One of the code's most recognisable faces, Marshall has a different on-field look about him this season - a calmer exterior as he guides the West Tigers around the parks of the NRL.
The panache is still there but the Kiwis' captain, who may be forever remembered for that audacious reverse pass in the 2005 grand final, finally recognises patience as a virtue.
"I've always loved going for the big play and putting on the showy little performance," he said.
"I've pulled that back a bit now and tried to be consistent and minimise my errors. I've realised I've got to pick my times and make sure it counts."
The temptation might be there for Marshall to go for broke in tonight's Anzac test against the Kangaroos, given his partner in the halves is a 19-year-old test rookie with only 17 first-grade games.
But Marshall maintains it will be quite the opposite on AAMI Park, and that he and Kieran Foran will both have an equal say in determining the Kiwis' direction.
The pair have been virtually inseparable this week, building a rapport by rooming together, sitting together on the team bus, talking at length about who does what, and where.
"We've talked a lot about things we've got to work on," Marshall said.
"It's going to be good to have someone inside me to take a bit of pressure off."
In Marshall's eyes, the Manly five-eighth bears no resemblance to his quiet off-field persona.
"Once you get to get to know Kieran he's not as shy as he looks. On the field he does a lot of talking, more than I've seen him do before. He's matured quite a lot as a half."
The Kiwis traditionally struggle in this fixture - 1998 at North Harbour Stadium is their only win in 10 attempts - but the Foran/Marshall combination gives coach Stephen Kearney hope New Zealand can produce a performance reminiscent of their last win on Australia soil, in the 2008 World Cup final in Brisbane.
"It the past, it was all on Stacey [Jones], and we'd have to convert someone into five-eighth. Now, we've finally got someone to complement Benji," Kearney said.
"I've been very impressed with Kieran this week - his attitude to his job and his game.
"If he continues the way, he's going he'll wear the Kiwis jumper for a long time."
Kangaroos great Andrew Johns has said Foran could join Marshall on the pedestal of NRL greatness in five years, a prediction Kearney would love to see fulfilled.
"He's a kid who's slotted into the role that Matty Orford occupied [at Manly] for quite some time. The last four or so weeks he's handling it like he's been there for ages."
Issac Luke's career-best form at dummy half for South Sydney is another positive for Kearney. The hooker missed last year's Anzac test through suspension. Twelve months on, he is a frontrunner for the Dally M player of the year gong.
"Last year, we didn't have Issac. Kieran's playing good football at the moment, Benji too.
"In the past, we haven't been as strong in those positions as we'd have liked."
So the onus now goes on a young and enthusiastic pack missing five first-choice players and 81 tests of experience to establish a platform for the in-form trio to thrive against Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Darren Lockyer.
"They're all playing well but the challenge is pulling all that together," Kearney said.
Australian bookmakers do not see that happening.
The Kangaroos are $1.16 favourites, and give the Kiwis a 17.5-point head start.
Aware of the Kiwis' miserable record at this time of year, Marshall preferred to focus on another numbers game.
"In the past when we've played Australia, we've played for 60 to 70 minutes instead of the 80.
"That's what we have to learn. When you go with Australia you've got to be able to grind out a win with solid consistent football. There's limited time for the fancy stuff."
NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA
- Melbourne, tonight
> New Zealand: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Junior Sa'u, Steve Matai, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall (captain), Kieran Foran, Adam Blair, Zeb Taia, Bronson Harrison, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Issac Luke, Sam Rapira. Interchange: Aaron Heremaia Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Ben Matulino, Sika Manu.
> Australia: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Jamie Lyon, Jarryd Hayne, Darren Lockyer (captain), Cooper Cronk, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, David Shillington. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Michael Weyman.
> Referee: Richard Silverwood (England).
