WESTS TIGERS star Benji Marshall has been ruled out of next week's Centenary Test, even though his club admits he would have been likely to play for them if they did not have the bye.
Marshall, who pulled up from his comeback match last Sunday with slight swelling and soreness to the left knee he injured in the opening moments of the Tigers round-one clash with St George Illawarra, phoned new Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney on Monday night to advise him of his unavailability.
The five-eighth was yesterday omitted from the Tigers side to play Brisbane at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, but club doctor Donald Kuah said he expected Marshall to do some light running at the weekend and believed he would have been able to play in the May 9 Test if needed.
"I want to stress that this is not a major drama, it's more of a precautionary measure than anything and I he should be available for our next game in round 10," Kuah said.
But Kuah cautioned against an underdone Marshall playing in the Test, and Kearney revealed before a phone hook-up last night with the New Zealand selectors that the Tigers playmaker would not be considered.
"If you asked me whether his knee would be right by next Friday, I would say that it probably would be but whether it is up to handling the rigours of Test football is questionable," Kuah said.
"I think it's just bad luck, he copped a knock going for a charge-down early in last Sunday's match and there's probably some scar tissue damage there. But he managed to get through the game and appeared to be growing in confidence towards the end."
While disappointed by the loss of Marshall, Kearney reacted calmly to the news and said he was more interested in the 23-year-old's long term welfare.
"He was shattered, he really wants to play for New Zealand and I could hear the disappointment in his voice when he phoned me. It was the same after he hurt himself in round one," Kearney said.
"But I just think everyone wants to see Benji playing football and he's got to take care of himself."
Marshall's withdrawal is the latest set back for the Kiwis and follows the loss of winger Manu Vatuvei after he broke his leg in the Warriors' loss to the Titans last weekend.
In addition, Super League clubs are refusing to release their players, a move that has led to former Australian coach Wayne Bennett, who is helping Kearney to prepare the Kiwis for the Test, to seek the help of International Federation chairman Colin Love.
A defiant Kearney indicated that Leeds fullback Brent Webb and Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai would be named when the New Zealand was announced on Sunday.
"I have told the team manager that I want to have those two players in the side and left it in his hands," Kearney said.
On a positive note, Warriors utility Jerome Ropati may be available, despite not being named in the side to play Canberra in Auckland on Sunday.
Ropati is expected to have a fitness test today or tomorrow and if he survives the match may be chosen to partner the Bulldogs Ben Roberts at the scrumbase.
Melbourne and Kiwis prop Jeff Lima will today meet Bulldogs officials in Sydney on his way home from a family funeral in Samoa. The Bulldogs hope Lima will accept a three-year offer but he also intends to meet Storm officials this week.
Kangaroos debutant Carl Webb is also a step closer to deciding his future after North Queensland yesterday tabled a two-year offer the club hopes will keep him in Townsville.
