Racist taunts spark Benji Marshall brawl
Adrian Proszenko and Les Kennedy
March 5, 2011 - 6:23PM
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/racist-taunts-spark-benji-marshall-brawl-20110305-1bioq.html
The poster boy of the NRL, Benji Marshall, claims racist taunts provoked him to punch a man in the face yesterday.
Marshall's manager, Martin Tauber, told The Sun-Herald that a group of eight to 10 people baited the Wests Tigers superstar in The Rocks about 3.20am, allegedly calling him a "black c---" and telling him to "f--- off back to New Zealand".
Mr Tauber confirmed that Marshall – pictured centre, left as the star of The Sun-Herald's 2011 Footy Guide – retaliated by punching one of his alleged tormenters in the face at the intersection of Bridge and George Streets. It is another setback days before the start of the NRL season following a run of scandals. In the past week, Todd Carney has been charged with drink-driving while league identities have been arrested over the Bulldogs betting sting.
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The NRL selected Marshall – a clean skin – to officially launch the NRL season at Casula during the week. Marshall's mother, Lydia, said he was not intoxicated when they left the Four Seasons Hotel after a fundraising partnership between the Benji Marshall Foundation and the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia. "The boy is not at fault," Tauber said.
Full story and 2011 Footy Guide in tomorrow's The Sun-Herald