Wests Tigers must choose between re-signing current star Benji Marshall or future stars Fox Sports NRL commentator Matthew Johns backs Wests Tigers' decision to drop Benji Marshall, saying the Kiwi five-eighth needs to shed a few kilos. THE Wests Tigers are faced with one of the most crucial and difficult decisions in their history - whether to re-sign Benji Marshall. Marshall's request for a four-year extension couldn't have come at a more awkward time, when his form, by his own admission, is at a career low. He finds himself on the bench and the Tigers' next crop of young stars are ready to make their own mark. Young five-eighth Curtis Sironen, along with Holden Cup half sensations, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, are earmarked to be the future of the Tigers. But it's unlikely all three will remain if Benji gets his four-year deal, believed to be around $1 million a year. So for the Tigers it's a matter of "The Present" vs "The Future," as well as taking a gamble in trusting that Benji will return to the peak of his powers. This is a situation which is much more than just a business decision because there's so much emotion involved. Marshall is more than just a player for this club. Let's not forget the Wests Tigers were a highly troubled merger before Benji's magic and charisma united the two tribal clubs, delivered them a premiership, mountains of sponsorship dollars and a huge legion of fans to the once unfashionable team. Present: Benji Marshall (L) and Future: 18-year-old sensation Luke Brooks. Benji remains one of the game's most recognisable and bankable faces off the field. Understandably he wants to be paid like an "elite player." The only problem is he's playing second-rate football. Yet, if the Tigers hesitate, there are a couple of clubs who will gladly "show him the money." The Warriors will be monitoring the situation closely. He would give the Aucklanders a huge profile lift, sponsors would be drawn to the club, fans would flock and if he could return close to peak form, he would be teamed up in a dream halves partnership with Shaun Johnson. They offered Todd Carney $1 million a year. They will offer Benji at least the same. Another club which threw the bank at Carney are the Penrith Panthers. Phil Gould is a huge Marshall fan and would back himself and his coaching staff to return Benji to his best. Benji Marshall has a lot of what Penrith need. Profile and charisma. And a huge number of young fans would follow him wherever he went. I'm certain the Panthers are preparing to table a bid. The Tigers don't want to lose star of the future Curtis Sironen. One way or another I get the feeling the Tigers may need to make a decision on Benji very, very soon. But Benji himself can make the Tigers' decision easy by taking steps back toward his best football. And tonight against the competition's favourites, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, is the perfect stage to start. I'm a believer, I believe Benji can get back to playing at a level which will once again see him as one of the game's elite. All halves, at some point, lose their way. But getting back requires hard work and some important adjustments. This is what I've noticed about Benji. He is dropping out of games and disappearing right when his side needs him most. This usually comes down to a couple of things: one, the player is struggling for confidence, or two, the player is well short of fitness. With Benji I think it's a combination of both, but it begins with his fitness and his weight. Michael Potter has placed Benji on the bench tonight because he knows Marshall hasn't got 80 minutes in him at the moment. Potter wants Benji still with petrol in his tank when the crucial minutes arrive. But if Benji is serious about discovering his finest football in the coming months, he needs to remove some of the bulk from his frame. Benji's greatest gift is his footwork and acceleration, but the extra kilos are robbing him of both. Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily saying Benji is fat. It may be rock-hard muscle, but at the end of the day, weight is weight, and when some of the kilos start to disappear, suddenly his feet will start to make him move like the Benji we knew. Too often strength and conditioning coaches tell footballers that extra muscle and the extra weight that it brings won't hurt their speed. These conditioners record a player's 40m sprint times and point to improved results as evidence of this. But rugby league is not played in a straight line. The agility our game requires and the subtlety of movement and footwork means three or four extra kilos feel like you're carrying cement by the time the second half arrives. A month of solid training and no injuries will get Benji back towards his best playing weight and watch his footwork return. But Benji also needs to make some crucial adjustments to his play. He needs to simplify his ball-playing, play straighter and play tougher. He needs to stop skimming across a defence and start penetrating it. Rather than relying on no-look passes, flicks and tricks, Benji needs to start telling his ball runners to hit gaps and he needs to be running at defenders, pulling them out of shape with a willingness to be hit, to create that space. Very traditional, very simple, but the most effective form of ball-playing.