and see how we go.”

And with no guarantees for a top-flight position, Marshall understands he may find himself playing in the Queensland Cup.

“Wayne did tell me there’s a chance I could be playing reserve grade so there’s always going to be that there but I am going to back myself to have a big pre-season and prove I have still got what it takes,” he said.