Paul Kent & other sports "journos" (I use the term journo very loosely) are already going off trying to paint Benji as some kind of gold digger & putting the boot into him as a player. Typical.
If he went to Japanese Rugby it would be easy for them to continue that line that its all "money related". However, if Benji goes to the Blues (as indicated) I can't imagine they'd be able to pay the same as the Japanese comp or what the Tigers were offering. To me, if that is the case then Marshalls managers claims that Benji really wasn't enjoying things at the Tigers & needed a change - tend to become the more honest reason as to why he is leaving.
I think Benji is a good guy from what I've seen of him. I don't think he'll crack the ABs given the amount of depth they already have but he's talented & he'll give it a red hot go. I'm looking forward to seeing him play Rugby.
EDIT: the 7's idea is a realistic one, I reckon he'd be great at 7's.
It always amazes me how league types go into an absolute frenzy when a player looks like moving from league to rugby. The "it's all about money line" strikes me as being bizarre from a sport which spent the best part of 90 years signing talent from rugby for ... money. It's called professional sport for a reason - yes people make decisions, based to at least some extent on money. It's also why players move from one RL club to another.
Paul Kent is a dribbler of the lowest quality. He's a league advocate, not a journo. He even speaks like the less erudite amongst the league fraternity. Amazing considering his profession involves the use of the English language.
I do have reservations about how well he would go in rugby though. I don't think he's in the SBW or Folau class in 15 a side. Sevens would be another matter. I think he'd need a bit of time at ITM cup level and then possibly super level before I'd make a judgement.
Sevens, however, is a different matter. I think that players like him and QC (Quade Cooper) would be top shelf in 7s.