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Benji set to defect over Gallop's stance
Glenn Jackson | February 19, 2009
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/benji-set-to-defect/2009/02/18/1234632893361.html
BENJI MARSHALL'S stand-off with the NRL intensified last night, with his management saying chief executive David Gallop's hardline stance over his bid to play an off-season of Japanese rugby could lead to the player quitting the competition completely.
As Brisbane's representative fullback Karmichael Hunt became the latest target for Japanese rugby, Gallop said Marshall had to choose between the two codes as he weighs up a lucrative loan scenario struck between the Kiwi World Cup hero and Wests Tigers.
It's that stance that may drive him out of the game, with agent Martin Tauber warning that Marshall had become disillusioned over Gallop's insistence that he cannot play in Japan in the NRL off-season before signing a new contract with the Tigers for 2010 and beyond.
Asked whether this could affect the chances of Marshall staying in the NRL, with interest from French rugby as well as Japan, Tauber said: "Absolutely."
"The saddest part of all of this is the boy is 24 next Monday," Tauber said. "If you were 24, or 23 as he is today, and somebody tells you that they're going to ban you, what do you think that does to his attitude to the game? He feels that the game which he's loved and supported his opportunities are limited and if they say he can't do those things, they're driving a wedge in."
The Herald has also been told that Hunt's manager David Riolo has been sounded out by representatives from Japanese rugby about a more permanent move for his client, off contract with the Broncos at the end of this season. Hunt is also believed to have attracted some interest from French rugby union clubs, although Riolo refused to fuel any speculation yesterday.
Tauber met Tigers chairman David Trodden, a Balmain solicitor, for several hours to discuss the Marshall issue yesterday, while Tigers chief executive Scott Longmuir remained committed to striking a deal should the playmaker be offered a concrete deal by a Japanese club.
The NRL's opposition to the deal comes on two fronts - a perceived leg-up to a rival code and the salary cap implications of Marshall returning to the Tigers next season on a reduced deal.
"I understand their position - they're trying to protect the integrity of the game - but it deserves some sort of philosophical debate about it," Tauber said. He also said Marshall was still prepared to make a lightning trip to Japan if interest in him became official - "if we get word, we'd go within 48 hours".
Tauber said he was "surprised" by Gallop's comments.
"Tell me what's different with Andrew Walker, Wendell Sailor, Brad Thorn and Mat Rogers? What if Lote Tuqiri wanted to come back tomorrow? Would they stop him? No, they'd have banners out for him," he said.
"What's different with all those other players? Why are they promoted and welcomed back with open arms?"
"How do you stop somebody, when their contract is ended - gone - doing something else? [Gallop] can't stand in his way."
On a day he again conceded the season was too long for the players, Gallop said that the burden on Marshall's body concerned him the most.
"For a player who has had his share of injuries to go and play rugby - if he got injured and could not play the first few months of the rugby league season, the fans would be really disappointed, and they'd say, 'Why would we let this happen?"' Gallop said. "He's got to make a choice. He's either a rugby league player or a rugby union player. If I work for Coke, I'm not going to be allowed to go to Pepsi for a few months."
Glenn Jackson | February 19, 2009
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/benji-set-to-defect/2009/02/18/1234632893361.html
BENJI MARSHALL'S stand-off with the NRL intensified last night, with his management saying chief executive David Gallop's hardline stance over his bid to play an off-season of Japanese rugby could lead to the player quitting the competition completely.
As Brisbane's representative fullback Karmichael Hunt became the latest target for Japanese rugby, Gallop said Marshall had to choose between the two codes as he weighs up a lucrative loan scenario struck between the Kiwi World Cup hero and Wests Tigers.
It's that stance that may drive him out of the game, with agent Martin Tauber warning that Marshall had become disillusioned over Gallop's insistence that he cannot play in Japan in the NRL off-season before signing a new contract with the Tigers for 2010 and beyond.
Asked whether this could affect the chances of Marshall staying in the NRL, with interest from French rugby as well as Japan, Tauber said: "Absolutely."
"The saddest part of all of this is the boy is 24 next Monday," Tauber said. "If you were 24, or 23 as he is today, and somebody tells you that they're going to ban you, what do you think that does to his attitude to the game? He feels that the game which he's loved and supported his opportunities are limited and if they say he can't do those things, they're driving a wedge in."
The Herald has also been told that Hunt's manager David Riolo has been sounded out by representatives from Japanese rugby about a more permanent move for his client, off contract with the Broncos at the end of this season. Hunt is also believed to have attracted some interest from French rugby union clubs, although Riolo refused to fuel any speculation yesterday.
Tauber met Tigers chairman David Trodden, a Balmain solicitor, for several hours to discuss the Marshall issue yesterday, while Tigers chief executive Scott Longmuir remained committed to striking a deal should the playmaker be offered a concrete deal by a Japanese club.
The NRL's opposition to the deal comes on two fronts - a perceived leg-up to a rival code and the salary cap implications of Marshall returning to the Tigers next season on a reduced deal.
"I understand their position - they're trying to protect the integrity of the game - but it deserves some sort of philosophical debate about it," Tauber said. He also said Marshall was still prepared to make a lightning trip to Japan if interest in him became official - "if we get word, we'd go within 48 hours".
Tauber said he was "surprised" by Gallop's comments.
"Tell me what's different with Andrew Walker, Wendell Sailor, Brad Thorn and Mat Rogers? What if Lote Tuqiri wanted to come back tomorrow? Would they stop him? No, they'd have banners out for him," he said.
"What's different with all those other players? Why are they promoted and welcomed back with open arms?"
"How do you stop somebody, when their contract is ended - gone - doing something else? [Gallop] can't stand in his way."
On a day he again conceded the season was too long for the players, Gallop said that the burden on Marshall's body concerned him the most.
"For a player who has had his share of injuries to go and play rugby - if he got injured and could not play the first few months of the rugby league season, the fans would be really disappointed, and they'd say, 'Why would we let this happen?"' Gallop said. "He's got to make a choice. He's either a rugby league player or a rugby union player. If I work for Coke, I'm not going to be allowed to go to Pepsi for a few months."
