THE prospect of Benji Marshall launching a civil defamation suit against the man involved in a nightclub altercation with the Wests Tigers star has moved a step closer after confirmation he will have the financial backing of the rugby league players' union if he chooses to continue the fight through the courts.

Marshall's manager, Martin Tauber, was believed to be discussing the five-eighth's legal options with lawyers yesterday after the player claimed he had been set up by a patron at the Sapphire Lounge club in Kings Cross - following the sale and publication of photographs.

It was unsure whether Marshall would press ahead with plans to take civil action against the man who he claims provoked him into a physical altercation, however the Rugby League Players' Association's plan to provide financial support for his fight - and any other involving an NRL star who believes he is the victim of a "trapperazzi" sting - has given him added impetus. Marshall was attacked in the nightclub in the early hours of last Monday week. Three men were ejected from the nightclub by bouncers and taken from the area by police, who laid no charges.

After the incident, Marshall said he believed he may have been baited into the fight so the photographer could profit out of the sale of the images. The man who sold the photographs denied he concocted the fight.

RLPA chief executive Matthew Rodwell had already discussed the potential for legal proceedings with Tauber before the group's decision, at a board meeting on Wednesday night, to create a fighting fund to assist with Marshall should he choose to take the legal avenue. The union voted unanimously not only to help fund Marshall's fight - but any NRL player who believes he has been the victim of a sting by a member of the public.

"Benji and his management team have already had preliminary discussions with lawyers, and I told Martin that on behalf of the players' association, we'd love to be of assistance if there's an investigation moving forward," Rodwell said.

He refused to specify how much the union would contribute, however he said it was "a small but significant amount in terms of where we are".

"There's no point having the players' association if we're not going to assist the players," Rodwell said. "And if this continues to be a problem, it's important to set aside some funding to make available for other players who are put in this position. When this flared up, we hadn't previously budgeted for assistance, and that was probably neglect on our part, but we decided it was something to look at.

"That small portion of people thinking about setting up players might have a second thought now that there are resources to ensure players have some support. It will make the public aware that there's a group ready to stand up and ready to take action. And from my point of view, it's important that our members know that we're behind them."

Tauber has discussed the prospect of legal action against the three with Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden, a Balmain solicitor, who said yesterday: "I've had a discussion with Martin in general terms, more about the concept."

Meanwhile, Gold Coast's title campaign has been dealt a potentially fatal blow, with co-captain Luke Bailey officially ruled out for the season following ankle surgery. Bailey had a screw inserted into his left ankle, injured in the Monday night loss to South Sydney, following an arthroscopy on Thursday night that revealed a separation of the joint.

"We handled it earlier in the year [when Bailey was sidelined with a broken arm] and I'm sure we'll be able to handle it for the rest of the year," Titans coach John Cartwright said.

And the Bulldogs have continued their recruitment and retention drive for incoming coach Kevin Moore, re-signing prop Jarrad Hickey for two more seasons. The 23-year-old had been courted by several clubs, but the local junior is seen as a future Bulldogs leader by the club. "I had no intention of going anywhere else. I grew up in the area and started my football here, and I'd love to finish off in the blue and white as well," Hickey said.