NRL: Marshall skirts assault drama on The Footy Show

Benji Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

The face of the National Rugby League (NRL) spoke in measured tones but still managed to raise a smirk at his predicament as Benji Marshall confronted his assault drama on Australia's The Footy Show last night.

The Kiwis captain and current holder of the golden boot as the code's best player, Marshall finally made his season debut on the programme - another vehicle to drive his burgeoning media career.

Marshall was excused from the opening episode of 2011 last week after becoming embroiled in a late night incident in Sydney on March 4 that has seen the Wests Tigers playmaker charged with assault.

Police allege Marshall struck a man in the face in a fast food outlet - there had been suggestions Marshall had been racially abused before lashing out though the victim, Soliman Naimey, denied that occurred when breaking his silence earlier this week.

Marshall will appear in court on April 20 and, after being given a warm welcome when joining the panel, used the legal process as a reason for being unable to elaborate on the altercation.

"There's not much I can say. There's a legal process that has to take place now. It'll be silly for me to say anything now.

"I've got to keep to myself about what happened," Marshall said.

"What I can say is I'm going to fight the charges."

Marshall would not comment on Naimey's claims that he was not racially abused.

"I can't comment on that, I told you that before the show," he warned co-host Paul Vautin before reiterating he would fight the charge and adding: "I promise you I'm a good person."

Marshall, who is yet to face sanctions from the NRL, did make light of his plight when chief executive David Gallop made a brief appearance.

"Maybe pick a coach for face of the game eh?" Marshall said, a reference to the misfortune high profile players have encountered when being earmarked for promotional tasks.

Shortly before the 2009 began the NRL's advertising campaign had to be edited after Manly fullback Brett Stewart was charged - and eventually cleared - of sexual assault after the Sea Eagles boozy season launch.

Current Dally M player of the year Todd Carney's role at this year's season launch was also diminished earlier this month when he was caught drink driving.

Marshall, who will be a regular, possibly weekly, feature on The Footy Show this season, described the last fortnight as the toughest of his professional career.

"It was like I was Charlie Sheen," he said, likening the media attention to that accorded the bizarre rantings of the American actor.

"I'm just a regular person. In the scheme of things some guy's been murdered out west (in Sydney) and the first story on the news is me," Marshall said.

"I had media outside my house. I couldn't get into my own house without sneaking through my garage," he said.

- NZPA