Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall has no plans to sit out games in what could be his final year at the club as he prepares for the return of the NRL season.
With rumours continuing to circle surrounding his future after 2020, Marshall told reporters on Monday that he was grateful for its return and was focused on making sure he gets through the season before making a decision.
“My main priority is getting through, obviously the 18 weeks in a row which is a big effort," Marshall said.
“If I can get through 18 weeks in a row, then I will probably assess it after that.
“For now, my priority is getting through that.
“You start thinking about how grateful you are that the game is coming back,
“At my age, there could have been a chance this year that the game wasn’t coming back.
“For me, the realisation that footy is coming back give me a spark of energy and I’m feeling grateful that our game is back on.”
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Whilst clubs such as the Broncos have indicated that they will look to rotate players throughout the season, Marshall was eager to continue playing in every game in what he admits could be his final season in the NRL.
“No, we haven’t talked about resting players,” he confirmed.
“From my point of view, I want to play every game if I’m fit, I don't want to have a rest,
“It’s already a shortened season as it is and it could be my last potentially so I don't want to miss any if I’m fit and healthy.”
Marshall is one of the few players who have experience with the newly introduced 'six again' rule as part of the return to the one- referee system, having captained the NRL All Stars side in 2012 against the Indigenous All-Stars.
Whilst he suggested that he wasn't in full physical shape for the pre-season match, he believes that it will help wear down defences, providing greater opportunities for the quicker players and a better spectacle for fans.
"I was tired. It was in the pre-season and I wasn't up to physical shape to play again. It was a bit tough," Marshall said.
"Defending a set of six on its own is pretty tough but then, when you throw into the mix a six-again, it definitely takes a lot of your juice out,
"There'll be times you're defending two-three sets in a row without the ball. That's going to catch up with you at some stage.
"So I guess you're going to see more teams fighting harder in the play-the-balls and try and exploit that rule by getting more six-again (calls).
"It could open up and seriously make it a better spectacle than it already was."