Marshall not 'enthused' by S12 or 3N

New Zealand star hanging on for visit of Lions

New Zealand star Justin Marshall has admitted that his decision to sign with Leeds Tykes was influenced by SANZAR's failure to give the Tri-Nations and Super 12 a significant overhaul.

The veteran scrum-half, who will join Leeds on a two-year contract from July, expressed his disappointment that SANZAR's new broadcasting deal simply offered players and fans more of the same.

"The Super 12 games and Tri-Nations games don't enthuse me," Marshall told the NZPA.

"I would have loved to have seen something different because I am an advocate for expanding the game.

"I would have loved to have seen [New Zealand rugby] become a bit more global and see the All Blacks have opportunities to play more regularly in places like Canada and the United States and even Japan.

"Tri-Nations rugby is good. But I've been a real advocate of it being every second year and having touring teams coming here. You only have to look at the interest the Lions have generated.

"It's difficult for New Zealand. We are really chasing the corporate dollar. If the All Blacks could play games in Canada or America - for players it would be absolutely fantastic, a real experience. It would really throw the game out there, globally.

"The corporate viewpoint of that is it doesn't generate the money and we don't get enough out of it, so we're really better to keep playing South Africa and Australia and fill the stadiums.

"That's fair enough, they're still great games to play in, but I'd like to see the game become more global."

Marshall, who has won 77 All Black caps, also admitted that if it wasn't for the Lions he would have headed overseas after the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

"I was already contemplating my future since August-September last year," he said.

"I had been in discussions with a number of clubs since then - to be honest, I've had discussions with clubs since the World Cup.

"That's just purely because I knew I was at a stage of my career where I was either going through to the next World Cup with New Zealand or I was going to be looking abroad.

"I thought I'd look abroad and see what that's got to offer and from what I'd seen I liked the look of it.

"I knew I had a release at the end of the Lions which would fulfil everything I wanted to fulfil in New Zealand rugby.

"There is only one real thing I can do about [selection against the Lions] is to be the best halfback in the country by the end of the Super 12.

"That puts all the pressure on the selectors. I want to give them no other option but to pick me."

Marshall also revealed that Leeds Rhinos, the Tykes' League-playing sister club, had offered him the chance to play the Canterbury Bulldogs on February 4.

"I would love to play but I don't think New Zealand would let me go," he said.

"Both their hookers for the game are injured and they wanted to know whether or not I'd be willing to play."