Benji left out of Kiwi Squad

[wtfl1981]

Retiring Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall left out of New Zealand Rugby League World Cup squad …..

BEN GLOVER FOX SPORTS SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 3:37PM

BENJI Marshall has likely played his last game of rugby league with his name missing from New Zealand's World Cup train-on squad named on Wednesday. The retiring Wests Tigers premiership star has on several occasions stated his desire to finish his rugby league career at the World Cup, but seems to have had a change of heart.

In a statement posted on the New Zealand Rugby League website, convenor of selectors Tony Iro is quoted as saying that Marshall ruled himself out due to his impending commitments to rugby union. “We’re naturally disappointed to not have Benji available for World Cup selection,” said Iro. “But we understand the circumstances and wish him well. He’ll always be a Kiwi brother and he has done wonders not only for rugby league in New Zealand, but the game in general."

Given his poor form for the Tigers this year it would have been unlikely that Marshall would have earned a spot in the run-on team with Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson the likely halves partners.

KIWIS TRAIN-ON SQUAD: (Players from teams involved in NRL finals not available) Alex Glenn, Josh Hoffman, Bronson Harrison, Jason Nightingale, Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Dean Whare, Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei, Adam Blair, Tim Simona.

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[innsaneink]

Well, I think most can see this for what it is.

 

[Tigersman]

It's not very suprising this Squad is for the World Cup not a one off game.

 

[wtfl1981]

He is technically no longer a registered league player so i think he is automatically out of consideration.

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[Bazzinator]

i think everyone should be more proud that simona made it than benji's ommision

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I'd like to take this opportunity to officially rule myself out of selection for the kangaroos

 

[Knuckles]

He's a Rugby Union player now.

 

[Tigersman]

i think everyone should be more proud that simona made it than benji's ommision

100% i was just about to say that. He deserves it he has been one of our best this year if not our best IMO.But one question i keep asking myself is…...Didn't Simona pledge allegiance to Blues.

 

[Tigersman]

I'd like to take this opportunity to officially rule myself out of selection for the kangaroos

I Bet the selectors are very disappointed. I will try to get their numbers and break it to them softly :bawling .

 

[Milky]

i think everyone should be more proud that simona made it than benji's ommision

100% i was just about to say that. He deserves it he has been one of our best this year if not our best IMO.But one question i keep asking myself is…...Didn't Simona pledge allegiance to Blues.

Thats what I thought, where is Roger Tuivasa Sheck?

Good work Timmy!

 

[Blake93]

i think everyone should be more proud that simona made it than benji's ommision

100% i was just about to say that. He deserves it he has been one of our best this year if not our best IMO.But one question i keep asking myself is…...Didn't Simona pledge allegiance to Blues.

Thats what I thought, where is Roger Tuivasa Sheck?

Good work Timmy!

Players named are out of finals, the rest will get named as they're eliminated

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[GNR4LIFE]

I'd like to take this opportunity to officially rule myself out of selection for the kangaroos

I Bet the selectors are very disappointed. I wiil try to get their numbers and break it to them softly :bawling .

Had a feeling that would go over at least 1 persons head.

 

[Tigersman]

I'd like to take this opportunity to officially rule myself out of selection for the kangaroos

I Bet the selectors are very disappointed. I wiil try to get their numbers and break it to them softly :bawling .

Had a feeling that would go over at least 1 persons head.

I was being sarcastic….............................................

 

[LaT]

i think everyone should be more proud that simona made it than benji's ommision

100% i was just about to say that. He deserves it he has been one of our best this year if not our best IMO.But one question i keep asking myself is…...Didn't Simona pledge allegiance to Blues.

Thats what I thought, where is Roger Tuivasa Sheck?

Good work Timmy!

RTS is still playing finals, this is the train on squad made up teams out of finals contention.

 

[Frank_the_tank]

Jeez I didn't know Tim Simona was a bloody kiwi!

 

[Tigersman]

Triple posted….........

 

[Tigersman]

Marshall out of league World Cup.

Benji Marshall has ruled himself out of the rugby league World Cup in October ahead of his code swap to rugby union.

When former Kiwis captain Marshall signed a two-year Super Rugby contract with the Auckland-based Blues last month he remained in New Zealand's 38-man wider squad chosen ahead of the World Cup.

However, the Wests Tigers playnaker was not included in a 17-strong New Zealand train-on squad, made up of players from NRL teams who did not make the finals, which was named on Tuesday.

Convenor of selectors Tony Iro confirmed Marshall had told selectors he won't be available for the World Cup in France and England.

"We're naturally disappointed to not have Benji available for World Cup selection, but we understand the circumstances and wish him well," Iro said.

"He'll always be a Kiwi brother and he has done wonders not only for rugby league in New Zealand, but the game in general."

Iro said Marshall was a key part of the Kiwis team that won New Zealand's first ever Rugby League World Cup in 2008.

"He followed that up with a starring role, as captain, in our 2010 Four Nations win. He'll be missed, but we believe we have players in the halves that are ready to deliver in this World Cup tournament."

Marshall debuted for the Kiwis in the 2005 Anzac Test and played 27 Tests, including 19 as captain.

The 17 players named have been chosen from the eight clubs that won't feature in the NRL play-offs this year, with eight coming from the Warriors.

The national selectors - Richie Barnett, Ivan Cleary, Stephen Kearney, Tawera Nikau and Iro - will add to the squad in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the NRL finals.

A Kiwis squad of 24 for the World Cup will be named on October 8.

The squad has a warm-up game against the Cook Islands in Doncaster on October 20, before they open their World Cup defence on October 27 in Warrington against Samoa.

Kiwis train on squad: Alex Glenn, Josh Hoffman, Bronson Harrison, Jason Nightingale, Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Dean Whare, Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei, Adam Blair, Tim Simona.

 

[Tigersman]

Triple posted….....

 

[tig_prmz]

blair shouldnt be there in front of BMM imo

 

[TurnStyle]

I'd like to take this opportunity to officially rule myself out of selection for the kangaroos

:roll