Benji the All Black JAMIE PANDARAM The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 3 August 2013 BENJI Marshall has declared his desire to play for the All Blacks after a meeting in New Zealand yesterday with Blues coach Sir John Kirwan, who will urge the NRL star to brush the rugby league World Cup later this year. Marshall is at short odds to join the Blues for next year’s Super Rugby tournament and is eyeing the possibility of becoming a dual international. ‘‘ I always wanted to play for the All Blacks,’’ Marshall told Auckland TV reporters before jetting back to Sydney yesterday. ‘‘ That dream changed once I played rugby league, and coming back to union and the possibility it might become a reality if I play well enough then I’d love the opportunity.’’ While there is interest from the Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels, Marshall seems set to sign for the Auckland franchise given the international eligibility restrictions which states an aspiring All Black must play for a New Zealand franchise. ‘‘ My preference is to come here (to Auckland) no doubt, like I said to play for the All Blacks is a pretty big factor,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘ It’s exciting, I’m obviously pretty nervous about it but at the same time excited at the prospect of the opportunity.’’ Marshall is expected to announce his decision in the next week, and should he join the Blues, Kirwan wants him out of league as soon as his tenure with Wests Tigers is up, so he can begin his rugby education. After a break, Kirwan hopes that Marshall can play two games for the Barbarians in England before joining preseason training with the rest of the Blues. That would rule Marshall out of the rugby league World Cup in October, although he is at long odds to qualify anyhow given that he won’t hold a contract. The Daily Telegraph revealed this week how Marshall still features prominently in World Cup posters in England. Under the regulations of the NZRU, Marshall can earn no more than $NZ240,000 a year from the Blues, but his manager remains in New Zealand working on significant third-party deals. Should Marshall make the All Blacks, it would dramatically increase his earnings through NZRU top-ups. Marshall said this week he would be keen to play in the World Cup. ‘‘ I am proud Kiwi and won the last World Cup and would love to do it again,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘ I am probably not playing well enough at the moment to get in the team, but if I can find form over the next few games, and the rules permit then hopefully I am allowed to play.’’ But after the discussions with the Blues yesterday Tauber said that it was highly unlikely Marshall would feature in the tournament. Should he defect to the Blues, Marshall would become the second major coup for New Zealand rugby from the NRL, following Sonny Bill Williams, who plans to return in 2014 or 2015. A former New Zealand Under-15 representative, Marshall has not played the 15-man code since he was 16. ‘‘ I think I can play a few positions,’’ he said. ‘‘ I’d like to be in control so 10, 12 or even 15.’’ Copyright Daily Telegraph & Sunday Telegraph
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 08:58:48 +0000
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