Marshall carrying on

RUGBY LEAGUE

SYDNEY: Benji Marshall looks set to extend his playing career for at least another NRL season with the Wests Tigers legend in talks to join South Sydney for 2021.

Marshall will turn 36 next month and any deal with the Rabbitohs would put him into his 19th NRL season.

He has played 324 games with the Tigers, Brisbane and St George Illawarra.

It is understood the Rabbitohs have offered him a oneyeardeal that is yet to be ratified by the NRL.

Souths already have a solid halves pairing in Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker, but the signing of Marshall would add to their depth, with Troy Dargan and Dean Hawkins also on their books.

The deal is yet to be confirmed by the club but it would reunite Wayne Bennett with Marshall after the coach offered him a lifeline in Brisbane in 2017.

Marshall then made a fairytale return to the Wests Tigers where he won the 2005 NRL premiership, but the club told him late last season his contract would not be renewed.

Rather than retire, Marshall is adamant he has at least one more season left in him.

He had previously been linked to North Queensland which balked at his asking price, and he rejected a lucrative offer to play in England in favour of chasing a chance in Australia.

A second lifeline from Bennett could give him the chance to finish his NRL career on his own terms before transitioning into a media role with Fox Sports. — AAP