Benji Marshall: difficult returning to NRL. London's chance? : Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:22 am  

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/benji ... 6891303136 The fact of the matter is that no NRL club needs him or wants him. It is easy for Benji's agent Martin Tauber to predict that Benji won't be going to England to play in Super League. But when he discovers how uninterested the 16 NRL clubs are in Benji, he will have to eat crow. London is the club that could make most use of him. They could play Benji at 6, and move Ben Farrar to the centres. It would probably give more direction to their attack. It would however still leave London with a desperate need of two aggressive prop forwards. But the difference that Benji could make might be enough to avoid relegation. The only real question is whether London's owner David Hughes wants to spend the money, or whether he has accepted to let London be relegated out of Super League. The failure of Hughes to outbid Bradford and acquire Jamal Fakir suggests that the latter might be the case.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/benji ... 6891303136 The fact of the matter is that no NRL club needs him or wants him. It is easy for Benji's agent Martin Tauber to predict that Benji won't be going to England to play in Super League. But when he discovers how uninterested the 16 NRL clubs are in Benji, he will have to eat crow. London is the club that could make most use of him. They could play Benji at 6, and move Ben Farrar to the centres. It would probably give more direction to their attack. It would however still leave London with a desperate need of two aggressive prop forwards. But the difference that Benji could make might be enough to avoid relegation. The only real question is whether London's owner David Hughes wants to spend the money, or whether he has accepted to let London be relegated out of Super League. The failure of Hughes to outbid Bradford and acquire Jamal Fakir suggests that the latter might be the case.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:28 am  

Is this post meant to be taken seriously ?

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:32 am  

PC Plum wrote:

Is this post meant to be taken seriously ?

Or will Benji will be playing for Toulouse in SL next season?

No, seriously.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:36 pm  

PC Plum wrote:

Is this post meant to be taken seriously ?

as it said on matty johns show tonight..agent says he isnt going to sl, the shows guests then said.. maybe only dragons or sharks will offer him a contract

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:41 pm  

I seriously doubt it... but it might help him bring his mojo back. Worked for Jamie sorward

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:27 pm  

PC Plum wrote:

Is this post meant to be taken seriously ?

No, but it probably breaks rule 1.4 of the AUP.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:06 pm  

adelaide-giant.no9 wrote:

as it said on matty johns show tonight..agent says he isnt going to sl, the shows guests then said.. maybe only dragons or sharks will offer him a contract

Dragons have Gareth Widdop playing superbly at five eighth and Michael Witt (former London Bronco) playing well at scrum half. Sharks have Todd Carney as their star five eighth and Jeff Robson doing fine at scrum half. Neither club will pay big money for a player who is likely to be playing NSW Cup and waiting for one of the first choice halves to be injured.

So my original claim that no NRL club will want Benji for the money he is asking stands unrefuted.

That leaves Benji with Super League as his only option. Much has been made of Marwyn Koukash's earlier quest for Benji. But Salford have an abundance of halves, and the coach is unlikely to recommend a costly addition to the roster in that position. Perhaps another SL club might be interested. Perhaps several will be interested. But I would think that London could make best use of him --- if they want to pay his asking price, and if they can get him fit.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:37 pm  

London can't afford him, discussion closed.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:16 pm  

CrusaderPete wrote:

London can't afford him, discussion closed.

Why are you so certain? They must be way way below the salary cap limit with all the no name players they have recruited this season. The team has not a single star -- unless you want to include the long term injured Kieran Dixon. This current London team is a bargain basement side. They have previously forked out big money for Craig Gower, and later Jamie Soward. They can do the same for Benji Marshall if there is a will.

Re: Benji Marshall has no way to return to NRL. London's cha : Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:42 pm  

Even Benji in his pomp couldn't carry this London team, but he hasn't 'done it' for a couple of years at least. And his agent has categorically ruled out a move to the UK. More chance of him getting a hefty wodge for a short stint in France or Japan if there really is no NRL contract. Find that hard to believe though.

More chance of him going back to the Tigers than coming to SL.