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Wests Tigers' 2005 heroes Farah, Marshall to play on

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
29th August, 2018
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Favourite sons Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall have re-signed for one more NRL season with Wests Tigers.

The club life members will extend their careers into a 17th season after inking the 2019 deals on Wednesday.

“It’s exciting to finally get it done,” said ex-NSW rake Farah, who will now play beyond his 35th birthday.

“I wanted to take my time with the decision and I’m glad it’s done now.

“I want to embrace everything and take it all in now knowing it’s going to be my last year, and hopefully leave a legacy once I’m gone.

“I want to leave the club in a better place once Benji and I are gone.”

The pair made their NRL debuts for the Tigers in 2003 and featured in their 2005 premiership win.

Farah is the Tigers’ most-capped player with 255 games while ex-New Zealand skipper Marshall has 221.

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“It was always my intention coming back here to finish my career here,” 33-year-old pivot Marshall said.

“I think it’s pretty special to start and finish my career at the same place, and to be able to do it with Robbie is something I never could have imagined happening.

“You can’t get that opportunity to play again if you decide to retire and I didn’t want to have any regrets.”

Tigers coach Ivan Cleary had made it clear before the announcement that he wanted the pair to stay around for another year.

“As we’ve seen throughout the season they both still have a lot to offer this club and it’s great that they’re going to be a part of Wests Tigers for another year,” he said in a statement.

Cleary had earlier claimed the Tigers’ rise up the ladder this year to ninth position with their most wins since 2011 (12) would help convince the pair to stay on.

The veterans made their call before the Tigers’ Thursday night clash with South Sydney which would have been their last NRL game if they retired.

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