Final Thoughts

[dazza65]

Ok, here it is. My source is a mate who also happens to be an old time Balmain first grader who is still on the periphery of the club. At lunch today he said it is all about EGO not money as the offer was significantly above the great majority of current NRL players, although he wouldn't be in top 20 based on performance over the last 2 years.
And listening and reading what the club and Tauber are saying or not saying it makes sense to me.

1\. Marshall really was a koala and had a lot of say with the old regime. Based on past performance and standing he thought he earned it.
2\. Not happy at all he was dropped. His attitude was "you can't drop me!" He never rated Potter as a coach , wanted someone else but thought he could "handle" him.
3\. He was unhappy he wasn't "valued" enough for another 2 years not just a $upgrade for two. Thought he deserved the extension based on his past and who he was - he could ask for anything. Humphreys said privately he would "look after him". That was the exact wording supposedly.
4\. He wanted the NRL to make a bigger deal(as per the comments today by Tauber) to effectively beg him to stay. Didn't happen.
5\. Didn't like that he had become a major media target about his diminishing performance. Thinks RU will be "easier" and will be centre of attention and will be able to hopefully make NZ Olympic 7's team.

Anyway whatever thanks Benji for all the memories and good luck. All great players retire and or move on. The NRL survives them all. It will again.
Tigers will continue and thrive with what many think is the best junior roster in the league.

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[T-REXX]

Bravo!!

It's done. Who cares what the reasons are now.

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[Eye_Of_Da_Tiger]

He will realise his mistake in years to come. Who needs enemies when you have old man Tauber as a manager.

 

[mtd]

he's gonna regret the decision when he goes elsewhere and see's the effort he has to put in. unless its japanese rugby….

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Of course it was ego, don't need no with inside info to confirm that

 

[tigergirlz]

May be able to get off my blood pressure medication now

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[alexaki]

Nothing new here…The Boys club has been dismantled and its about time...... bet Potter is privately doing cartwheels...now he can really drop him for poor performance without any long term ramifications...

Benji there is no "I" in Team!....

 

[underdog]

Nothing new here…The Boys club has been dismantled and its about time...... bet Potter is privately doing cartwheels...now he can really drop him for poor performance without any long term ramifications...

Benji there is no "I" in Team!....

Imagine that - he gets dropped to nsw cup for two games and gets stranded on 199 games… 😱pen_mouth:

 

[happy_tiger]

May be able to get off my blood pressure medication now

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Who are you trying to kid TG :laughing:

We will be the heart attack kings for a while yet

 

[innsaneink]

He wont be dropped from hereon in imo…..he'll be in the top 17 or leave totally if they cannot get on.

It is in Benjis best interests for 'Benji inc. Pty Ltd' to be as professional as he can in his final weeks at Wests Tigers

 

[Chris]

Paul Kent hits the nail on the head in this clip here…. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/benji-marshalls-manager-martin-tauber-slams-wests-tigers-and-the-nrl/story-fni3gpz1-1226680159828

 

[Eye_Of_Da_Tiger]

Paul Kent hits the nail on the head in this clip here…. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/benji-marshalls-manager-martin-tauber-slams-wests-tigers-and-the-nrl/story-fni3gpz1-1226680159828

I think it only really tells one side of the story.To be honest what's done is done and let's all move on.You can't look backwards whilst trying to travel forwards. One door closes the next will open. Benji and Tauber thought he was bigger than the game NOT!!! :brick:

 

[Frank_the_tank]

Paul Kent hits the nail on the head in this clip here…. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/benji-marshalls-manager-martin-tauber-slams-wests-tigers-and-the-nrl/story-fni3gpz1-1226680159828

Yep I agree with Paul Kent on this one.

Greedy money grab and nothing more.

 

[Tbone]

"You would think that for someone that brings the quality to the game, the merchandising, kids enjoyment for rugby league that someone would have picked the phone up and said `is there anything we can do to help?', Tauber said

Yet the COO of the NRL claims he was calling for weeks and never got a call back.

Tauber is killing Marshall's career and damaging his reputation. After such a long time at the club, there's a real risk fans are going to turn on him for being perceived as a greedy whinger with a massive ego. the Marshall camp needs to pull themselves together or things could go really bad for him from here. I'd like to see him leave with dignity in tact not with bad final memories to tarnish the old good memories.

 

[Tigerdave]

Tauber is killing Marshall's career and damaging his reputation. After such a long time at the club, there's a real risk fans are going to turn on him for being perceived as a greedy whinger with a massive ego. the Marshall camp needs to pull themselves together or things could go really bad for him from here. I'd like to see him leave with dignity in tact not with bad final memories to tarnish the old good memories.

I agree, this debacle has already done quite a bit of damage. Benji has come off looking like a spoilt brat, it's been poorly handled and the final decision, I feel, hasn't really been in Benji's best interests. Honestly, he should have been looking at someone like Locky, someone finishing his career with a bit of class.

It'll be a decision Benji will regret in time.

 

[Oxygen]

Time to move on I'm well and truly over it good luck to him and thank fark the power balance has been shifted back to the coach.

His Manager is a dead set tool and looks like his ready for a stint in Rookwood cemetery not managing one of the most exciting players ever to lace on a set of footy boots.

Thanks Benji for what you bought to the Tigers it will not be forgotten but your Ego is far to big for the club.

 

[phil1986]

I think in all honesty,

Benjis leaving rugby league decision is probably based on more than most people realise:

-chances are that the nz team For the World Cup will consist of Shaun Johnson and Kieran foran, both who are in better form then benji currently.
-benji has had the nz captaincy taken away from him
-benji has pressure in the coming years to hold his position in the team, with the likes of sirro/brooks/Moses continually on the rise.
- next year Richards will be kicking, not benji.

Whilst these aren't all large issues I'm sure that has an impact on his decision, after all, how do you want to go out?

On top of your game? Or lose nz captaincy, not make the side, eventually be pushed out of your side, due to mor e consistent players coming through?

To me its a no brainier, and prob had a bearing on the decision he made.

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[innsaneink]

I think in all honesty,

Benjis leaving rugby league decision is probably based on more than most people realise:

-chances are that the nz team For the World Cup will consist of Shaun Johnson and Kieran foran, both who are in better form then benji currently.
-benji has had the nz captaincy taken away from him
-benji has pressure in the coming years to hold his position in the team, with the likes of sirro/brooks/Moses continually on the rise.
- next year Richards will be kicking, not benji.

Whilst these aren't all large issues I'm sure that has an impact on his decision, after all, how do you want to go out?

On top of your game? Or lose nz captaincy, not make the side, eventually be pushed out of your side, due to mor e consistent players coming through?

To me its a no brainier, and prob had a bearing on the decision he made.

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So him saying he was disappointed the handshake deal didnt come to fruition - that he didnt get another four years in the game was all a ruse to hide the above?

OK.

:laughing:

 

[stevetiger]

I agree, this debacle has already done quite a bit of damage. Benji has come off looking like a spoilt brat, it's been poorly handled and the final decision, I feel, hasn't really been in Benji's best interests. Honestly, he should have been looking at someone like Locky, someone finishing his career with a bit of class.

It'll be a decision Benji will regret in time.

I think this is about right. Looking at it from WT perspective I think we are better off. Benji can be a great player at times but he has been inconsistent for the last couple of years and has lost his explosive running game. We offered him a massive contract that to me was paying overs because he has been with us so long and has been great for the club. The offered contract was more than what he is worth right now.

Looking at it from Benji's perspective though all I can see is someone who is screwing themselves over.

 

[Chris]

I really havent said much about this whole saga because I wanted to take time to digest everything that has happened. Now that Benji has decided to walk I really cant lose this whole sour feeling I have over all this. I sit here and think back to all the times Benji extended his contracts with the Tigers and how he always said how much he loved the Tigers and that he wanted to play all his career here. Now I just think of how full of crap he was.

To be honest, when Scotty Prince left he left with more dignity than what Benji has. At least when Prince left, he always said he wanted to go back home to QLD. He never said anything other than that and he has stuck to what he said. The way Benji has left us is nothing short of a dog act.

His manager admitted it wasnt about money and that Benji couldnt get along with Potter. Proves to me that he's taken the coward's way out instead of manning up. If Benji was fairdinkum, he'd realize the offer he was given was generous for the form he has displayed. If he was fairdinkum and true to his word, he'd accept his upgrade, work hard and get himself out of the form slump he's in and play out his career at one club like he said he wanted to and finish with his mates.

People might not like my thoughts, in all honesty, I really dont care. The way Benji has conducted himself over the last 18 months till now has been nothing short of disgraceful. I dont care how commercial his name is, to me, he's just a selfish grub who couldnt handle the heat when the blow torch was put on him to perform. He'll always be seen now as a sook and has forever tarnished his name because of all this. As far as I'm concerned, he can GAGF!