Benji Marshall expected to sign with the Dragons after Cowboys withdraw interest

BENJI Marshall is set to formally ink a deal with the Dragons within days after the Cowboys withdrew interest in the former Tigers star.

BENJI Marshall is set to formally ink a deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons within days after North Queensland yesterday withdrew interest in the former New Zealand captain.

The Sunday Mail understands the Dragons are confident they have got their man, with the club drafting internal emails indicating Marshall will be in the Red V later this month.

At least five clubs had expressed interest in Marshall, including the Cowboys, who made inquiries a fortnight ago after the pivot brokered a release from rugby’s Auckland Blues.

A Marshall-Johnathan Thurston scrumbase alliance had appeal, but the Cowboys were only prepared to table a basic contract under the salary cap. Given their budgetary restrictions, the Cowboys pulled out of the race, mindful they could not compete with more lucrative offers from NRL rivals.

Melbourne and the Sharks were considered early favourites to snare Marshall, but the Dragons are expected to announce the premiership-winning pivot’s signing this week.

The Dragons remain tight-lipped but a leading chief executive from a Sydney-based NRL rival has walked away, adamant Marshall is bound for St George Illawarra.

The Cowboys were always an outside hope of landing Marshall given the former Tigers playmaker was keen to settle in Sydney with wife Zoe.

Former All-Star opponents Benji Marshall and Johnathan Thurston could have ended up together at the Cowboys.

While the Dragons have emerged as shock frontrunners to secure the 29-year-old, Cowboys prop James Tamou urged the club to reconsider their position on Marshall.

“I would love to see him with us,” Tamou said.

“He’s an exceptionally talented guy and for him to come to the Cowboys would be pretty good.

“But North Queensland is a long way away. Hopefully we have a real go at him but we’d probably have to offer Benji a bit more money to attract him to North Queensland.

“I would advise other players to move up here. At first it was tough moving up here but now I wouldn’t change a thing. Townsville is a great place for any NRL player.”

Cowboys coach Paul Green indicated last week the club faced an uphill battle bringing Marshall to Townsville.

“It was just an inquiry and when a good player like that (Marshall) comes on the market, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t ask the question,” he said.

“I haven’t spoken to him but I think he would be more keen to stay in Sydney, that’s what he’s been saying so far.

“We inquired and that’s as far as it’s gone.”