Manager dismisses Tigers' offer
By Steve Mascord
December 21, 2007 BENJI Marshall will reject an approach from Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens to re-sign for a year before the start of next season.
Manager Martin Tauber confirmed the approach after Sheens said on Wednesday that he wanted the club to prioritse the extension of Marshall's tenure beyond 2008.
Club football manager Warren McDonnell said that negotiations for a one-year extension had begun because Marshall needed to be clear of contractual distractions as he made his return from shoulder surgery.
But Tauber said: "I'm opposed to any negotiations with his existing club or a new club. He's got a point to prove about his fitness, his ability, his strength and his skill level.
"Negotiating ... is so wrong. The boy has to get back on the park.
"We're not going to sign a one-year deal. No way. It would be against my advice. He's 22.
"If he was to sign something in the area of a lucrative contract, it would be three or four years.
"How the hell can you be loyal to a club for one year?"
Sheens said after he re-signed with the Tigers, until the end of 2010, that he wanted Marshall tied up as soon as possible.
McDonnell added: "Tim and Benji have discussed what the best thing is for him.
"The best is that the kid concentrate on his footy, push himself out a year, get himself right again."
McDonnell said that injury had put Marshall "in the wilderness" for two years and he needed a distraction-free environment to recapture his best form.
"I've asked Martin to put his thinking cap on over the holidays, discuss it with Benji and get together again in the new year," he said.
"We want to get it out of the way and so does the kid.
"We're quite confident he can get back to his 2005 form and the kid wants to do that as well obviously."
Tauber said that Marshall would have to defy him if he were to agree to the one-year extension proposal.
"He doesn't need discussions," Tauber said.
"He needs to get back on the park and regain the skill level he had in 2005 and then we'll think about it.
"Everybody knows if the boy regains what he was in 2005, he can write his own ticket.
"He can go where he pleases. He and I both agree."
Marshall will start full contact work after Christmas, and he will be available for selection in the pre-season.
