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Benji Marshall is a superstar. There’s no doubting that – TV star, sponsorship magnet and superb ambassador all sit deservedly on his resume.
But the most important question was answered by the Wests Tigers’ reluctance to honour what Marshall believed he was entitled to.
The New Zealand international has said the former CEO of the joint venture, Stephen Humphreys, had promised him an upgraded contract that would also be extended until the end of 2017.
It was an old-school arrangement. The word of one man was accepted by another. It was a situation completely at odds with the modern sporting environment.
When Humphreys departed the club that deal went with him.
The Tigers offered Marshall an upgrade on his existing contract, which was set to expire at the end of the 2015 campaign, but no extension.
Marshall, after a brief holiday in Bali, gave the club his answer through his manager just before 7 o’clock last night.
Not only did Marshall not want the upgrade anymore, but he wanted out at the end of this season.
Successful clubs rarely try to ruffle the feathers of franchise players. For a struggling club to do so is, quite simply, unheard of.
It looks like a messy divorce for a marriage that has lasted more than a decade.
Marshall knows his performances this season haven’t been up to the standard required of a first grade playmaker. Had his form been good then this situation wouldn’t even have been close to eventuating.
Marshall’s supporters will quickly tell you it’s hard for a playmaker to shine in a squad riddled with injuries and producing sub-par results as a consequence.
That is only true to a point.
You can’t for a minute suggest that Marshall is wholly responsible for the Tigers’ woes this season. But it’s also fair to say that the 28-year-old isn’t your traditional first grade playmaker.
Instinct is his biggest asset, but far too often, structure has been missing.
Acts fuelled by the former are instantly added to the highlight reel. The latter, while not flashy, wins football matches.
Marshall is capable of combining the two and the result is devastating, but that player only pops his head up in patches.
New Tigers coach Mick Potter raised an interesting point prior to the start of the season.
He said Benji had more skills than the average player, but his teammates weren’t on the same wavelength all of the time.
Potter wanted Marshall to pull back and get his team to work from a more mundane base.
His departure, while a huge shock, should be just a speed bump if managed properly.
The club has two hugely talent playmakers in Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses waiting for a shot at first grade.
Brooks is ready now. He understands structure and reads the game brilliantly.
Comparisons with Andrew Johns might seem like hyperbole, but watching the young halfback is like being transported back in time.
The future is bright for the club.
Brooks, Moses, Curtis Sironen and James Tedesco should form the base of a solid first grade squad heading into the future.
Keeping their forwards on the paddock and away from the rehabilitation unit, like any club, will also play a large role.
That is, of course, dependent on the Tigers keeping those stars signed and sealed.
Their recent track record at keeping talent under lock and key will leave more than a few supporters nervous.
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