Kiwi rugby league great Benji Marshall is reportedly set to sign on with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Marshall will ink a one-year deal with the Redfern club and reunite with his former coach Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.
The 35-year-old was released by the Wests Tigers at the end of last season, but maintained he wanted to continue to play in 2021.
He was wanted to join a Sydney-based club to ensure he could remain close to his family.
A deal to link with former teammate and North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten fell through, before Marshall turned down signing the biggest contract in Super League history with Hull due to his unwillingness to move abroad.
He was also linked to the Bulldogs and the Sharks as a short term option as injury cover for fellow Kiwi Shaun Johnson.
It's unclear where Marshall would fit in on the field at the Rabbitohs, with Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker the incumbent halves pairing.
This is not the first time Bennett has come to Marshall’s rescue. In 2017, Bennett offered Benji a career lifeline to play with him at the Broncos.
Marshall played 13 games that season, before rejoining the Tigers in 2018.
His return to the club he had led to an NRL Premiership in 2005 ended on a sour not, as injury and inconsistency saw him discarded at the end of the season.
Marshall could be training with the Rabbitohs at their Redfern base as soon as Friday.
