Rugby league star Benji Marshall has announced a switch of code and country, signing a two-year deal with Super Rugby team the Blues.
In a widely anticipated move, the 28-year-old will end his 11-year career with the Wests Tigers by shifting to Auckland when the NRL season finishes.
He said in a statement he is excited by the prospect of playing under the Blues coaching staff, led by Sir John Kirwan, who has driven the negotiations with Marshall over the past month.
“Based on what JK has told me about the winning culture the Blues are working to create and where he sees my part in that, I’m really looking forward to this next stage of my sporting career,” Marshall said.
He said he made up his mind following a recent visit to Auckland with wife Zoe, where he was impressed by the city and the Blues’ facilities.
Whakatane-born Marshall last played rugby in his early teenage years before taking up a rugby league scholarship in Queensland.
His career blossomed, the flamboyant playmaker going on to guide the Tigers to a premiership in 2005, inspire New Zealand in their World Cup triumph in 2008 and captain his country.
Kirwan believes Marshall can shine in his return to rugby.
“Benji has the ability to break open a game; he’s one of those players that does the right thing at the right time. He has great footwork and a good passing game so we can see those attributes really being beneficial to the Blues and to rugby union.”
Kirwan says he hasn’t determined what position Marshall will play but will consider him at five-eighth, inside centre and fullback.
“We’re leaning towards 15 (fullback) but we’ll just have to wait until he joins the team for pre-season training and see how it goes.”
Marshall had considered pursuing a place in the Kiwis squad for the rugby league World Cup but a Blues spokesman said he had ruled that out.
He is also unlikely to play any rugby in the domestic NPC, which starts this month, meaning his first taste of rugby will be in the Blues’ Super Rugby pre-season campaign early next year.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew welcomed Marshall and the appeal he would bring to rugby supporters.
“He has the X factor that excites fans so I am sure he will add much to the Blues, as well as being the sort of player that will inspire younger players.”
The deal with the Blues is reportedly worth about $NZ500,000 ($A444,250) a season, a considerable pay cut on what he earned with the Tigers and related promotional deals in Sydney.
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