League: Marshall's got the world at his feet

Benji Marshall (centre) and teammates are swamped by confetti at the NRL grand final breakfast. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

Balmain and Magpies retro league jerseys are in hot demand as fans of both defunct NRL clubs anticipate grand final glory with the merged Wests Tigers at Sydney on Sunday.

And should the Tigers repeat their recent demolition of North Queensland at Telstra Stadium, the fashionistas among their fan base will be spoilt for choice to mark the historic occasion.

For those not wanting to dwell on the past - and instead celebrate the present and the future - popular Kiwis playmaker Benji Marshall has an alternative.

As part of his burgeoning commercial profile, the 20-year-old is poised to release "Benji" football boots and a clothing line in Sydney retail stores before Christmas.

In a sponsorship deal that underlines his star-in-the-making status in the NRL, Marshall's handlers have sealed two contracts in the lead-up to the final.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper yesterday revealed the deals, and the NRL is considering him to spearhead the code's 2006 advertising campaign.

League broadcaster Channel 9 is also convinced Marshall has a future in television after retirement after he made assured appearances on The Footy Show and Australian sports programme The Back Page.

"He's an absolute natural. I can't remember seeing a kid who is so confident without being up himself," said the channel's director of sport, Steve Crawley.

Australian marketing guru Max Markson rates the earning potential of Marshall outside his football income as huge regardless of the outcome of the final.

"He could easily earn upwards of A$250,000 [$275,240] away from the field if he plays his cards right and his management is aggressive with him in the marketplace," Markson said.

Marshall, who is off-contract with the Tigers as of June 30 next season, could see his salary soar past the A$400,000-a-season mark thanks to three star performances in the playoffs.

On top of this, he is set to be handed the keys to a new car when Wests Tigers unveil a new major sponsorship next week.

And in another boost for Marshall's booming profile, NRL marketing manager Paul Kind said the five-eighth was likely to be a key figure in next year's television campaign - following on from Kiwis team-mate and fellow rookie sensation Sonny Bill Williams.

A bashful Marshall, in his first full season, urged caution when hearing of the latest plaudits.

"It's all a bit overwhelming. You enjoy it at times but sometimes you feel like you're getting a bit too much [attention].

"I know I'm getting a lot of attention lately and no disrespect to [Bulldogs five-eighth] Braith Anasta, he's a great player, but he got a lot of media attention early in his career."

Anasta was subsequently branded as the code's most over-hyped player by his fellow professionals in an annual league magazine poll.

"I don't want to end up being called an overrated player because of what the media says about me," Marshall said.

"There's a lot of expectation and stuff. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting more praise than I deserve."

* Meanwhile, Marshall yesterday reiterated that he would not be switching codes despite the New Zealand Rugby Union expressing an interest in grooming him for the 2007 World Cup.

Asked at the traditional grand final breakfast in Sydney if a move to the All Blacks was a possibility, Marshall delighted the assembled league followers with two words: "They're dreaming."

- NZPA