Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion


Benji Marshall denies Tigers interest in Xerri and Drinkwater, rejects team’s ‘last resort’ reputation

Neither Bronson Xerri nor Scott Drinkwater will be targets for the Wests Tigers, as coach Benji Marshall pushes back against his team’s reputation as a last resort for disgruntled NRL players.

Tyson Jackson
March 19, 2026 - 2:47PM

Benji Marshall has ruled out making a play for disgruntled Canterbury centre Bronson Xerri.

Despite his admiration for Xerri, Marshall was adamant the Tigers are not interested in signing the Bulldogs star.

“I like Bronson, he’s a really good kid, really good footy player, but we’re not looking at Bronson,” Marshall said.

Marshall also put a halt to talks that Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater would be joining the Tigers, with the May deadline to take up Jahream Bula’s club option looming in the near future.

The club is trying to extend Bula, but at a worst case, would retain the fullback for at least the next year.

“We got a fullback,” Marshall said

“I like Drinkwater, really good player.

“We’re not looking at Drinkwater either.”

Marshall’s days of having the Tigers be a last resort for players is over, with the speculation baffling him to why every disgruntled player gets linked to the club.

This weekend, despite Marshall naming him on the wing, Sunia Turuva will replace May in the centres.

Marshall named Turuva on the wing so he can keep his same jersey number through the year.

The combination of Turuva and Jeral Skelton will take on the lethal left edge of Latrell Mitchell and David Fifita, with defence a huge emphasis for the club this weekend.

“For us it’s just trying to do a job on them,” Turuva said.

“After what we just done on the weekend with our right edge-I think we’re pretty confident we can do the job.”
How good is this to hear.

Imagine being bula knowing you have benji and the teams support and can earn more money here than anywhere else. It would be so hard to front up and say you were leaving
 
That'll mean less chance they get Joey Manu back 😉 he'd be welcome here!
He is off contract at the end of the year... 🤔

This is my unfounded, crystal ball prediction:

Tedesco is contracted to the end of 2027 at Roosters. Ponga is contracted to the end of 2027 at Knights. When Tedesco announces his retirement and Ponga signs for Roosters for 2028 onwards with RTS on the wing, leaving no space for Manu who goes on the open market (if he even wants to return to the NRL)...

I reckon Bula stays, but if he leaves, there are a few potential stars to fill the gap for 2027 until Attard is ready. Or we blood him early. Benji has shown he knows when the young guns are ready.

But no need to stress yet. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Go Tigers!
 
No mate, I was just trying to point out that Gould wasn't involved with the Bulldogs while Pay was coaching them. I forgot to put in Pay's coaching period, which was 2018, 2019, and part of 2020. To say Gould was involved in his sacking is merely conjecture in my opinion, as around that time, he was a consultant for the Warriors. Please forgive me.
Fair enough , but to to be fair .. you didn’t say any of that .
 

Staff online

Back
Top