Calls to get Benji Marshall to Bulldogs as Trent Barrett overhauls squad
Benji Marshall’s NRL career looked in doubt when he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Wests Tigers, but now there’s a push for him to be part of Trent Barrett’s Canterbury overhaul.
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Departing Wests Tigers veteran Benji Marshall would be the perfect addition to Trent Barrett’s roster at Canterbury in 2021, according to his brother and Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King.
The Bulldogs on Tuesday announced eight players — including Kieran Foran, Aiden Tolman and Marcelo Montoya — were leaving the club at the end of the season.
The roster overhaul has opened the door for the incoming coach to target not only the game’s brightest prospects like Melbourne’s Brandon Smith and Penrith’s Matt Burton but more experienced players like Marshall.
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“I’d love him to come here but that’s up to him. It would be good to finish, hopefully next year if he comes here, it will be his last year and he’ll finish with me as well,” Marshall-King said.
“I’ve never played with him in rugby league (NRL) and that would be a bonus for me.”
The Bulldogs signed Newcastle’s Blake Green in August after earmarking an experienced playmaker as recruitment priority to help guide their stable of young halves, including Jake Averillo, Lachlan Lewis and Brandon Wakeham.
But Green, 34, suffered an ACL injury immediately after he signed on and is unlikely to be ready for the opening rounds of season 2021.
The club has also made inquiries about premiership-winning Cronulla halfback Chad Townsend.
Whether Marshall ends up at Canterbury or not, brother Jeremy believes the 323-game veteran still has plenty to offer.
“I spoke to him, hopefully there are clubs out there that want him because I reckon he has been their best player on their team… creating a lot of tries,” Marshall-King said.
“But hopefully he gets a gig next year. He is still carving up. Hopefully someone picks him up, I’m sure someone will.”
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On Monday, The Daily Telegraph revealed Barrett had already told Tolman, who has played 221 games over 10 seasons for the Bulldogs, he was not required beyond 2020.
Tolman responded with a standout performance against South Sydney last weekend where he topped the tackle count and made 230 run metres.
Big money recruit Foran could not agree to terms with the Bulldogs on an extension deal and will be looking for a new home in season 2021.
The injury prone halfback only managed 40 games in three seasons.
Saturday’s clash against minor premier’s Penrith will not only serve as a chance for the proud club to avoid the wooden spoon and an audition in front of Barrett but it will also be the last game in Canterbury colours for Tolman, Tim Lafai and Jesse Sue.
Also moving on is playmaker Jack Cogger, who struggled to cement a place in the halves after joining the club in 2019.
Centre Kerrod Holland announced his retirement earlier this month and the club won’t be re-signing Norths Devils Mackay junior Isaiah Tass.
Canterbury CEO Andrew Hill said the players would always be part of the Bulldogs ‘family’.
“These decisions are never easy and it is important that we acknowledge each individual person for what they brought to the club and for giving their all while they were here,” Hill said.
The roster overhaul opens the door for the club to target the likes of boom playmaker Burton and robust hooker Smith. It’s also understood discreet inquires have been made about Harry Grant, Charlie Staines and Panthers breakout star Stephen Crichton.
The Daily Telegraph understands Smith is a top priority target for the club – which has not been able to secure an elite hooker since Michael Ennis departed at the end of 2014.
The player movements come after the Bulldogs announced a clean-out of its coaching ranks with head coach Barrett seeking to assemble his own staff.
Interim coach Steve Georgallis was also let go as part of the stages.
Newcastle’s David Furner and Cronulla’s Craig Sandercock will join Barrett as his assistant coaches. Former Tigers coach Mick Potter has been installed as Mounties head coach and the Cowboys’ David Tangata-Toa has been added as a transition coach to prepare the club’s fringe players for first grade, having successfully driven junior programs at both Penrith and North Queensland.