'Lots of tears': Benji Marshall's wife reveals 'painful' family virus sacrifice
Zoe Marshall, podcaster and NRL star Beni Marshall's wife, has opened up on the many tears she has shed during the 'painful' period of relocating their young family to Queensland.
Relief swept through NRL hubs in Queensland on Wednesday as families, officials and players were reunited after being released from their 14-day hotel quarantine.
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Hundreds of family members were transported at staggered intervals into the NRL hubs across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast on Wednesday, sparking a sense of excitement in the camps.
Despite relief after being reunited with loved ones, Zoe Marshall has detailed the struggles of relocating a young family to the bubble in quarantine.
The Marshall's welcomed Ever to the family in June.
However, following the family's relocation to Queensland, Zoe explained she has struggled in quarantine without the support of family and friends.
Zoe said she has suffered a number of 'breakdowns' during the 'painful' relocation and was happy to come out of quarantine to see Benji.
"It’s been the strangest 2 months. Giving birth, a lockdown, 2 weeks in quarantine, another hotel for 2 weeks and finally arrived to where we will live for the next few weeks," she wrote on Instagram.
"Watching our language and treading carefully around Fox. Wanting him to feel this is “normal” calling it a holiday - the way we frame it makes it true, right?
"I’ve had a few break downs - some tears. Lots of tears. And I feel for my fellow Aussies in Nsw and Vic who are slammed day in and day out with Hopeless news.
"My dad and Benji's uncle have met my daughter once. The rest of my family haven’t. My best friends haven’t. It’s weird and I shut it out because it’s wrong and painful."
Zoe went on to say she had hardly seen her husband during the relocation and hadn't had a home cooked meal in five weeks.
But she also acknowledged she was one of the lucky few in a fortunate position during lockdown as millions remain isolated across New South Wales and Victoria.
"You wouldn’t believe me if I said I’ve hardly seen Benj. We’ve been sleeping in hotel rooms across from each other with kids on different schedules...finally we have a little lounge we can squish together on," she added.
"To be fuzzy with exhaustion purely from a new baby and not from complete upheaval. I miss my home and my people and I know it’s awful for you in Nsw and Vic.
"I know Im bloody lucky to be here with my family to be together for my husbands job. Im beyond grateful. I know it’s not like that for so many.
"So what can I do, or say? When it’s all such a mess. I guess all I can do is send you love. Strength. What little I have left of it. I send it to you. We need it."
Despite the tough conditions, Benji is hoping to win a premiership with the high-flying Rabbitohs in sensational form and in 3rd place just two points off top spot.
NRL players reunited with families in bubble
The Marshall's are not the only family to have been doing it tough apart.
Cronulla prop Aaron Woods spent just one hour with his daughter since she was born three weeks ago, so he's more than ready to start building his bond with Coco Rae.
Few were more excited than the Woods family to be reunited.
Aaron's wife Sarah gave birth to Coco Rae just six days before flying into a hard lockdown in Queensland along with the couple's two-year-old son Buster.
"I've only seen my daughter for about an hour and it's been three weeks since she was born so I'm looking forward to that and trying to get a bit of a connection there," Woods said on Wednesday, before the Sharks players we reunited with family later in the afternoon.
"I just can't wait to see my little fella too."
Woods had stayed in Sydney for the birth of Coco Rae before flying in to join the team's hub in Brisbane.
Since then he's only had Facetime contact with his newborn as his wife wrangled the difficulty of two kids in a hotel room for a fortnight.
"She's taken one for the team, she's done it tough obviously," Woods said.
"Her (hotel) level was quite hard, they didn't have a microwave or vacuum cleaner or anything but we're lucky we've got some friends outside that could ring around and support her and help her out.
"She's done a massive one, I just can't wait to see the kids.
"The two-year-old has been driving her nuts and she can't wait to get out of that room."
The families entering the NRL bubble will still be subject to Queensland's lockdown laws while players are under level four restrictions.
with AAP
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