Benji Rumour

[deemac77]

Wow, this is really not looking good for Benjo at all. Why ask for a release if you have no club to go to?
I dont hate the guy at all and hope whatever he does in the future he succeeds at.
Seems like his manager may be fking him right round...

Its pretty obvious he doesent want to play with Potter as coach.
Too bad if he has 7 corkers to finish the season and we scrape into the 8...

 

[madunit]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-benji-as-smith-steps-in-20130716-2q2d3.html

When I read this I can't help but think Benji is going to be out of pocket.

That article pretty clearly says to me that Benji tried the Union threat again, just like last time, hoping it would work.

Tigers called his bluff, he turned down the first offer (the upgraded contract by the Tigers) to make it look as if he actually had serious offers close to done in Rugby.

So Tigers stopped chasing him.

So Benji went on the footy show and had a cry.

Tigers still didn't budge and now he's dug a hole for himself that he can't get out of and now has no option to stay in Sydney and play Union on a massively reduced salary, or relocate to Melbourne, England or Auckland to play Union/Super League.

Marshall's attempts to play hardball have seen he screw himself over. Only has himself to blame for being so damn greedy.

 

[Matchball]

Tauber calling up Smith to intervene. Utter scum using every angle.
This is a f**king circus.

 

[Magpies Forever]

Tauber calling up Smith to intervene. Utter scum using every angle.
This is a f**king circus.

The bit that gets me is the illogic of their argument- give me a big increase in contract money and an extension of contract to cover me for my football life, whilst I admit to a long term drop in form, lack of interest, lost mojo etc. My selling point is my sponsor and crowd power, not my form.

The club observes petulant behaviour and unwillingness to work with new coach's ways and team direction.

What sane business / club would agree to that????? No matter what undocumented handshake deals may, or may not have, happened under a former CEO of the club? NONE. Good riddance Benji- the pentulimate of Sheens corrosive and destructive influence will go with you. Simmons next.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

I cringed when I saw that turkey Smith had been calling the club & Benji to get him to stay. As if he thinks it will be great for the game to cripple the Tigers salary cap plus have another 4 years of kicks that don't find touch, running sideways, passes to no one. f**k off, Smith.

 

[Tiger05]

Only has himself to blame for being so damn greedy.

Agreed. The thing is he is being completely delusional about the whole thing as well. Where is the money going to come from ?

 

[Tiger05]

The bit that gets me is the illogic of their argument- give me a big increase in contract money and an extension of contract to cover me for my football life, whilst I admit to a long term drop in form, lack of interest, lost mojo etc. My selling point is my sponsor and crowd power, not my form.

The club observes petulant behaviour and unwillingness to work with new coach's ways and team direction.

What sane business / club would agree to that????? No matter what undocumented handshake deals may, or may not have, happened under a former CEO of the club? NONE. Good riddance Benji- the pentulimate of Sheens corrosive and destructive influence will go with you. Simmons next.

I get the impression Benji is completely delusional at this point and is surrounded by delusional people like Tauber. He got offered a great deal and he has knocked it back for what. I can't help but think that in a years time he will be back begging to play RL.

 

[Magpies Forever]

I get the impression Benji is completely delusional at this point and is surrounded by delusional people like Tauber. He got offered a great deal and he has knocked it back for what. I can't help but think that in a years time he will be back begging to play RL.

Yep A sad finale for a player whose ego grew bigger than his performance warranted. Surrounded by sycophants and people riding on his coattails, the fall will hurt. Reminds me very much of the situation we found ourselves in with Sheens. I suppose since he was a creation of Sheens who stoked the ego I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Tigers Tale]

That article pretty clearly says to me that Benji tried the Union threat again, just like last time, hoping it would work.

Tigers called his bluff, he turned down the first offer (the upgraded contract by the Tigers) to make it look as if he actually had serious offers close to done in Rugby.

So Tigers stopped chasing him.

So Benji went on the footy show and had a cry.

Tigers still didn't budge and now he's dug a hole for himself that he can't get out of and now has no option to stay in Sydney and play Union on a massively reduced salary, or relocate to Melbourne, England or Auckland to play Union/Super League.

Marshall's attempts to play hardball have seen he screw himself over. Only has himself to blame for being so damn greedy.

I think that just about sums it up perfectly....

 

[madunit]

You'd think Benji would've learnt all about handshake deals from Sheens

 

[axl rose]

His Mr 10%er manager coming out and inflaming the situation with Potter is just pathetic. Lucky for Benji he is a multi millionaire and wont need work after football. I could never see some of these guys existing in the real world with a real boss. Cant be dropped to the bench, cant accept that players need to be moved on, cant be told anything.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I am so glad this circus is heading to an end.

I honestly believe we will be better off without Benji on and off the park. It may take a year or two for that to show, but I believe it will. He is not the player he once was and despite all the great things he has done in the past, all good things have to come to an end.

I really feel this is the shake up the club needed. The de-stabilising board needs to be addressed, but punting Sheens, breaking up the boys club and moving some underperformers on has been good news. I think Benji leaving is the final piece in this, he is the last real link to the Sheens-era.

 

[madunit]

I am so glad this circus is heading to an end.

I honestly believe we will be better off without Benji on and off the park. It may take a year or two for that to show, but I believe it will. He is not the player he once was and despite all the great things he has done in the past, all good things have to come to an end.

I really feel this is the shake up the club needed. The de-stabilising board needs to be addressed, but punting Sheens, breaking up the boys club and moving some underperformers on has been good news. I think Benji leaving is the final piece in this, he is the last real link to the Sheens-era.

I'm not sure it will take all that long to move on from benji, on-field anyway.

I was actually wondering, how many Ex-Tigers might want to come back now (too late for all bar Fifita)

 

[Old Time Tiger]

The ole 'two sides to every story' well there's 50 different sides here and we are getting it from the press for the most part and Tauber who does not appear to be that smart ;-)

The article in the paper today is interesting and again, don't think much of the press and they will say what they want to sell a paper but some things in it must have been leaked and are perhaps true, surely if not you'd be taking legal action for libel.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/we...g-the-blame-game/story-fndv39ms-1226680399403

BENJI Marshall wants us to believe the NRL and Wests Tigers have let him down. Maybe it's time Benji reflected on exactly what the game has given him.

The fame and fortune, opportunity and privilege.

If he's not careful, when Benji walks away he won't be remembered for the player he once was but a bloke who just didn't get how lucky he was.

When Benji's manager, Martin Tauber, did an interview on Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday it was as embarrassing as it was disrespectful to every fan who pays their way through the gate to watch Benji play.

It brought back memories of Mal Meninga's "rugby league has done nothing for me" line during the days of Super League.

Tauber was telling his warped version of events that led to Benji requesting a release from the final two years of his contract.

The question was put to Tauber whether the NRL had tried to convince Benji to stay?

"We had no approach in any way, shape or form from the NRL," Tauber said.

But the NRL have come out and said that is not true, so who is telling the truth? Was the handshake agreement also a lie?

"I would have thought somebody of his stature and what he brings to the game in terms of bums on seats, merchandising and everything else, the NRL would have stood up and said, 'This is one individual we don't want to lose'."

No one wants to lose Benji but Tauber seemed to be forgetting this: It was Benji who requested the release from the final two years of his contract.

Benji was the one who went to Bali for a mid-season break and returned home and told Tauber he wanted out.

Now Tauber is turning it into the NRL's fault.

Not content with that, Tauber also went public with Benji's broken relationship with Mick Potter. Potter, as Tauber explained, is in Benji's bad books for having the audacity to drop him because he was playing like a busted.

Asked if they had a working relationship, Tauber said: "No, no, no, no. Everybody knows that. From the benching, when he put him on the bench that day. I mean that started an avalanche in terms of their relationship."

So the relationship won't ever be fixed so stuff him, if he doesn't do the right thing by the team and as per the coach in the coming weeks, drop him.

Tauber's right, it is no secret in league circles. But to publicly air it was disrespect of the highest order to the entire Wests Tigers playing group, which now has to walk on eggshells for the remainder of the season.

It's worth remembering Tim Sheens got sacked last year after he fell out with Benji.

Now Tauber is saying one of the reasons he wants out is because Benji doesn't get on with this coach.

It goes back to the handshake agreement Benji had with former chief executive Stephen Humphreys that was supposed to see his salary skyrocket to a reported $1 million a season until the end of 2017.

Anyone who has seen Benji play over the last two years knows there is no way the new management could honour that deal and do the right thing by the club and the fans, no matter how many bums Benji puts on Leichhardt Oval's limited seats.

Maybe the manager has not watched him play?

Yet even still, the Tigers were willing to upgrade his pay to a reported $800,000 a season until the end of 2015.

This still didn't satisfy Benji. As Tauber said: "He feels let down. It's not always about money."

You make up your own mind on that.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

Some great lines from this article,

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...laby-greg-martin/story-fni2fxyf-1226680656242

"I haven't seen him make a break this year. He makes Quade Cooper look like Trevor Gillmeister in defence.

"It was the dream of a lot of people to play for the All Blacks but you've got to be good enough, mate.

"You're old, you're no good and you're too fat."

But for me, this in the same article makes you really wonder about some of them.

And The Daily Telegraph can reveal Wests Tigers management was aware of a clique at the club which included Marshall, Tim Moltzen, Chris Heighington, Blake Ayshford and Beau Ryan.

Anyone ever hear of that when they were all at the club?

 

[madunit]

I didn't know Ayshford was in that clique, but the others don't surprise me.

 

[Matchball]

I remember Fafita talking about the separate dressing rooms for Benjis gang and one for the rest.
He and Gibbs have both been scathing once they left.

I also remember he sooked massively on the footy show when Beau and Heigno went.

 

[moller]

I think it's pretty telling that 99% of the media reaction has been anti-Benji (or perhaps anti-Tauber is more accurate), and has largely praised the way the Tigers have dealt with it.
Even the News Ltd hacks have come crashing down on them - I'm no Paul Kent fan, but he's absolutely nailed it on his various Fox Sports appearances over the last few days.
What a f**king circus.
Do we have any more Tauber clients on the books?

 

[gronkathon]

Just Loltzen.

Hopefully Timid Timmy f**ks off ASAP as well

 

[moller]

I'd say that's a given.