BREAKING - MARSHALL LEAVING

[eyewonder]

Benji needed a change in direction as he wasn't doing the club nor himself any good.

He has made an excellent career choice.

.If he had stayed any longer he would have soured the relationship even further with the club and supporters.

He deserves to be treated with respect as a true legend of the game and being instrumental in our victory in 2005.

wests hadn't won one since 1952 and the tigers in1969.

lets savour that 2005 victory as we mightn't see it again for some time.

he won the semi against the broncos for us in Brisbane and broke the cowboys spririt with that flick pass in the final.

Well done,benji.

 

[system]

http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/marshall-set-to-leave-wests-tigers-20130715-2q06g.html

Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall will seek a release from the final two years of his contract.
Marshall's manager Martin Tauber has confirmed to Fairfax Media that he has told Tigers officials of the Kiwi representative's desire to leave the club at the end of this season. The 28-year-old will now likely play rugby union.
Marshall has returned from a holiday in Bali adamant that he will leave the club which he has played with for more than a decade, and helped to a remarkable premiership success in 2005.
Advertisement
\
\
''I've had a conversation with the chief operating officer Grant Mayer, and I've advised him of Benji's decision,'' Tauber said. ''Benji will play out the balance of the 2013 year but will seek an early release.'' Tauber has been in negotiations with Tigers officials since earlier this year, but those talks broke down after Marshall was benched by coach Mick Potter for the clash with South Sydney in round 10.
Marshall is known to be disillusioned that the Tigers did not honour a handshake agreement for him to sign a contract upgrade and extension, which would have seen him stay at the club until the end of 2017.
Recent discussions between the Tigers and Tauber have only centred on an upgrade of his current deal, which expires at the end of 2015\. Marshall's current contract allowed for a renegotiation following an increase in the salary cap due to the new broadcast rights deal.
He has long been adamant that he would not play against the Tigers, which leaves Super Rugby as his likely destination.
Auckland Blues coach John Kirwan has held talks with Tauber, who is expected to now commence formal discussions with Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. Tauber stressed that Marshall did not have a deal confirmed with any rugby union outfit.
''This has been a very difficult decision. This young man has given 12 years of his football life to a club that he has great regard and affection for,'' Tauber said. ''However with what's transpired, he believes it's time for him to take up another challenge, for what will basically be the next five years of his life. We have many regrets but we understand that the club has a business to run. It's unfortunate that it has come to this. It would be remiss of us not to express our thanks to a number of the board members, and the chief operating officer for all their considerations.
''Benji has always stated that he would not play for another rugby league club, as he felt great thanks to all the sponsors who have supported him, and the fan base who have always cheered him on.''
The decision will come as a massive blow to the Tigers, who have lost a number of players in recent seasons, including Chris Heighington, Beau Ryan and Gareth Ellis. Marshall will be the biggest departure of those; he has been the club's marquee player for most of his time there, and his loss will be felt off the field as well as on it.
Marshall's form has been down this year, but he has shown signs of improvement as the Tigers have won three of their past five matches. They will now play the Warriors on Friday night at Leichhardt Oval, as they continue to fight for a top-eight spot, knowing that Marshall wants out.
Tigers boss Grant Mayer said he was disappointed by his star's decision but remained confident of a bright future for the Tigers.
"Benji is a fantastic role model not only for the club but for the game as a whole," he said.
"I believe no one person who has watched the game over the past 12 years would have one negative thought about what he's done for this
great game.
"Wests Tigers are obviously disappointed with the decision. We understand that he has broader things to consider than simply himself,
and we wish him all the very best."
Mayer, though, stressed that any release would need to be approved by the board.
"A request for a release is something that we would have to consider," he said.
"No doubt the board will do this very quickly.
"We are extremely confident, no matter what the outcome, Benji will continue to be first class both on and off the field for Wests Tigers
for the rest of this season."
Earlier this month, Marshall revealed to Fairfax Media why he was considering moving on, maintaining that he believed he had agreed to an extended deal with the club.
''To my knowledge, I'd done a deal to stay at the Tigers until 2017, but with the changes to the CEO and the club, they've informed me that won't be the deal any more. I've got a lot of things to weigh up,'' he said.
Of a switch to rugby union, he said: ''Growing up, it was a dream of mine to play for the All Blacks. That changed and I started playing rugby league. But I'll consider rugby, absolutely.''

Rugby 7's in the Olympics for nz

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[stevetiger]

Think or a minute how do we know Brooks and Moses are any good??? there was a time people thought guys like Rangi Chase and Miller were going to be the halfback for years. this is a HUUUGE risk on 2 players that have not even play a first grade game yet.

Totally agree. Brooks and Moses might be great but they aren't playing first grade at the moment and the step up is pretty large.

 

[mtd]

Think or a minute how do we know Brooks and Moses are any good??? there was a time people thought guys like Rangi Chase and Miller were going to be the halfback for years. this is a HUUUGE risk on 2 players that have not even play a first grade game yet.

Totally agree. Brooks and Moses might be great but they aren't playing first grade at the moment and the step up is pretty large.

they can't do any worse than marshall has this year.. or sandow…
miller was given 4 weeks (hardly a decent chance)
and rangi would have been our #6 if it wasnt for benji...

 

[Guest]

Think or a minute how do we know Brooks and Moses are any good??? there was a time people thought guys like Rangi Chase and Miller were going to be the halfback for years. this is a HUUUGE risk on 2 players that have not even play a first grade game yet.

Totally agree. Brooks and Moses might be great but they aren't playing first grade at the moment and the step up is pretty large.

Brooks will probably be ready for a run next year. Moses won't be. He's good, but needs more muscle on his frame or he'll be snapped IMO. I'd be looking to a Brooks/Anasta/Sirro combo at this stage.

 

[balmain boy]

C'mon guys, we're not the ones letting Benji go, he is unmotivated and doesn't want to be here!! Do we have any say in the matter!

We have Anasta, Brooks, Sirro, possibly Moltzen (and if not sign an experienced back up half). Benji has only been playing like a reserve grader so anyone else can't be any worse than he has. Brooks has a far superior kicking game to Benji so if he does nothing else but find the grass with his kicks I'd be happy.

We can't crucify the kid if a ball goes over the sideline or misses the mark here or there, Benji does that on a weekly basis and he's got over 10 years experience!

 

[Tigerdave]

On the Matty Johns show tonight about they talked about If you look at the back end of the careers of a lot of the former greats they took paycuts and stayed on to mentor the young kids to give back to the club. Benjis request for more money was ultimately his demise at the club.

This is the way I see it as well. He should have been prepared to stay for 2 years but on less money not more. I suppose it is his choice and I wish him well but I wonder if he is making the right choice for himself.

Same, I think in time he will regret the decision to leave.

Lost a bit of respect for him to really; 2 years to go on his contract, his form was certainly not the best and yet he expected to get an extension to his contract, really? What he should have done was knuckle down for the remaining year and prove his worth to the club and not have, what appears to be, a dummy spit.

 

[Guest]

Benji Marshall hard to replace, says Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter

Paul Crawley
The Daily Telegraph
July 16, 2013 12:00AM
\
\
There was never going to be a happy ending to this soap opera and finally Benji Marshall has come to the realisation his heart is no longer at the Wests Tigers.

When coach Mick Potter spoke to The Daily Telegraph on Monday night there was a touch of sadness in his voice, but also a realisation.

Potter was watching the game between Manly and North Queensland and enjoying his dinner when a call came through from acting chief executive Grant Mayer to tell him the latest update - that Benji wanted out at the end of the season after requesting a release from the final two years of his contract through his manager Martin Tauber.

Potter had spoken with Benji earlier in the day and the star playmaker had told him he was heading off to weigh up his future.

"He hadn't decided when I spoke to him close to lunchtime," Potter said.

"Then I got told by Grant not long ago.

"There is not much else I can say about it, it is his decision."

What Potter did want to say was that Benji's presence would be missed, and his memory never forgotten.

"He is going to be very hard to replace," Potter said.

"There is only one Benji Marshall and it is going to make it tough."

But this saga had been dragging on for months and there was never going to be a conclusion that satisfied all parties - because the future at every football club is now, never yesterday.

And for everything Benji brings to the table from a marketability perspective, and that is all based on what he has achieved in the past, the fact is that the Wests Tigers are sitting 12th on the ladder and tough decisions needed to be made.

Benji had a handshake agreement with former chief executive Stephen Humphreys that was supposed to run through until the end of 2017.

But if you'd watched Benji play this season, or last, you would have known that scenario was never going to eventuate with Humphreys now gone.

Good judges had said he needed a change as much as the Tigers did - now Benji has made his decision and the club will be forced to do the same.

From a football perspective the club have two of the best young halves in the game coming through the grades in Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses who we have heard so much about but not seen in the NRL because of salary cap constraints.

But by Benji moving on at the end of the season, it opens the door for the youngsters to commit their long-term futures to the club and bring with them fresh hope.

There is also now room to chase another star recruit in another position - fullback, second-row, front-row - which couldn't have happened if Benji remained.

That is the upside to a sad day for the Tigers.

Acting chief executive Grant Mayer said Monday night that the decision was not final but Mayer didn't expect any hold-up.

"He hasn't put it in writing yet but he has decided he is going to ask for a release," Mayer said.

"He hasn't got anywhere to go to but he believes he needs a new challenge and therefore he is going to do that.

"We have to go through a process from a board point of view and either approve it or otherwise. We can hold him to his contract, that is what we could do, but that is unlikely to happen.

"He has been a superstar for this club and the game and we certainly understand the decision he has taken.

"We made a very competitive offer that would have made him one of the top-paid players in the club but we understand that for him it is more than that.

"We wish him well."

We all do.

 

[happy_tiger]

On the Matty Johns show tonight about they talked about If you look at the back end of the careers of a lot of the former greats they took paycuts and stayed on to mentor the young kids to give back to the club. Benjis request for more money was ultimately his demise at the club.

This is the way I see it as well. He should have been prepared to stay for 2 years but on less money not more. I suppose it is his choice and I wish him well but I wonder if he is making the right choice for himself.

Same, I think in time he will regret the decision to leave.

Lost a bit of respect for him to really; 2 years to go on his contract, his form was certainly not the best and yet he expected to get an extension to his contract, really? What he should have done was knuckle down for the remaining year and prove his worth to the club and not have, what appears to be, a dummy spit.

His bank account won't regret the decision

 

[Tigerdave]

^ nope the back account probably won't regret the decision

 

[trumper]

I'm sad that Benji is leaving.

Should have been a Tiger for life.

 

[Abraham]

To me it will always be a case of 'what if' for Benji.

It's no coincidence that he played his best ever footy with Prince and Lui inside him (I.e. proper half backs). A whole four seasons out of eleven with a decent half back next to him!

If he had been coached properly, if he had a decent team structure around him, with a decent halfback feeding him the ball, we could be talking about Benji Marshall the greatest ever player to pull on a jersey.

Instead he will be remembered for flashes of amazing brilliance mixed with inconsistency… And it annoys the hell out of me.

Sheens may have got his career rolling, but he almost certainly ruined it also.

 

[stryker]

This is a sad day for the Wests Tigers. Goodbye Benji Marshal and thankyou for providing me with some of the most amazing times as a supporter I could ever have asked for.

To the scum on this forum revelling and rejoicing in this decision…you disgust me.

 

[happy_tiger]

I know this is slightly off topic , but if the ARU is going to help an Super 15 side sign Benji but he is then going attempt to play for NZ ,is that the direction we want our national board heading

Shouldn't we be attempting to stop Australian players leaving for for Europe and Asia ??

 

[barra]

I would have liked to see Benji play his way out of the situation and come through the other side as a great player - for Wests Tigers.

But he has to make his own decisions, and none of us on here know all about his situation past or present.

Whichever way you look at it Benji has been a marketing dream for WT, played a big part of our successful years and the identities of the two are closely intertwined. For all this I'm sad to see him go, thanks for the great memories Benji.

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

To me it will always be a case of 'what if' for Benji.

It's no coincidence that he played his best ever footy with Prince and Lui inside him (I.e. proper half backs). A whole four seasons out of eleven with a decent half back next to him!

If he had been coached properly, if he had a decent team structure around him, with a decent halfback feeding him the ball, we could be talking about Benji Marshall the greatest ever player to pull on a jersey.

Instead he will be remembered for flashes of amazing brilliance mixed with inconsistency… And it annoys the hell out of me.

Sheens may have got his career rolling, but he almost certainly ruined it also.

I do agree with this the lack of a decent half back almost certainly stifled his career as I stated earlier in the thread the reason why this is so sad is we have a half with so much potential coming through and they could have complimented one another hopefully.
But there is no certainty that these young guys would have stayed had benji upgraded and extended we may not have been able to afford it,so maybe this is the best case for everybody it would have happened on day he couldn't play forever and maybe now is as good a time as ever.
With Mayer now seemingly pulling the right strings up top we hope our club is now in good hands I just hope he formally gets the top job he us quite refreshing.

 

[stryker]

i wonder how Robbie feels now , said he would be staying , hope it doesnt afect wednesday night i hope Robbie kills it

Robbie will be stoked

Garbage.
What are you basing this silly statement upon? Robbie and Benji appear to be firm friends - they say it all the time, but more importantly they absolutely respect each others play. When we need to win a game in the dying stages, Robbie looks for Benji and if he cant get the ball to him in one pass, he scoots in his direction.

Stop adding to the misinformation. Rob will be saddened by this news.

 

[tigerbenji]

Stryker you put it beautifully, well said.

 

[barra]

I agree with your observation of Benji and Robbie's game play Stryker. Who will Robbie turn to now - and although that player may not have the errors in his game that Benji has shown, it is very hard to imagine that any half in our squad has the same level of creativity.

 

[Furious1]

Interesting that Tauber claims to have been in talks with Waratahs for 3 years.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_