From SMH :
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St George-Illawarra have tabled Benji Marshall a one-year, $300,000 contract extension in a bid to ensure he finishes his career at the joint-venture outfit.
There has been speculation the Dragons are keen to offload Marshall, who is off contract at the end of the season, in order to free up salary cap space for other targets.
While the club is investigating the prospect of signing a long-term half to partner Gareth Widdop, officials believe Marshall still has something to offer as a player and potential mentor to young playmakers.
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Fairfax Media can reveal the Dragons have made a $300,000 offer, plus a car, which could be topped up with third-party payments if he were to stay put. It's a delicate balancing act for the 2010 premiers, who also have big-name players Ben Creagh, Mitch Rein and Joel Thompson coming off contract.
Complicating negotiations is the fact the Dragons must upgrade a number of players for 2017 after they triggered incentive clauses in their contracts, while attempting to keep the nucleus of the side together.
The offer on the table is well short of what Marshall commanded in his pomp, with the premiership-winning playmaker earning well over seven figures in previous seasons when endorsements are factored in.
However, the fact the Dragons are trying free up space for the 31 year old, albeit on an offer much less than he could command in the Super League, suggests he is still viewed as a valuable member of the organisation.
Dragons director of rugby league pathways Ian Millward, who is responsible for retention and recruitment at the club, said he had been in regular dialogue with Marshall's management in the hope of working towards a fair result for both parties.
"Ultimately we would like to keep him," Millward said.
"Some people may have thought we're not keen on Benji - we are keen on Benji. We've just got to work things out so we adhere to the salary cap.
"We're tidying up some things with our salary cap to make it more efficient than it was previously. That's the challenge while trying to keep Benji in our organisation. It's a process we're going through and we're backing it up with clear and concise dialogue with Benji and his management.
"It's important that neither party is second guessing what the other is doing. We have an open and clear dialogue and we'll continue that."
Marshall has been linked to a return to Wests Tigers, the club where he made his name, after his manager met club officials last week.
The Tigers are also in limbo in relation to their halves combination for next year given Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses have options in their favour for 2017.
The pair, who can extend their stay on deals worth about $600,000 each, have been asked to bring forward their decision before the agreed June deadline so the Tigers have some clarity about the future of their roster.
It's unlikely Marshall will jump at the Dragons offer immediately as clubs and players weigh up their options in a market that includes free agents Brooks, Moses, Cooper Cronk, Luke Keary, Corey Norman, Luke Elgey and Cody Walker.
But at least the former Kiwi international has a fallback option in his quest to remain in the NRL for a 14th season.
The Dragons were the surprise packet of last season, making the finals despite most critics tipping them to finish in the bottom four. The side narrowly lost their semifinal against the Bulldogs after Marshall was forced from the field with half an hour remaining.
"Benji's been really good for our club, he's in good form and his preseason has been good," said Millward, who wouldn't be drawn on the latest development in negotiations.
"The ultimate would be to get someone in our ranks that could develop under Benji, that would be the perfect scenario.
"Hopefully we can move towards a good result for both parties down the track and that doesn't mean we're maneuvering to get Benji out, not at all. It's the opposite."
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St George-Illawarra have tabled Benji Marshall a one-year, $300,000 contract extension in a bid to ensure he finishes his career at the joint-venture outfit.
There has been speculation the Dragons are keen to offload Marshall, who is off contract at the end of the season, in order to free up salary cap space for other targets.
While the club is investigating the prospect of signing a long-term half to partner Gareth Widdop, officials believe Marshall still has something to offer as a player and potential mentor to young playmakers.
\
\
Fairfax Media can reveal the Dragons have made a $300,000 offer, plus a car, which could be topped up with third-party payments if he were to stay put. It's a delicate balancing act for the 2010 premiers, who also have big-name players Ben Creagh, Mitch Rein and Joel Thompson coming off contract.
Complicating negotiations is the fact the Dragons must upgrade a number of players for 2017 after they triggered incentive clauses in their contracts, while attempting to keep the nucleus of the side together.
The offer on the table is well short of what Marshall commanded in his pomp, with the premiership-winning playmaker earning well over seven figures in previous seasons when endorsements are factored in.
However, the fact the Dragons are trying free up space for the 31 year old, albeit on an offer much less than he could command in the Super League, suggests he is still viewed as a valuable member of the organisation.
Dragons director of rugby league pathways Ian Millward, who is responsible for retention and recruitment at the club, said he had been in regular dialogue with Marshall's management in the hope of working towards a fair result for both parties.
"Ultimately we would like to keep him," Millward said.
"Some people may have thought we're not keen on Benji - we are keen on Benji. We've just got to work things out so we adhere to the salary cap.
"We're tidying up some things with our salary cap to make it more efficient than it was previously. That's the challenge while trying to keep Benji in our organisation. It's a process we're going through and we're backing it up with clear and concise dialogue with Benji and his management.
"It's important that neither party is second guessing what the other is doing. We have an open and clear dialogue and we'll continue that."
Marshall has been linked to a return to Wests Tigers, the club where he made his name, after his manager met club officials last week.
The Tigers are also in limbo in relation to their halves combination for next year given Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses have options in their favour for 2017.
The pair, who can extend their stay on deals worth about $600,000 each, have been asked to bring forward their decision before the agreed June deadline so the Tigers have some clarity about the future of their roster.
It's unlikely Marshall will jump at the Dragons offer immediately as clubs and players weigh up their options in a market that includes free agents Brooks, Moses, Cooper Cronk, Luke Keary, Corey Norman, Luke Elgey and Cody Walker.
But at least the former Kiwi international has a fallback option in his quest to remain in the NRL for a 14th season.
The Dragons were the surprise packet of last season, making the finals despite most critics tipping them to finish in the bottom four. The side narrowly lost their semifinal against the Bulldogs after Marshall was forced from the field with half an hour remaining.
"Benji's been really good for our club, he's in good form and his preseason has been good," said Millward, who wouldn't be drawn on the latest development in negotiations.
"The ultimate would be to get someone in our ranks that could develop under Benji, that would be the perfect scenario.
"Hopefully we can move towards a good result for both parties down the track and that doesn't mean we're maneuvering to get Benji out, not at all. It's the opposite."
