The Wests Tigers have ruled out re-signing club great Benji Marshall with the New Zealand superstar seeking an immediate release from his Super Rugby contract.
The former New Zealand rugby league Test skipper has failed to make an impression in limited opportunities for the Auckland-based Blues during eight Super Rugby games since his move from the Tigers at the end of last season.
However, Tigers CEO Grant Mayer says the joint-venture have moved on from Marshall and their main focus is on keeping young fullback James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen.
“Benji made a decision last year in regard to his future,” Mayer said on Monday night.
“It was disappointing at the time for the club and the fans but we’ve moved on and we have been pretty active in keeping our kids; that is my priority.
“But he’ll find a home somewhere, we just don’t have the room in the (salary) cap.”
The Blues and New Zealand Rugby confirmed late on Monday they had received a request from Marshall over the weekend to be released early from his contract.
“All parties are currently in discussions regarding this request and need to work through a formal process before making any further comment,” a short Blues statement said.
Marshall has instructed his manager Martin Tauber to open talks with NRL clubs.
Cronulla, St George Illawarra, Parramatta, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Warriors are all being linked to him.
The move comes less than a year after Marshall pledged he would never play against the Tigers.
“I will honour my words about not playing for another (NRL) club,” he said in July last year, announcing his intention to leave the code.
“There is no other NRL club for me to play for. The Tigers are my home and will always be my home.
“I have seen guys like Mark O’Neill leave, go to England and then come back to the club.
“I am hoping to do the same in some capacity after I retire.”
The move comes after a weekend meeting with Sir John Kirwan in which the Blues coach suggested he either play the rest of the season in the lower tiers to help prepare him for the 2015 Super Rugby competition or return to league.
“It just hasn’t worked out, it is disappointing,” Tauber told News Corp.
“He’s not had the game time he’d like.
“This has all happened over the last 36 hours.”
Asked if Marshall would be moving back to Sydney, Tauber said they had not spoken to any NRL clubs yet.
“It might be Queensland or it might be NSW, it depends who is interested in him,” he said.
Dave
Guest
When Benji came out wioth the Blues jumper stut whilst still contracted to the Tigers, I remember a famous Rugby commentator saying, there is no room in the game for a slow, overweight five eight or full back with a bad attitude. Hasn't that proved to be true. The same could be said for him coming back to league. At the Tigers he couldn't kick, he was overweight, he was slow and he didn't take the line on, not to metion his turnstile defence. At the tigers he was a disruptive force. We don't want him back, we need to keep our kids. Last year Benji was the Marquee player.....look where we finished., this year we have Robbie Farrah as the sole Marquee player, and look where we are. No doubt, there will be a lot of these kids that will become top of their frield. Benji was on extremely good coin for his bad attitude, and bad form, I can't see him getting anywhere near that coin now, The other issue is that very few wise clubs would have much room in their slaary cap. To win the big games at the end of the year, the team roster shoiuld be set in stone.