Cowboys interested in pairing Benji Marshall with Johnathan Thurston

NORTH Queensland have entered the battle for Benji Marshall as a potential halves partner for Johnathan Thurston.

NORTH Queensland have entered the battle for Benji Marshall after sounding out the former Kiwi Test captain as a potential halves partner for Johnathan Thurston.

The Courier-Mail can reveal a Cowboys representative contacted Marshall’s manager Martin Tauber on Thursday morning to express interest in the ex-Tigers playmaker.

BENJI ‘HUNGRY TO PLAY’

Marshall has been heavily linked with Melbourne and Cronulla after brokering a release from the Auckland Blues on Wednesday following his brief dalliance in rugby union.

News_Rich_Media: St George Illawarra premiership winner Mark Gasnier says Benji Marshall won’t be allowed to walk into any NRL club on minimum wage, with the NRL able to reject any deal that they believe doesn’t meet the player’s net market value.

But the Cowboys have emerged as a left-field contender after Tauber confirmed North Queensland’s approach for the man who shattered their title dream in the 2005 grand final.

North Queensland have long struggled to find a dominant scrumbase pairing and the prospect of a Thurston-Marshall alliance would have Cowboys fans salivating.

“I can confirm I received a phone call from the Cowboys,” Tauber said.

News_Image_File: Interest in Benji Marshall remains high after his decision to return to NRL.

“We have no firm offers from any club at this stage, but yes, there is no denying it — the Cowboys have showed some interest. A representative of their club rang me and we’ll go from there.”

Marshall, 29, returned to Australia on Thursday and has started weighing up the merits of NRL suitors. The Cowboys may struggle to compete with Cronulla and the Storm under the salary cap, but have a major bargaining chip in Test and Origin ace Thurston.

Cowboys coach Paul Green has struggled to find the right scrumbase formula this season. Robert Lui showed promise but Green lost patience during the week, axing the halfback in favour of Ray Thompson for the Parramatta clash.

STORM DEAL UNLIKELY

News_Rich_Media: Nigel Vagana has offered some wise advice to Benji Marshall as he seeks a new home in rugby league, imploring the star playmaker to market himself as a mentor to potential NRL clubs.

Marshall has expressed a desire to live in Sydney but Tauber said the Cowboys could have a realistic chance.

“Playing with Thurston would certainly be an attractive proposition,” Tauber said.

“He knows JT having played against him, that will go into the mix of options.”

Former Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer said Marshall can succeed at the Cowboys.

“With Thurston and Benji in the halves, there would be some razzle dazzle, Cowboys fans would get their money’s worth,” he said.

“Paul Green has dropped Lui so they are looking for solutions in the halves and Benji could fit the bill there.”