Euro rugby clubs chase Kiwi league star

Sydney Morning Herald

RUNAWAY?: European rugby clubs are expressing interest in West Tigers' New Zealand five-eighth Benji Marshall, who is off contract after next year.

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The NRL's sighs of relief after Greg Inglis re-signed with Melbourne until the end of 2012 will be countered by revelations Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall has attracted interest from four European rugby union clubs.

While Inglis's decision to extend his contract with the Storm by another two years, to become the highest-paid player in the game, will be seen as a victory for the NRL in its battle with rugby union, the confirmation of a fresh fight to keep one of the game's stars will have officials realising the contest between the codes is far from over.

Marshall, the New Zealand five-eighth who is one of the most marketable players in the game, is believed to be strongly contemplating a switch of codes, even if he is yet to receive any firm offers from rugby union.

Two French and two English rugby union clubs have expressed an interest in Marshall since his manager, Martin Tauber, declared that his client would be a natural for a switch.

There has been speculation surrounding the 23-year-old's future in recent months following his involvement in an apparent nightclub sting, Marshall surviving an attempt by the club's leadership group to have him dumped from the side after he was seen to have broken a team edict not to drink alcohol, as well as the fact the side has not made the finals since 2005 - the season the gifted playmaker inspired the Tigers to a premiership.

Marshall's form has fluctuated since, mainly due to a procession of injuries, however he showed what he was capable of last Sunday with a glittering performance against Gold Coast in the Tigers' final match of the season.

He has made it clear that he would not play for another NRL club, however the fact that he would even contemplate interest from elsewhere would suggest there is a strong chance he will quit the club when his deal ends at the end of next season.

Tauber said yesterday Marshall had received no offers, but the fact so many clubs have approached him would suggest one is imminent.

Inglis's new four-year deal - believed to be worth more than $650,000 a season, including third-party agreements, on top of the relocation of his family to Melbourne - effectively upgrades his current contract, which ends in two seasons. With it, the chances of him being the subject of interest from rugby union or the Super League are quashed.

Already this year, the NRL has lost Sonny Bill Williams, Mark Gasnier and Luke Rooney to French rugby union, pricking the interest of the latest threat to the game's talent.

Even as late as Tuesday night, at the Dally M awards, just hours before he signed with the Storm, Inglis was making a plea to NRL officials to make it easier for him to stay in the game.

"I hope David [Gallop] is listening because I would love to stay in the game," the Clive Churchill medallist said on stage at the Hordern Pavilion.

Yesterday, he said: "I got offers from overseas - I could have earned over a 'mill' a season - but I didn't want to take those offers. I love it down here, and I want to be around this bunch of people [at the Storm]. Financially, it's quite good, and it will probably set me up for good."

Still, the size of the contract may make it more difficult for the club to keep skipper and hooker Cam Smith - who is off contract at the end of next season - even with centre Israel Folau joining Brisbane.

The club has only just re-signed halfback Cooper Cronk to a five-year deal and has this year committed Dallas Johnson and Anthony Quinn to the club.

Storm boss Brian Waldron admitted Inglis had made sacrifices in rejecting the interest from elsewhere.

"It [the deal] is commensurate with his status in the game, but the money available overseas and outside Melbourne was greater," Waldron said.

"But he made sacrifices for his long-term future. It's a great thing for the Melbourne Storm. It's a great thing for rugby league more than anything."

Inglis, 21, suggested he played up his interest in rugby union in a bid to increase his bargaining power, adding Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy's decision to commit to the club for a further five years earlier this season played a significant part in his decision.

- © Fairfax NZ News