Rugby league whizz-kid Benji Marshall has pledged his international allegiance to New Zealand.
The New Zealand-born Wests Tigers halfback played for the Australian schoolboys last year, but after consulting his mother, Marshall has decided he would like to play for the senior Kiwis one day.
New Zealand League boss Selwyn Pearson is
surprised by the sudden switch and says they are delighted Marshall has chosen New Zealand.
Pearson says Marshall is immensely talented, so will be an asset to Kiwi teams.
He says they are aware of others in similar situations and the Kiwi selectors are working hard to make sure young New Zealanders who are playing in Australia do not slip through the cracks.
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers are unlikely to play Marshall for the first few rounds of the NRL in the hope of protecting the youngster.
- Newstalk ZB
