Pressure Mounts on Marshall to make his call

[mike]

Good. Love Benj but he should not be part of the player group after this year. Strong move by the club and it’s good to see.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Benji Marshall has pledged to fight for his career at another NRL club after the Wests Tigers informed his management they would not have a spot for him in 2021.

It comes as several of the club’s players raised trust and communication issues with coach Michael Maguire during a crisis meeting on Monday, with concerns growing over the coach’s rapport with the playing group.

Play Video



Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
Play video
2:55

Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
Peter Sterling says Luke Brooks is the man to lead the Tigers into a new era.

Marshall’s manager began calling rival NRL clubs on Monday night, offering the five-eighth’s services for next year following a two-hour meeting with Tigers officials during the afternoon.

Marshall confronted Maguire at the club’s Concord headquarters yesterday morning in a 90-minute showdown over his future. The 35-year-old, who wants to play again next season, was disappointed to learn he wasn’t part of the club’s 2021 plans after reading a Herald article on Monday morning.

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Maguire had agreed to reconsider, but by the afternoon the club’s position was made clear in a meeting between Marshall’s manager Matt Desira, Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe and head of football Adam Hartigan.

Marshall is scheduled to meet with club powerbrokers on Tuesday to discuss the matter in person. While the Tigers believe Marshall still has plenty to offer, the club’s salary cap predicament has left them with next to no choice but to bring down the curtain on his second coming at the joint venture.

Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer.
Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer. CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS

The Tigers have close to $1.6 million tied up in halves Josh Reynolds (off contract at the end of 2021) and Luke Brooks (2023), while they also have Adam Doueihi, Moses Mbye, Billy Walters and young gun Jock Madden, who can all play in the halves, on their books. They have been trying to offload Reynolds for two seasons without success.

The Tigers, who are chasing Josh Addo-Carr and Penrith rookie Charlie Staines, believe Marshall’s $300,000 salary is better spent bolstering their back line or forward pack. The Tigers still have $1m to spend in their salary cap next season with five roster spots to fill.

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The Wests Tigers are set to inform Benji Marshall there is no room for him in 2021.
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Marshall’s career is now at a crossroads, with the veteran playmaker intent on continuing beyond his 18th season in the NRL. Manly, Newcastle and Canterbury appear the most logical options.

Marshall may yet have a change of heart once the emotion subsides. He is expected to be given a farewell tour over the final rounds before the last match of the regular season against Parramatta.

Marshall started the year well but was controversially dropped by Maguire after round four despite sitting in second position on the Dally M Medal leaderboard. He returned in round nine but the Tigers have struggled since then.

Michael Chammas

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-confirm-marshall-won-t-be-at-club-in-2021-as-benji-plans-to-play-on-20200831-p55r38.html

Few things to take from that.

Firstly, Marshall is about to lose it and it’s about to become a circus.

Secondly, confirmation from Chammas we are after JAC and Staines is big.

Thirdly, mentioning the meeting today about players blowing up is important. He would have been told to publish that.

 

[Geo]

Well this escalated quickly..

 

[05TIGZZ]

Benji Marshall has pledged to fight for his career at another NRL club after the Wests Tigers informed his management they would not have a spot for him in 2021.

It comes as several of the club’s players raised trust and communication issues with coach Michael Maguire during a crisis meeting on Monday, with concerns growing over the coach’s rapport with the playing group.

Play Video



Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
Play video
2:55

Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
Peter Sterling says Luke Brooks is the man to lead the Tigers into a new era.

Marshall’s manager began calling rival NRL clubs on Monday night, offering the five-eighth’s services for next year following a two-hour meeting with Tigers officials during the afternoon.

Marshall confronted Maguire at the club’s Concord headquarters yesterday morning in a 90-minute showdown over his future. The 35-year-old, who wants to play again next season, was disappointed to learn he wasn’t part of the club’s 2021 plans after reading a Herald article on Monday morning.

Advertisement

Maguire had agreed to reconsider, but by the afternoon the club’s position was made clear in a meeting between Marshall’s manager Matt Desira, Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe and head of football Adam Hartigan.

Marshall is scheduled to meet with club powerbrokers on Tuesday to discuss the matter in person. While the Tigers believe Marshall still has plenty to offer, the club’s salary cap predicament has left them with next to no choice but to bring down the curtain on his second coming at the joint venture.

Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer.
Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer. CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS

The Tigers have close to $1.6 million tied up in halves Josh Reynolds (off contract at the end of 2021) and Luke Brooks (2023), while they also have Adam Doueihi, Moses Mbye, Billy Walters and young gun Jock Madden, who can all play in the halves, on their books. They have been trying to offload Reynolds for two seasons without success.

The Tigers, who are chasing Josh Addo-Carr and Penrith rookie Charlie Staines, believe Marshall’s $300,000 salary is better spent bolstering their back line or forward pack. The Tigers still have $1m to spend in their salary cap next season with five roster spots to fill.

RELATED ARTICLE
The Wests Tigers are set to inform Benji Marshall there is no room for him in 2021.
NRL 2020
Tigers to shuffle Benji out door despite his desire for extra year
Add to shortlist
Marshall’s career is now at a crossroads, with the veteran playmaker intent on continuing beyond his 18th season in the NRL. Manly, Newcastle and Canterbury appear the most logical options.

Marshall may yet have a change of heart once the emotion subsides. He is expected to be given a farewell tour over the final rounds before the last match of the regular season against Parramatta.

Marshall started the year well but was controversially dropped by Maguire after round four despite sitting in second position on the Dally M Medal leaderboard. He returned in round nine but the Tigers have struggled since then.

Michael Chammas

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-confirm-marshall-won-t-be-at-club-in-2021-as-benji-plans-to-play-on-20200831-p55r38.html

Wow this is escalating pretty quickly. Not sure what Benji thinks he can offer another club. I said before if that article was a little push by tigers to give benji the hint, then it’s going to get ugly and I think it is. I hope he isn’t the instigator behind this meeting complaining about the coach. Any player not happy with being made accountable should be shown the door. Sick of this under achieving overpaid roster we have.

 

[Aubanon]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

 

[WT2K]


 

[hobbo1]

Well this escalated quickly..

One last flick pass

 

[Aesopian]

Well this escalated quickly..

One last flick pass

or one last dead in goal

 

[mike]

Well this escalated quickly..

One last flick pass

or one last dead in goal

Or pass to the stands.

 

[Aesopian]

Well this escalated quickly..

One last flick pass

or one last dead in goal

Or pass to the stands.

Or one last missed tackle

 

[Lauren]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

 

[JC99]

Good to see the club making the smart decision and letting Benji go.

Glad we are after Staines and JAC still

 

[JC99]

It’s not the club making it a drama it’s Benji. The fact he can’t see that he’s done shows he’s deluded.

 

[Aubanon]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

 

[BalmainJnr]

It was only a few years ago he was chuffed to get one more season with the Tigers. Now this. Good to see Hartigan front and centre here.

 

[Guest]

Just need to take the emotion out of it. Benji is not going to lead us to the finals next year. He's done some good things this year, and is second in try assists, so for sure he's got us across the line a lot, but his defence is atrocious and we can't continue to keep on covering that. It's been a hell of a ride Benji, but it's time to put the club first and do what's right.

 

[JC99]

Benji needs to wake up and realise he’s just not good enough. He’s causing drama over this because he’s being selfish to be honest. Either leave the club being grateful or retire.

 

[WT2K]

Arrivederci Benji :wave:

 

[jadtiger]

If Benji has orchestrated this it is not the first time he has used the media to push his agenda(remember him parading in a union jumper while still our player).I honestly hope he hasnt gone down that track AGAIN because if he has it would be a very low act

 

[diedpretty]

Reports that another team meeting turned into all the players claiming they are walking on eggshells because they were scared whether they would get dropped on one bad performance

Show me a player who only has had one bad performance this year

Even Lucy has had probably 2 ..maybe 3 .....

All the players parents / caregivers were present as well ?

Hope the barber was there - he certainly isn't earning his money. NMNB ( No More Nuffie Barbers)