BREAKING - MARSHALL LEAVING

[Flippedy]

Some of you blokes are really building Brooks up for a fall. Lets not build the entire future around a kid who hasn't even played first grade.

Absolutely agree! I'm sick to death of hearing about Brooks and Moses and how they're gonna kill it for us next year. Neither are proven at NRL level and I'm beginning to wonder if people realise how big the difference is between NRL and NYC. Seriously, have we not learned anything about the detriment of talking up players, who have never even played a first grade game yet? Cause we sure have had some big let downs over the years. Hope they prove me wrong, but geez let's stop blowing the trumpets so prematurely.

 

[system]

Why would we get the spoon? I can see Luke Brooks bursting into firsts next year and us picking up some good players, that's over 1 million dollars in the cap free mate.

Benji may not be in form, but the majority of our attack still focuses around him. His potential replacements are untested, and it's probably too late to buy any decent alternatives.

I'd love to see Brooks & Moses step up (though I doubt they will be chucked in together at first), but I also fear we're going to have another Miller or Tim Smith if we put them in before they're ready.

Meh, maybe I'll be eating my words in a years time, but I foresee some floggings and 5k crowds next year at a time when we're financially vulnerable.

L

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[Cosimo_Zaretti]

I know that the Tigers could have raised the cash had Potter seen Marshall as part of the long term plan. We are essentially letting Benji go, and even as a huge fan I can see that his time has come. Time to make way for the talent we've got coming through. Doesn't stop that tightness in the chest right now. I'll be on the hill at the Warriors game in my Tiger onesie cheering Marshall in his last Leichardt appearance. I may cry on the siren and I won't be the only one..

If anyone wants me I'll be in my room watching the 05 grand final.

 

[Defiant]

Thanks for the memories Benji your a dead set legend.

Can't help but think he has underachieved under Sheen's though. It was like the running game was coached out of him after Lui left. One coach all his career and he chooses not to engage with the new one.

I had hoped he would patch up with Potter and see out the final 2 years with view to extension on lower pay later.

I will watch with amazement to see how he earns more elsewhere.

GL for the future Benji !

Now I would start rotating Moses and Brooks into first grade. Let Benji concentrate on his future and tv responsibilities.

 

[wtigers]

Really disappointed at this… We've lost one of our best players tonight, and I expect out next couple of seasons will be worse than this one. Thanks Benji, you'll always be a Tiger to me, and (although unlikely) I hope we haven't seen the last of you.

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[mtd]

brooks brooks brooks

 

[happy_tiger]

The one person I would like to hear from about all of this is Humphreys

He could obviously back up Marshalls claims or throw them out the window

Guess we will never know who was telling porkies

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Just read the official statement and Mayer says the board will consider it once they have an official request, so is there a chance they may say no sorry your contracted or will they be snapping his hand off to get the release form?

 

[wtigers]

brooks brooks brooks

Just hope Brooks can be excellent without a proper halves pairing… Siro probably won't be in the halves for much longer and I don't rate Anasta that highly.

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[larrycorowa]

Thanks for the memories…but don't let the door hit you on the way out pal....well done Potter and Mayer

 

[strrretch]

very sad….was hopeful he would regain form and stay

i am thinking there must be more to it than what is stated in the press....half a mill for a guy who's form is inconsistent is a reasonable offer......Benji is not being very realistic given his form if he wanted a contract beyond 2015 right now.

 

[mtd]

Thanks for the memories…but don't let the door hit you on the way out pal....well done Potter and Mayer

how good is it… they have shown they have their heads screwed on from day #1\. im loving it.

 

[system]

I think it is the best thing for both parties moving forward.

Benji may have a stellar Rugby union career, he may not, however if he does not want to be here then he needs to move on. It is a shame his manager fronted the club and not Benji himself but I would assume that is the way he handles things in negotiations.

We have stability and options within the club in both youth and senior ranks. It also allows a fresh start in terms of cap space and restructuring of the side.

We will miss his freakish abilities but not his freakish mistakes.

As a fan I am forever grateful to what he has bought to the Wests Tigers and in particular that magic run in 2005 which solidified the Joint Venture for many.

From my perspective his output no longer matched his price tag at it's current level and he believes he is worth more then the upgraded deal we offered and that is fine.

I hope he goes on and plays really well to end his tenure with the club on the highest note possible.

I also really hope we do not have to put up with the predictable sook fest on The Footy Show with his sycophant Sleau Ryan. Though I would expect it at some point..

The club does need to have any release conditional that he cannot play NRL for what would have been the remaining two years on his contract. That is just good business practice.

Exciting times ahead for both parties

 

[Eye_Of_Wests_Tigers]

I for one will be sorry to see him leave.

I remember his first touch of the ball in first grade, the outrageous sidestep, the improbable flick passes…...I was amazed that Wests had finally picked up a kid that was a future superstar. I know he is not Andrew Johns or Cooper Cronk but to be fair they didn't have some of the skill that Benji possesses.

I am also very nervous that our future will now be in the hands of relative unknowns. It is fine to have a youth policy but that youth needs time to be nurtured and developed. There may be some more long seasons ahead.

I find it a bit sad that people are reacting like this. Remember in 2002-2003 we were a laughing stock and within 2 years had won a premiership and turned into one of the most marketable clubs.

Thanks for the memories Benji - you will always remain a favourite Tiger

Great Post!

The Skinny kid from Whakatane, New Zealand. His first game against the broncos showed what he was all about, speed, trickery, the step and the flicks. He's come back from that many shoulder reconstructions which shows the heart and desire of the man, feel sorry for his shoulder come of age, hes going to be feeling it! Benji, has given us some of the most enjoyable moments (05 flick pass gf and that run against the sharks…never forget it!) plus many more, but also some ridiculous head scratching moments that make your ears burn and your head sore from watching it :brick: . All good things come to an end one day, and it will be different not seeing Benji running around for the Tigers next year. Thanks for all the memories Benji, thanks for the years of service you've given this club, helping it grow into one of the most marketable clubs in the league, you've become one of the Tigers greats and a favourite Tiger to many fans. :sign: Good luck for the future big man!

 

[NJLM78]

Thanks for some great great memories Benji.

In a way it is like a huge chapter of WT history is coming to an end. But a new chapter will begin with many of the great players we already have and the young talent coming through.

Go Tigers.

 

[system]

Also for years we have talked about the toxic culture built around friendship rather then results. The new regime has seen fit to rectify this and it is the right thing moving forward

 

[bigsiro]

Very sad day. Can we please stop all the knocking now and start the 'thanks for the memories' pages?

I for one am devastated. Benji leaving really means a new era.

Some of my best Tiger memories are of Benji's plays. They are etched in my brain.

In 20 years time we will talk about him as the greatest attacking weapon we have ever seen.

The greatest Wests Tiger ever.

 

[LaT]

Just read the official statement and Mayer says the board will consider it once they have an official request, so is there a chance they may say no sorry your contracted or will they be snapping his hand off to get the release form?

True, but Mayer also said this which sounds like he won't be stopped. You'd have thought the board would have discussed this already and made a choice if he asks for a release, only step now is to have a meeting and make it official.

Grant Mayer ‏@gcmayer 33m
Really disappointing news about Benji. He has made the decision in his own best interests and I respect that. Great club man. Best of luck.

 

[whoneedstherapy]

Thanks Benji for all the memories.

Through the good and the bad he's been a great commercial success for the club. Popular with kids and adults alike, always giving hope that some of his magic could turn the tide with ten minutes to go yet always leaving us asking why when his instinctive, attacking game goes wrong. I love watching how we play centered on Benji and Robbie because you just never know what will happen next on the wests tigers emotional rollercoaster.

Ultimately, i don't think his form is good enough to effectively give him a four year deal at the kind of money hey wants.

If we've offered him an upgrade on his current contract in value but not tenure and he still wants to leave then i wish him all the best. I personally think the game as a whole will miss his unpredictable presence but perhaps he needs something to make him hungry again to succeed and i wouldn't begrudge him that.

I've enjoyed the memories, some more than others, but hopefully we will see some more Benji magic before he departs our great club.

Good luck in the future champ.

 

[system]

Sad to see him go, for all of his faults he has produced some of the most breathtaking moments I have ever seen in Rugby League.

But if his decision to leave is in any way due to spitting the dummy over being benched a few weeks back then that is petty, pathetic and pretty p#*s poor TBH.

Surely he can't honestly believe that he is worth any more money than what he is currently on? Consistency on the field ain't his strong point, consistent players are worth bigger dollars than rocks and diamonds ones.

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