‘Benchy’ Marshall may say bye-bye to union if Salford calls
Benji Marshall's stint in Super Rugby with the Auckland Blues could be brief with English club Salford mulling a lucrative bid to lure him back to rugby league, said a report in the Australian media on Sunday.
Benji Marshall's stint in Super Rugby with the Auckland Blues could be brief with English club Salford mulling a lucrative bid to lure him back to rugby league, said a report in the Australian media on Sunday.
The 29-year-old former New Zealand rugby league captain switched codes on a two-year deal with the Blues for this season, but has started just one of the team's first seven matches.
Marshall had hoped to put himself in the frame for the All Blacks squad for next year's World Cup defence and the New Zealand sevens team for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
We’re always looking at players of Benji’s quality. Who wouldn’t be interested in him?
Getting into the highly competitive All Blacks squad was always going to be a tall order and his lack of game time has compounded the challenge.
That might make him open to an offer from English Super League club Salford, whose wealthy owner Marwan Koukash told The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney that the former five-eighth was under consideration as a recruit.
"We're always looking at players of Benji's quality. Who wouldn't be interested in him?" Koukash said. "I'll be talking to our coach about all the recruitment over the next couple of days. Benji will be one of a few players we'll talk about."
Marshall captained his club and country in rugby league, securing an NRL title for the Wests Tigers in 2005 and an upset victory over Australia to claim the 2008 Rugby League World Cup for New Zealand.