Another twist to the saga. Just in - Courier mail and foxsports saying Benji to sign within days. A Sydney rival's CEO has walked away stating Benji us signing with the Dragons. Can't post link (not enough posts to be allowed)
I for one hope we sign him! As someone who's the same age his him I've got great memories of what Benji can do, from nothing!
Yes we need a big aggressive front rower, but do you honestly think that we'll be any less off with signing him? Not to mention the fact he'll bring in dollars as well as a couple big kiwi boys who would wanna play with him, like Kasiano perhaps.
I can picture it now:
"Wiidop to Benji, dummies to Dugan(all fall for it cos it's DUGAN) step, cutsout Beale, goes to Morris.. TRY!"
#Benjiredv
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/ben...ithdraw-interest/story-e6frf3ou-1226904738351
Benji Marshall expected to sign with the Dragons after Cowboys withdraw interest
Peter Badel The Courier-Mail May 04, 2014 9:34AM
BENJI Marshall is set to formally ink a deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons within days after North Queensland yesterday withdrew interest in the former New Zealand captain.
The Sunday Mail understands the Dragons are confident they have got their man, with the club drafting internal emails indicating Marshall will be in the Red V later this month. At least five clubs had expressed interest in Marshall, including the Cowboys, who made inquiries a fortnight ago after the pivot brokered a release from rugby’s Auckland Blues.
A Marshall-Johnathan Thurston scrumbase alliance had appeal, but the Cowboys were only prepared to table a basic contract under the salary cap. Given their budgetary restrictions, the Cowboys pulled out of the race, mindful they could not compete with more lucrative offers from NRL rivals. Melbourne and the Sharks were considered early favourites to snare Marshall, but the Dragons are expected to announce the premiership-winning pivot’s signing this week.
The Dragons remain tight-lipped but a leading chief executive from a Sydney-based NRL rival has walked away, adamant Marshall is bound for St George Illawarra. The Cowboys were always an outside hope of landing Marshall given the former Tigers playmaker was keen to settle in Sydney with wife Zoe.
While the Dragons have emerged as shock frontrunners to secure the 29-year-old, Cowboys prop James Tamou urged the club to reconsider their position on Marshall. “I would love to see him with us,” Tamou said. “He’s an exceptionally talented guy and for him to come to the Cowboys would be pretty good. “But North Queensland is a long way away. Hopefully we have a real go at him but we’d probably have to offer Benji a bit more money to attract him to North Queensland. I would advise other players to move up here. At first it was tough moving up here but now I wouldn’t change a thing. Townsville is a great place for any NRL player.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green indicated last week the club faced an uphill battle bringing Marshall to Townsville. “It was just an inquiry and when a good player like that (Marshall) comes on the market, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t ask the question,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to him but I think he would be more keen to stay in Sydney, that’s what he’s been saying so far. We inquired and that’s as far as it’s gone.”
