Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall granted a release to rugby union, a game he branded 'boring' in 2005 Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall is off to rugby union, a game he once branded boring. BENJI Marshall has officially been granted a conditional release from Wests Tigers to switch to a code he once deemed "boring." The Daily Telegraph can reveal Marshall was told of the development last night, freeing him for a defection to rugby union despite Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie questioning whether he could cut it at 28 years of age. The decision comes after Marshall posted a four-minute video on Wests Tigers website yesterday revealing why he walked away from the Concord-based club. And The Daily Telegraph yesterday unearthed a quote from Marshall back in 2005, when he said: "I watch a bit of rugby union and it's pretty boring. Playing league is the best move I ever made. Wests Tigers board does not want Marshall playing for a rival NRL club but would consider it if approached. "There are a number of conditions attached to the release," Wests chief operating officer Grant Mayer said. The only one I will discuss openly and publicly is that we would not like to see Benji play for any other NRL club for the term of his contract (which runs until the end of 2015) unless we authorise a release. It appears Marshall has no desire to sign with another rugby league club anyway. Strangely, Marshall said yesterday he harboured some desire to return to Wests Tigers after retirement. I know some people won't be happy, but some will be happy to see me go. Marshall stressed he was not angry at the club. At the end of the day they did what they thought they could in the (salary) cap to keep me but this decision goes far further beyond than money. If it was in the past I could have taken more money to go elsewhere. Hopefully I can play my 200th game here for the club and leave on a high. Speaking at the 2005 grand final breakfast, Marshall had no desire to play rugby union. "It's pretty boring," he said at the time. That will hardly be applauded by fans of the three Super Rugby franchises interested in Marshall; the Waratahs, Melbourne Rebels and Auckland Blues, whose coach Sir John Kirwan will fly to Sydney on Sunday to meet him. Meanwhile, McKenzie said Marshall could struggle to adapt to the different space on a rugby field given his age and acquired habits from league. "The good players can learn but it's just a question of how long they take; how long the investment is before you get the return," McKenzie said.