Benji Marshall Clarifies Tallyn Da Silva’s Exclusion Following Loss to Canberra

Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall expressed uncertainty over whether hooker Tallyn Da Silva will depart Concord before the June 30 transfer deadline.

Prior to the 16-12 defeat against Canberra on Friday night, reports surfaced indicating that the emerging Wests hooker had received clearance to engage in discussions with other clubs right away.

At just 20 years of age, Da Silva was named on the bench for the match but ultimately remained an onlooker the entire evening, never stepping onto the field.

Marshall refrained from confirming Da Silva’s future with Wests while justifying the decision to sideline him for the game. “We had to consider our options with Api (Koroisau, the starting hooker) in case he needed a breather, but with the match being so tight, it was crucial to have our top players out there,” Marshall explained.

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“If there had been a chance to bring Tallyn on, I would have taken it, but we were relying on Api on the field.”

Koroisau’s position within the team has made it challenging for Da Silva to break into the starting lineup.

The 32-year-old is currently in discussions for a contract extension with the Tigers, leaving Da Silva positioned as a potential long-term backup.

Though Da Silva is tied to the joint venture until the end of 2026, it appears he is keen to explore opportunities elsewhere due to the uncertainty surrounding the No. 9 jersey.

It has been reported that the Knights are interested in acquiring Da Silva on a loan deal for the remainder of 2025, although that proposal seems to have fallen through. The Eels, Souths, and Cowboys have also expressed interest in securing him.

“We had initially thought that facilitating a swap for Tallyn just for this season would be beneficial for his exposure, while we would gain Kai Pearce-Paul,” said Wests CEO Shane Richardson. “That plan has changed, and now we’ll see how things progress.”

“Just because we’ve permitted negotiations doesn’t mean we have to follow through with it. We’re doing everything we can to keep Tallyn within our ranks, but he clearly desires first-grade action, and we completely understand. We’ll see how this plays out.”

On a positive note for the Tigers following the game on Friday night, they showed a few flashes of brilliance despite squandering a 16-point advantage in the first half.

Young playmaker Latu Fainu showcased several impressive touches and reaffirmed his status as a prospective long-term five-eighth for the club.

The team’s defence, which has displayed resilience at times throughout the season, managed to hold Canberra scoreless in the second half. However, Marshall acknowledged that silly penalties had cost his team dearly.

“We’ve had some disciplinary issues for a couple of weeks now. It’s not intentional foul play, but we really need to get back to being disciplined,” Marshall stated.