Rugby: Kirwan optimistic Marshall will sign

Benji Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

League star keen to play for the Blues providing details can be worked out

Lunch, tours of Eden Park and the waterfront - the Blues displayed their hospitality, business and sporting charms to Benji Marshall yesterday as they continued to woo the league star to their franchise.

Marshall flew back to Sydney after a four-hour pot-pourri of discussions with Blues officials which left coach Sir John Kirwan "optimistic" they could do a deal with the Kiwis standoff.

"From my point of view it was all positive and it is down to the contractual stuff between both parties now," he said.

Marshall said later he would prefer to come to Auckland. "I've got to take into account all my options but the opportunity to maybe one day play for the All Blacks is a pretty big motivator for me.

"Obviously I'm pretty nervous about that but at the same time excited at the prospect of having the opportunity.

"It's looking promising, if it all works out according to plan then hopefully I do end up playing here."

Marshall, his wife Zoe and manager Martin Tauber made the visit yesterday after Kirwan and chief executive Andy Dalton had initially travelled to Sydney a fortnight ago to present their proposal to the Tigers star.

Soon after the Blues made an offer to Marshall.

Marshall will quit the Tigers this season after some differences about his contract details and failure to connect with the new coaching regime.

The 28-year-old Marshall is reported to earn $850,000 a season in a combination of salary and commercial arrangements but would be lucky to pick up half that in any collective deals in Auckland. However, the Blues have pitched various ideas at the Whakatane-born Marshall which they hope will encourage him to return this side of the Tasman. A package of business ideas alongside a career with the Blues and options for his wife, who works in television in Sydney, have been canvassed.

Most of the new Blues board, including key investor Murray Bolton, hosted Marshall and his manager on a tour of Eden Park while Marshall's wife was taken on a scenic drive around Auckland. They lunched at The Grill in Sky City before heading back to Sydney.

"Coming to live in Auckland is not an issue for Benji or his wife," Kirwan said. "They are young, they are keen to get on with the change in their lives and if that is the Blues, they are happy to shift. I hope we might get some answer in a week."

The Blues are still waiting for an answer from Beauden Barrett's management about an offer to shift to the Blues although word is he is likely to shift north. Barrett would move straight into the No 10 role while the Blues would likely look at Marshall as a backup five-eighths or fullback. If Marshall does switch the Blues will look to build his rugby experience in a range of games before the start of the 2014 campaign.