NRL: Benji Marshall's racial taunt claims 'laughable'

Benji Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

The man who claims he was assaulted by National Rugby League (NRL) star Benji Marshall has denied he racially taunted the Kiwis captain before being allegedly struck in the mouth.

Soliman Naimey, 24, has broken his silence in relation to the incident in the Sydney CBD early on March 4 describing claims he racially vilified Marshall as "laughable".

The Wests Tigers playmaker - and the NRL's "face of the game" for season 2011 - will make his first appearance in court on April 20 to defend the assault charge.

Naimey, who is of Sri Lankan descent, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Look at my skin colour - what do you think?

"It wasn't like that at all; there was nothing racist said by anyone.''

The incident occurred four days after Marshall, 26, officially launched the 2011 NRL season.

Police allege Marshall struck Mr Naimey outside the McDonald's restaurant on George St at 3.20am on March 4. Marshall's manager Martin Tauber claimed his client only retaliated after being racially taunted by a group of men.

"One of them started to shout at him and said, 'Go back to New Zealand you black c ... '," Tauber said, a day after Marshall was charged. Marshall had spent the earlier part of the night speaking at a charity fundraiser for the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia event before heading to a nearby bar with his partner and another friend.

Police allege that once outside the fast-food outlet Mr Naimey began sledging Marshall, saying Brisbane, Queensland and Kangaroos five-eighth Darren Lockyer was a better player.

Mr Naimey admitted making the "Lockyer's better than you" comment, but it was said with no malice.

He suffered a cut lip as a result of the alleged punch by Marshall and reported the incident to police that night because he said it was the "right thing to do".

"I'm not after fame, I'm not after publicity, I just want justice," Naimey told the newspaper.

The NRL are yet to impose any sanction on Marshall, who was free to play in the Wests Tigers opening round loss to the Bulldogs on Monday night.

- NZPA