Wests Tigers confirm Marshall re-signing

Benji Marshall is hoping Wests Tigers afford coach Tim Sheens the same confidence
they showed in him after the New Zealand Test skipper confirmed his long-term future
in the black and gold on Thursday.
Marshall put pen to paper on a deal that will see him stay with the NRL club through
to the end of the 2015 season, and he wants Sheens - off-contract at the end of the
season - to stick around as well.
"I've made the first step in signing for this long and putting myself out there, so
hopefully that goes a long way towards helping Tim stay," Marshall said.
"You only give the coach the sack if there's someone better to replace him and in
the game I don't think there is anyone better for the job of coaching the Wests
Tigers than Tim Sheens."
Sheens, who claimed the Tigers were "defined" by Marshall, declined to comment on
his future.
But he believes the club's future both on and off the field is looking bright with
Marshall's commitment coming on the back of the signing of dual international Lote
Tuqiri.
"You talk about Wests Tigers, he's one of those players that you talk about," Sheens
said.
"Besides helping us win games and market the club - there's a whole spectrum ...
he's become a leader among the boys.
"He's captain of his country, he's won a premiership and he's a leader amongst our
team - that puts him (up there with) as good as any player I've coached."
While Marshall claimed his new deal - which will add four years to the two years he
still had to go on his current contract - was about loyalty, he was quick to admit
there was also a feeling of security in re-signing for so long.
"It's a relief - when you get things out of the way, you know your future's secure,
it just gives you that little bit extra not having to worry about injury or little
things like that," Marshall said.
"The loyalty the club has shown me in the past - I had a lot of injuries and ups and
downs in my career - and through the ups they were there and through the downs even
more.
"It's all good trying to get as much money as you can but if you're playing at a
place where you're not comfortable you're not going to play your best."
"For me to play my best footy, that's why I signed."