Benji Marshall

The Wests Tigers are set to announce another big signing in the coming days, with Storm centre Justin Olam reportedly agreeing on a deal with the reigning wooden spooners.

The Tigers got their main off-season target in Jarome Luai on a five-year deal from 2025, and according to The Daily Telegraph, Olam will also be heading to Concord.

Marshall, who recently announced his retirement from the NRL after a 19-year career, is the second most-capped player in Wests Tigers history and holds numerous club records including most career points, goals and tries scored by a five-eighth.

As an official Wests Tigers Ambassador, Marshall will assist the club in a number of different departments with a focus on pathways and development — providing positional expertise to Wests Tigers Cubs program as well as at junior representative training sessions for both Balmain and Western Suburbs SG Ball and Harold Matthews teams.

Benji Marshall has called time on a storied career that includes some astonishing numbers but perhaps more importantly a legacy that far outweighs anything that can be measured by statistics.

Marshall brought joy and excitement to a generation of young rugby league fans. The "Benji sidestep" and the "Benji flick pass" have been replicated countless times in backyards, schoolyards and junior rugby league fields over the past two decades.

He’s been celebrated all season — and rightly so — for his ability to fill in at basically every position on the park.

No one has raised any concern about the 345-game veteran potentially playing on for a season too long or whether he’s good enough to make the Bunnies’ 17. He’s fitted so well into the utility role that his decision on next season remains a total mystery — and it would be no real surprise if he did play on.

The veteran halves are in a 19-strong group announced by coach Michael Maguire, with regular five-eighth Kodi Nikorima having been ruled out of contention by the Warriors.

Maguire confirmed Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will retain the captaincy, even though a shift to the wing or centres looms following the return to availability of star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who missed all of last year's five Tests.

Veteran hooker Issac Luke is in the group of eight players cut from the 27-man group unveiled midweek ahead of Saturday's clash in Auckland.

The debate about expansion and relocation has reignited, with the NRL to deliver a report into the viability of adding a 17th and 18th NRL franchise.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has said that Rugby League Central no longer has the money to prop up struggling franchises - placing relocation on the agenda.

Should any side hit the rocks financially, it is likely the NRL would seek to move them interstate, away from the crowded Sydney market.

Marshall's club the Wests Tigers, along with Manly and Cronulla are mentioned as clubs most likely to be moved.

Although Marshall hasn't run out in a Kiwi jersey since 2012, his early-season form proves he would still be up to the task if given the opportunity.

"You'd think [his chances of a recall] would have to be fairly good," Cleary said.

"I'm not picking the team but he's certainly passionate about the Kiwis and he's playing well so if he keeps that up he'd surely have to be in the running there somewhere."

After establishing himself as arguably the form New Zealander of the NRL during the opening six rounds, the Wests Tigers' No.6 is still dreaming of ending his six-year exile from the national set-up.

On form, he is undoubtedly the leading contender to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves for the mid-year Denver Test against England and has consistently out- pointed the other leading contenders.

It's the second time in three weeks that the Tigers have beaten the Storm, both efforts based on courageous defence and new-found grit.

It is the first time the Storm have lost consecutive away games since 2015.

While Marshall grabbed the headlines, hitting the match-winner from 25 metres out, Brooks was the one getting pats on the back from his coach.

Ivan Cleary said he felt his No.7 put in "one of his best" performances and stepped up when it mattered.

"Late in the game, Benji and Luke came up with some big plays," he said.

Marshall was preparing to give a post-game interview for Fox Sports following his team's surprise 10-8 win over the Storm at AAMI Park when he noticed the Melbourne players were getting ready to give Slater a guard of honour as he walked off the ground.

Yelling out to his teammates over the other side of the field, Marshall told them to rush over to acknowledge Slater in his milestone match.

Past and former players have taken to social media to praise Marshall for his selfless act, including Monty Betham, David Mead and Jake Marketo, plus countless fans.