Wests Tigers superstar Benji Marshall is set to sign a long-term deal with the NRL club, putting an end to doubts over his future with the Tigers and rugby league.
A report on the Nine Network - with whom Marshall has a deal to appear on The Footy Show - claimed on Thursday the New Zealand test skipper would sign a lifetime deal with the club.
Club officials, who earlier in the day scheduled a press conference for Thursday, refused to comment on the speculation, though it is believed Marshall will re-sign through to the end of the 2015 season.
Such a long deal could be seen by some as a risk for the Tigers given Marshall's poor injury record, but the 24-year-old missed only one game in 2009 to give hope that the worst of his shoulder troubles were behind him.
Speculation all was not right between Marshall and the club surfaced during last year's Four Nations tour, when coach Tim Sheens revealed some factions at the club wanted the playmaker out.
It is believed those factions felt the club had not seen a return on their investment given Marshall's long run with injury when he was limited to just 41 games over three years from 2006-2008.
Marshall also spent the 2008-09 off-season exploring his options in rugby union, even suggesting he could shuffle between the two codes during the year.
Just weeks out from the start of the NRL season, Marshall's signature would be a massive boost for the game, particularly coming on the back of Jarryd Hayne's re-signing with Parramatta last month.
- AAP
NRL: Marshall set to commit to Tigers
Benji Marshall is set to re-sign with the Wests Tigers through to the end of the 2015 season. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post
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