Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah says he was shocked to learn of Benji Marshall’s decision to leave the NRL club, believing he was going to stay.

Star playmaker Marshall on Monday night requested a release from the final two years of his contract at the joint venture after 11 years there.

“I was shocked, I thought he was going to stay,” said Farah on Tuesday, when he fronted a media conference as skipper of the NSW Origin team for Wednesday’s series decider.

“(But) he’s made his decision and I support it.”

Marshall has had his issues with the club over the past two seasons, the 28-year-old a key figure in the demise of longtime coach Tim Sheens in 2012.

But his relationship with new coach Mick Potter doesn’t appear to be much smoother, Marshall at one stage this season dumped to the bench.

However Farah said he was unsure if that was the catalyst for Marshall’s decision to leave.

“He’s been down on form, and he knows that,” said Farah, a good friend of Marshall.

“Why or whether that’s because Tim’s gone left or other reasons ask him. I’m not too sure.”

Marshall has said previously he would never play against the Tigers, seemingly ruling out a move to the likes of fellow NRL club Parramatta or the Warriors.

A switch to Super Rugby in Australia or New Zealand or rugby union in Japan or France loom as potential options, as does playing in the Super League in the UK.

Farah said he was not sure where Marshall would go.