News Limited is reporting that the Cronulla Sharks are favourites to snare the signatures of Benji Marshall and current Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis.
News that the Sharks are willing to offer Marshall a three year deal is a bit of a shock. Marshall’s form towards the end of last year was terrible and there is a feeling he needs to come back and prove he has what it takes to be a decent NRL player once again.
Three years seems like a massive commitment to Marshall considering all of the question marks that are currently hanging over his career.
Meanwhile it seems like Michael Ennis see’s the writing on the wall at the Canterbury Bulldogs. With the arrival of Sharks youngster Michael Lichaa at the club next season, Ennis is probably not going to attract a great deal at the Bulldogs.
With the Sharks on the lookout for a new hooker in 2015, Ennis could pick up a decent contract at the club.
I’m not too sure about either of these signings. I think Ennis hasn’t been all that great this season and at time has cost the Bulldogs. Marshall meanwhile is just a ridiculous gamble if it is true the Sharks are offering him a three year contract.
It will be interesting to see how Sharks fans react to this news. I guess when you look at the Sharks lineup, there is a window that is closing for a number of their players.
The likes of Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Michael Gordon, and even Todd Carney to some extent are ready to win now. Looking to the future and surrounding these players with youngsters isn’t going to help all that much when some of these players don’t have too many seasons ahead of them.
I can see where the club would want to get proven performers into their lineup for 2015 and really go all out for the title for a couple of seasons. It will mean the club suffers when these players all retire at around the same time, but it would be worth it if they can bring together a Premiership winning side.
