Benji Marshall hard to replace, says Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter

REACTION: TIGERS coach Mick Potter was watching Monday night football and enjoying his dinner when a call came through from Grant Mayer.

THANKS for the memories, now for the future.

There was never going to be a happy ending to this soap opera and finally Benji Marshall has come to the realisation his heart is no longer at the Wests Tigers.

When coach Mick Potter spoke to The Daily Telegraph on Monday night there was a touch of sadness in his voice, but also a realisation.

Potter was watching the game between Manly and North Queensland and enjoying his dinner when a call came through from acting chief executive Grant Mayer to tell him the latest update - that Benji wanted out at the end of the season after requesting a release from the final two years of his contract through his manager Martin Tauber.

BENJI WANTS OUT OF THE TIGERS

WHO'S TO BLAME FOR BENJI DEPARTURE

Wests Tigers

Potter had spoken with Benji earlier in the day and the star playmaker had told him he was heading off to weigh up his future.

"He hadn't decided when I spoke to him close to lunchtime," Potter said.

"Then I got told by Grant not long ago.

"There is not much else I can say about it, it is his decision."

What Potter did want to say was that Benji's presence would be missed, and his memory never forgotten.

"He is going to be very hard to replace," Potter said.

"There is only one Benji Marshall and it is going to make it tough."

But this saga had been dragging on for months and there was never going to be a conclusion that satisfied all parties - because the future at every football club is now, never yesterday.

And for everything Benji brings to the table from a marketability perspective, and that is all based on what he has achieved in the past, the fact is that the Wests Tigers are sitting 12th on the ladder and tough decisions needed to be made.

Benji had a handshake agreement with former chief executive Stephen Humphreys that was supposed to run through until the end of 2017.

But if you'd watched Benji play this season, or last, you would have known that scenario was never going to eventuate with Humphreys now gone.

Good judges had said he needed a change as much as the Tigers did - now Benji has made his decision and the club will be forced to do the same.

From a football perspective the club have two of the best young halves in the game coming through the grades in Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses who we have heard so much about but not seen in the NRL because of salary cap constraints.

But by Benji moving on at the end of the season, it opens the door for the youngsters to commit their long-term futures to the club and bring with them fresh hope.

There is also now room to chase another star recruit in another position - fullback, second-row, front-row - which couldn't have happened if Benji remained.

That is the upside to a sad day for the Tigers.

Acting chief executive Grant Mayer said Monday night that the decision was not final but Mayer didn't expect any hold-up.

"He hasn't put it in writing yet but he has decided he is going to ask for a release," Mayer said.

"He hasn't got anywhere to go to but he believes he needs a new challenge and therefore he is going to do that.

"We have to go through a process from a board point of view and either approve it or otherwise. We can hold him to his contract, that is what we could do, but that is unlikely to happen.

"He has been a superstar for this club and the game and we certainly understand the decision he has taken.

"We made a very competitive offer that would have made him one of the top-paid players in the club but we understand that for him it is more than that.

"We wish him well."

We all do.