Veteran All Black halfback Piri Weepu says Benji Marshall's willingness for "dirty work" will determine whether he makes a successful transition to rugby union.
NRL star Marshall is expected to link with Weepu in the halves for the Auckland-based Blues next Super Rugby season.
The New Zealand Herald reported on Thursday that Marshall has reached a verbal agreement with the Blues and is set to be unveiled on Saturday after a final appearance for the struggling Wests Tigers in their bottom-of-the-ladder NRL clash with Parramatta on Friday night.
It came as rising All Blacks five eighth Beauden Barrett revealed he's resisted overtures from the Blues and was staying with the Wellington-based Hurricanes.
Blues halfback Piri Weepu, a friend of Marshall's who encouraged him to switch to union, said the 28-year-old had the skills to flourish in the game if he was prepared to work hard and commit to the tough stuff like cleaning out forwards at rucks.
"For me it's a question of waiting to see what his mindset is like," Weepu told Radio Sport.
"If he's willing to do some dirty work in terms of putting your head down in a ruck and smashing some guy that's over the ball."
