WESTS Tigers have declined to offer Benji Marshall an extension as part of the star playmaker's new contract package, but are in negotiations to secure their two most promising young halves to long-term deals.
The Marshall imbroglio came to a head just after 6pm last night, when acting Tigers boss Grant Mayer sent the player's agent, Martin Tauber, terms of the contractual upgrade that was verbally promised almost three years ago.
The news is just one of a number of significant developments at Concord, which include:
* REVELATIONS that Tauber has tested interest in Marshall with rival NRL outfits Canterbury and New Zealand, as well as Super 15 franchise NSW;
* MOVES from the Tigers to sign boom teenage halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses until the end of 2017\. Both are already contracted for next year;
* THE club receiving an offer to settle with sacked coach Tim Sheens, who has remained on the monthly payroll since his departure last September;
* ENGAGING the recruitment company the Bulldogs used to appoint a new CEO in the wake of Steve Humphreys' exit last Friday;
* THE formation of a new retention and recruitment committee, with veteran talent spotter Warren McDonnell demoted to dealing with players outside the Top 25 following a series of debatable decisions in recent years; and*
REVELATIONS they are still carrying ex-players Andrew Fifita, Bryce Gibbs, Todd Payten, Chris Heighington and Wade McKinnon on their 2013 salary cap.
Marshall's future, however, is the most pressing item of business at the club.
When he re-committed for a further five years in 2010, Humphreys gave a verbal promise to renegotiate the contract in tandem with the NRL's new broadcast deal. Tauber also indicated that he anticipated an extension until the end of 2017.
But the terms forwarded to him yesterday did not feature an extension, only more money between now and 2015\. It's understood Marshall's base salary - believed to be around $500,000 a season - will increase slightly this year, before enjoying more substantial rises in 2014 and 2015.
If the 28-year-old is not satisfied there's every chance he could ask for a release - and the mood among some Tigers officials indicates he would be granted one.
Marshall had a falling out with coach Mick Potter upon being axed to the bench in round 10, and has not achieved the same "father-son" relationship he previously enjoyed with Sheens.
Marshall yesterday reaffirmed his desire to remain a one-club player, but shed no light on his feelings over the contractual negotiations.
"At the end of the day I'd love to be here for life, and if the club sees it that way I'm sure I will be," he said.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that the Tigers are yet to pay Sheens this month, with recent legal negotiations suggesting a settlement could be reached soon. A board meeting next week will digest an offer put forward to the club by Sheens' solicitors.
On the plus side, Mayer confirmed negotiations to secure Brooks and Moses on new three-year deals had begun.
"We see them as great young talents and they are both priority signings for us," he said.
Both teenagers are managed by Isaac Moses, who also handles out-of-sorts forward Adam Blair. The Tigers have indicated they would be willing to contribute around $100,000 to Blair's contract at a rival club, should he attract an offer from elsewhere.
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interesting but good to see Brooks and Moses being signed up early and on long deals. with them both secured the club, from this article, looks like it doesn't want to offer Benji much more then he is already on which is the right thing to do because he is just playing bad footy at the moment. Which may mean he could leave considering he apparently wanted 1 million a few weeks ago