Benji Marshall 50-50 to remain at the Dragons

[getsmarty]

Benji Marshall 50-50 to remain at the Dragons

By MITCH JENNINGS
Feb. 9, 2016, 1:20 p.m.

Dragons halfback Benji Marshall has made the candid admission that he’s only a 50-50 chance of being at the club next year as he prepares to make his first on-field appearance of 2016 in Saturday’s Charity Shield.Marshall was among the Dragons best last season but his future at the club remains clouded beyond this year as the joint-venture continues to be linked to Melbourne star Cooper Cronk who is reportedly seeking a move to Sydney in 2017.
Marshall has said he wants to continue his NRL career for at least another two years but conceded he may have to look elsewhere to do so.
‘‘I’m not scared of that proposition and I know there’s a 50-50 chance I’m going to have to go,’’ Marshall said.
‘‘I’m fine with it, I’m not stressed or worried about it. I know I can make that transition if I have to.
‘‘I’ve just said to my manager [Martin Tauber] 'talk to to whoever you have to talk to'. We’re open to any offers anywhere and everywhere.
‘‘We’ll sit down at a certain time and go through all the options and I’ll make the decision that’s best for me.
‘‘I’d love to stay and my priority is to get a contract here. I’ve told Mary the same thing.
‘‘He just said he hasn’t had permission from the board to re-sign me yet and they’re probably looking at my footy to do the talking.
‘‘I’m not sure where the club’s at with that but I’m pretty sure they want to see me play a bit of footy this year before they make their mind up.
‘‘I’ll probably go back to them before the season starts to see where they’re at and come up with a plan.
‘‘To be honest I haven’t really got a plan at the moment. I’ll just let Martin do his job and I’ll do my job and we’ll meet somewhere before the season starts and talk about what’s best.’’
Marshall admits the links to Cronk have made him the butt of a few jokes at training.
‘‘The boys give me a bit of stick about it,’’ he said.
‘‘That’s the problem when you’re the ringleader of the all the jokes at training, when something comes back to haunt you they give it to you.
‘‘But that’s the thing about footy, it’s become a business and club’s have got to chase what’s going to be in their best interest. It’s up to me to prove that I should be their number one choice to be the halfback here and lead the team around the field.’’
Marshall will turn 31 prior to season kickoff but - after several years carrying the weight of the Wests Tigers franchise almost solely on his shoulders - believes his brief sojourn in New Zealand with Super Rugby franchise Auckland Blues will ultimately prolong his career.
‘‘I don’t think I’d still be playing if I didn’t [leave],’’ Marshall said.
‘‘Mary’s really coached me as a person as well as a player and made me feel excited about playing again.”


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3716378/marshall-half-chance-to-remain-at-dragons/?cs=302

 

[The Nick]

Fair odds at this stage. I'm 50/50 about whether he should stay, too.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I think it is simple, if Marshall plays well and his body holds up he will get an extension. If he gets a serious injury or the ankle does not hold up (fu##ken Eastwood you scum) then Benji will probably retire. Saints won't let him go if he is killing it. Benji seems to really like the club and especially Mary. Interesting how Mary said he has not been given permission to offer a contract to him. Sounds like if it was up to Mary he would keep him.

 

[West coast dragon]

So there's a chance?

 

[BrissyRedV]

It seems the ball is in the clubs court. Hopefully Benji comes out and plays like he is worthy and wants another contract. If not, hope Hutchison continues to develop or we have a serious go for an established player.

 

[The Nick]

I don't understand why people assume Hutchison is a straight up replacement for Benji? Benji plays halfback for us, Hutchison is definitely not a halfback.

And yes I know Benji is essentially a 6 playing in the 7, but he is a much better fit for the halfback role than what Hutchison is.

 

[BrissyRedV]

I don't understand why people assume Hutchison is a straight up replacement for Benji? Benji plays halfback for us, Hutchison is definitely not a halfback.

And yes I know Benji is essentially a 6 playing in the 7, but he is a much better fit for the halfback role than what Hutchison is.

Put the 7 on Widdops backback and 6 on Hutchison

 

[TruSaint]

I will go out on a limb and say I hope Benji rips in and secures another season with us.

Hope Hutch comes good as many expect he will, .. time will tell.

In the interim, I am more than happy with Benji. In fact I enjoy having a player of his ilk ...

 

[Old Timer]

Mary has already stated he doesn't know if the club can afford to pay Benji what he is worth.

This will either be decided by emotion or economics. If Benji feels he owes the club something or really likes our culture and he is offered a contract he could accept a reduced amount.

If it is purely business then we suited him and he suited us for a few years time to move on for both parties.

I sincerely hope the parties don't take too long to resolve it as I suspect Benji will find a home quicker than we can procure a quality half from another club if that is our intention.

If it is our intention to let Benji go and play Hutch there next year then anoint him now.

 

[The Nick]

Put the 7 on Widdops backback and 6 on Hutchison

Well if it's that easy why can't we put the 7 on Widdop's back and 6 on Benji for 2016?

 

[BrissyRedV]

Well if it's that easy why can't we put the 7 on Widdop's back and 6 on Benji for 2016?

You will have to bring that up with Mary, but Widdop would be more than capable to lead the team around from 7 if it was necessary. A lot of teams recently have operated with a left side and right side half anyway.

People need to give Hutchison some time. The kid is only 20 and has plenty of development left to do. Plenty of players have not started to hit their straps until early to mid twenties as demonstrated by DCE, who was 22 when he debuted, Reynolds etc. Expecting a player of Hutchisons age to come out and throw caution to the wind and play like a Marshall or a Thurston etc. is unreasonable. The kid has time to learn and learn from some very good play makers.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Mary has already stated he doesn't know if the club can afford to pay Benji what he is worth.

This will either be decided by emotion or economics. If Benji feels he owes the club something or really likes our culture and he is offered a contract he could accept a reduced amount.

If it is purely business then we suited him and he suited us for a few years time to move on for both parties.

I sincerely hope the parties don't take too long to resolve it as I suspect Benji will find a home quicker than we can procure a quality half from another club if that is our intention.

If it is our intention to let Benji go and play Hutch there next year then anoint him now.

I don't think its a case of knowing if the club can afford to pay Benji what he is worth,I think its more the case of whether we can afford what we think hes worth, if you know what I mean...personally I would love him to stay providing he is performing to a certain standard ....I hope if he does decide to go then it doesn't reflect on his and the teams performance this year...history will show that in some cases the player in question's intensity drops off....then again if he thinks he may be offered something then he may lift.....difficult one

 

[Objective View]

JDB.

Straight Shooter

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

For a club that's steeped in tradition and one that players would have killed for to join years ago isn't it disappointing that we still have trouble and have imo for years secured the services of a half back in the true sense of the word....

 

[dragon thomo]

I think there are a couple of options for us keary , reynolds , norman would be good long term options or cronk would be great as he would walk into any side . I feel hutchinson has a good kicking game but does not put the opporsition in two minds .

 

[BLM01]

I have said on previous thread I am sure Benji will not be there next year or in the NRL. Maybe to SL. I dont think another club will pick him up or want him anyway here. Just my opinion. Why?. For mine Benji's pace and step has eluded him (like all us ageing and as you get more bulkier to avoid injury..just like Dugan). His defence is always sus and his sideways running and flicks used to fool oppositions but now they just sit back and wait for him..and in fact so does the Dragons attack. He still has his moments of brilliance in slick ball play at the line and was a legend 5-10 years ago but they are too far in between and his kicking game is also too erractic now. Just how I see it.
Also Mary and the club are under enormous pressure to start being TOP 8 successful by 2017 or he wont have a job as coach. This year it is make the 8 or be replaced thanks to last year, and he finished last year 4 wins from 14 games. The jury is out.
Cronk (if we get him) is an ideal and the best game manager in the halves (what we need) and one of the best ambassadors to a club or the game post playing. That is why the Dragons are and will offer him big bucks. More to it than just a couple of years in his twilight as a player. I call it foresight and future sponsor attraction.

 

[dragonsben]

I will go out on a limb and say I hope Benji rips in and secures another season with us.

Hope Hutch comes good as many expect he will, .. time will tell.

In the interim, I am more than happy with Benji. In fact I enjoy having a player of his ilk ...

I hope benji can have another good year as well and build on last year. Him and widdop will just continue to get better together. Getting rid of benji would be silly if he's playing good footy cause reynolds/ cronk wouldn't do much better.. and they would be more expensive.

 

[dragonsben]

Mary has already stated he doesn't know if the club can afford to pay Benji what he is worth.

This will either be decided by emotion or economics. If Benji feels he owes the club something or really likes our culture and he is offered a contract he could accept a reduced amount.

If it is purely business then we suited him and he suited us for a few years time to move on for both parties.

I sincerely hope the parties don't take too long to resolve it as I suspect Benji will find a home quicker than we can procure a quality half from another club if that is our intention.

If it is our intention to let Benji go and play Hutch there next year then anoint him now.

we don't have any juniors knocking the doors down and theres not really many halfs in the market. drew is way off

 

[Big D]

Benji is too old and slow. Hutch is not a half back he is cutter at best. We should pair Widdop and Mann on the halves and leave Dugan at fullback and the centres can be lafai and aitken.kurt Mann has speed step and passing game. we need someone that can control the team I really don't think Hutchinson can.

 

[BennyV]

You will have to bring that up with Mary, but Widdop would be more than capable to lead the team around from 7 if it was necessary. A lot of teams recently have operated with a left side and right side half anyway.

People need to give Hutchison some time. The kid is only 20 and has plenty of development left to do. Plenty of players have not started to hit their straps until early to mid twenties as demonstrated by DCE, who was 22 when he debuted, Reynolds etc. Expecting a player of Hutchisons age to come out and throw caution to the wind and play like a Marshall or a Thurston etc. is unreasonable. The kid has time to learn and learn from some very good play makers.

Which is exactly why Hutch shouldn't be considered as the direct replacement for Benji in 2017. The way I see it, we've got 3 options:

• Keep Benji for another year or two, secure Hutch and hope that he makes the transition smoothly.
• Sign Cronk for a couple of years, secure Hutch and hope that he makes the transition (or find another boom young half that we can train up under Cronk)
• Sign the likes of Reynolds or Elgey for a long term solution, let Hutch do what he wants.