Wests Tigers have confirmed that eight players will depart the club at the end of the 2020 season.

Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence, Dylan Smith, Elijah Taylor, Harry Grant, Matt Eisenhuth, Robert Jennings and Oliver Clark were all recognised at the club’s final home game on Saturday and will be officially farewelled at the club’s end-of-season Kelly-Barnes Award later this week.

Wests Tigers also paid tribute to the contributions of Ben Matulino (2018-19), Corey Thompson (2018-20) and Chris McQueen (2018-20), who either retired or departed the club during the 2020 campaign.

Wests Tigers would like to thank all players for their service and commitment to the club and wish them well in their future endeavours.

WESTS TIGERS DEPARTING PLAYERS
Benji Marshall (2003-13, 18-20) — Wests Tigers Player #70
Marshall made his first-grade debut for the club in 2003 and would play an integral role in the club’s maiden Premiership victory in 2005. He would go on to play over 200 games for Wests Tigers before departing for Super Rugby in 2013 — returning at the start of the 2018 season via stints with the Dragons and Broncos. An inaugural Life Member of Wests Tigers, Marshall departs the club as its highest points scorer (1187 points), equal top-try scorer (84 tries) and second most-capped player of all time (257 games).

Chris Lawrence (2006-20) — Wests Tigers Player #104
Lawrence became the youngest player to feature for Wests Tigers when he debuted at just 17 years of age against the Brisbane Broncos in 2006. A local junior of the club, Lawrence would quickly cement himself as a focal point in the side and soon attracted representative honours — playing six Tests for the Kangaroos. Overcoming numerous injuries throughout his career, Lawrence departs as a Life Member of Wests Tigers and one of just three players to feature in over 250 games, while also equalling Marshall as the equal top try-scorer (84 tries).

Dylan Smith (2018-20)
Smith joined Wests Tigers as part of its Development squad in 2018 and transitioned into the full-time squad throughout his time with the club. An Australian Schoolboy, Smith featured prominently for the club’s Jersey Flegg and Canterbury Cup squads in 2018 and 2019 and played in the sole reserve-grade fixture this year before the season was cancelled.