NRL superstar set to try his hand at rugby union in a shock move.
The Wests Tigers season has been sent into a tail-spin with news Benji Marshall has formally asked for a release from the final two years of his contract with the club.
Speculation has swirled for weeks that the star playmaker was unhappy with the direction of the Tigers, as they continued to lose players to other club, such as Blake Ashyford who signed a deal with the Cronulla Sharks.
Marshall has been on a mid-season holiday recently as he mulled over his future, and when he returned to Sydney on Sunday night, he quickly contacted his agent about drawing up a formal request to leave the club.
Marshall has made no secret of his disappointment over the fact Wests have failed to offer him a two-year extension, which he believed was promised by former Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys.
The Tigers have instead offered Marshall a handsome upgrade on his current deal, which finishes in 2015.
Marshall has previously stated that he would not play against the Tigers, ruling out a move to a rival NRL side.
The UK Super League is unlikely to have enough cash to compete with his current contract at the Tigers, leaving rugby as Marshall’s main option.
If the Tigers are unable to change the stars mind it would continue a horror season for the joint-venture who are struggling to stay alive for the finals race in 12th place, with their form not helped by a massive injury toll.
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