At the end of the 2020 season, the Wests Tigers will be waving goodbye to legendary half Benji Marshall – for a second time.
While it is unclear whether or not the New Zealander will play on for another season, the announcement he would not be doing so at his beloved Tigers was announced by chief executive officer Justin Pascoe on Tuesday.
Many fans would argue the club should do the exact opposite of whatever their roster management plans are – in fact, for most teams, a club legend willing to stay on less money than what he could likely get on the open market would be a godsend.
But Tigers HQ did not see it that way.
Yet it seems the club could’ve had their favourite son back for 2021 after he reportedly received lukewarm interest from other clubs.
Every good club needs strong leadership, both on and off the field, and even if Marshall would’ve served mostly in a second-grade role next year, his absence will place that much more pressure on the few leaders who remain.
While Benji’s play has been criticised this year, spending an extended period out of the line-up due to his defensive frailties, there are far worse backup playmakers.
Despite seemingly wanting to move on from the 2010 Golden Boot winner, coach Michael Maguire has still been compelled to play Marshall in 11 games this season, as is the state of the club.
Michael Maguire (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Perhaps this is the ultimate reason Concord must move on.
On each Tuesday that Benji’s name was not on the line-up sheet, the proverbial media switchboard lit up to the tune of ‘where is he and when will he play next?’
It hasn’t helped that Marshall was absent for three losses, putting more pressure on his coach to pick him and on his teammates to win without him – especially scapegoat-elect Luke Brooks.
However, the team is 4-7 when he is present, 2-3 when he is not.
Marshall is still capable of good football – despite missing five games this year, he is among the league leaders in linebreak assists and 40-20s – but with the Tigers to miss the finals yet again in 2020, the club may indeed have made the right decision to move on from their former superstar.
The best teams in the league do not rely on 35-year-old-plus playmakers unless their name is Cameron Smith.
In fact, the league-best, 14-win Penrith Panthers boast one of the youngest teams in the NRL. Their western Sydney neighbours are clearly offering themselves no long-term solutions by rolling out the league’s second-oldest player, and this club needs long-term solutions like no other.
With Benji gone next year, Maguire will not be able to fall back on the former ace when his halves pairing of the day does not win.
This may mean more losses next year than this, but it may mean more wins on the horizon than if Marshall continued to bail his club out into 2021.
There will be hurt during this divorce, but for a club with a road back to the finals that seems longer than any other, a small dose of pain may prevent another ten years of it over the next decade.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I doubt that. Better to have some reasonably/fairly to well paid players who are free to move on but stay from a degree of loyalty and have some heart in the place and the battle.
Tony
Roar Guru
I certainly recall him as a pretty handy at Souths and also for Queensland
steveng
Roar Rookie
Chris Mcqueen was a pretty handy player at the Bunnies, well years ago and pre 2014 and post 2014, he’s 33 years old and should have been used to contribute something to the Tigers just like Chris Lawrence has been so affectively. Just as a background on Chris Mcqueen, he is an England international as a second-rower, lock, wing or centre and has played the same for the Wests Tigers, he previously played for the Gold Coast Titans and the Bunnies with whom he won the 2014 NRL Grand Final. He also played for the Prime Minister's XIII and Queensland in the State of Origin series. So he’s got all the experience to contribute to the Tigers.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Ok you are right but, I didn’t mean that, I was too harsh lol :happy: let’s say he won’t do nothing and/or get the Tigers anywhere as he’s too entrenched within his blinkers, which were the problems at Souths.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We don't need a 7 or 9, we need a 5/8th and Fullback so we should not be looking at Hunt anymore.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Must agree with you mushi. Their management has been atrocious for years. The Tigers were my tip for the spoon for this year. I think Harry Grant has been their saviour this time.
Nick
Roar Guru
Do they think they will win a premiership with a band of overpaid mercenaries? Easier to win with underpaid indentured labour, right? Right?
Davico
Roar Pro
“For me, Madge will wreck and ruin the Tigers as he’s done to the Bunnies post GF 2014” Pretty sure you did say he ruined Souths champ. Unless Souths and the Bunnies are different teams!
Davico
Roar Pro
Jacob Liddle? The guy is taped together and would do his knee walking up a set of stairs!
Birdy
Roar Rookie
I was all for Madge at the tigers despite the rumours from souths. Maybe that's the reason he wants benji out, benji has say at the club. But then again the rumours of the control that benji and farah had are just as scarey. Time for a total clean out, including the tea lady. We the fans have had enough.
Nat
Roar Rookie
He was barely worth what he was getting while here. What's he worth now?
Kobi
Guest
Ex Tiger supporter. That club is trash.
Bob
Guest
Maybe he likes playing football.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think there is an underlying issue here. There seems to be a distinct lack of quality play makers around, and when there is one that is half good - they get signed by another clubs for a ridiculous amount, and never reach potential. Hunt, Reynolds, Norman, Croft, Milford, Moylan, Taylor - the list goes on (Keary is probably the exception). I wonder if these players stayed at their original clubs and developed their trade in a familiar environment - could they have been much better.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I didn't say that he ruined Souths but, he surely didn't get our boys to play the footy that was required and change anything post 2014 season. Madge just went with the flow and let things pan out for 3 years, he didn't add or improve anything at Souths, that is why we were in a rut which we are just getting out of this year with the footy that we are playing in 2020. I agree that Seibs was handed a top 4 side in 2018 and really didn't do much with Souths hence and what was inevitable that Seibs brought to the Broncs. I've got nothing against Madge but, the Tigers pre Madge were a pretty good side (we rarely beat them) and since Madge became coach, me thinks he is continuing what he was doing at Souths which is nothing.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He’s still been good enough to win best player in the entire club for the past two consecutive seasons..can’t imagine the wait you’ll need to endure entrusting your stir fry to any other squad member.
mushi
Roar Guru
But Brooks has been on egg shells his career. I think I said years ago you wouldn't trust him to order Chinese take way because of how long it would take. I think now the only improvement is that he'll panic order the stir fry brocolli and a steamed rice. List management has been the Tiger's bane and they try to solve it by firing the coach, letting him get half way through a restructure and then firing him so someone can do the same. Baffling.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
And if Tigers go on a buying spree, they will be in the same boat again in a couple of seasons when Madge gets punted - and he will. Tigers need to deliberately eat an excerement sandwich for two seasons and let these inflated current contracts run. Offloading and paying half of a contract does not help a cap. IE: Pay $400k to lose a guy getting paid $800k means you can only buy a $400k player which would be of a similar skill set to the guy who was just offloaded. Find some young talent. Nurture them and run the club on an oily rag until these over inflated contract expire. and in that time of waiting, come up with a strong plan A, plan B, plan C and plan D in case the players in Plan A can't be wrapped up. Madge and Hook are building coaches. Much like Sargents in a boot camp when you join the armed forces. They instill the ethic, the effort, the training and fitness to get the team physically ready for top 8. I really think after that time, they should be moved on and have a coach who gives more finesse and the occasional hug. They should also get some of the reward for the premierships if they happen.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
2015 GF broke Hunt mentally IMO. That is no bad wrap on him. It would have crushed a bunch of people in the same boat. I also think he shouldn't have been blamed for that. There were plenty of chances in the last 10 minutes of that game. But I digress. I think for Hunt, coming back to the Broncs would not be a good thing for his football. And he has proven his is a better hooker so he should embrace that an be a star for the Saints in the next few years.
mushi
Roar Guru
They do but then they have to let them go because they don't have cap room after apying someone else's role player star money. Their management is bottom drawer. Seriously the tigers have the money in the inner west to go with a Campbelltown nursery and are consistently rubbish. I haven't run the F/a of the past decade but outside of the titans I can't think of anyone that would challenge them for last. They're the NY knicks of the NRL, and not just because of the orange