McGregor and Marshall were both forced to hose down talk of a supposed blow-up following the Dragons round 22 loss to Brisbane four weeks ago. The matter appeared dead and buried until News Corp reports this week suggested Marshall threatened to get physical with his coach, an assertion Marshall labeled “complete bullshit,” on Wednesday.

“Whoever’s making it up has got an agenda, whether it’s to bring me down or bring the club down, I don’t know but I can tell you none of that stuff happened and none of that stuff was said,’ Marshall said.

“We obviously had a disagreement in video about what went on the field and it got reported that we had a heated exchange but let me tell you there was nothing heated or aggressive about it. It was a player coach meeting where [McGregor] told me I wasn’t good enough on the field. It happens every week with different players.

“The fact we’re in a bad position on the table and our season hasn’t gone that good just intensifies the situation and puts more heat on it. That’s just the things you have to put up with when your club’s under pressure, everything just seems to intensify. It’s been there my whole career and I’ve developed a pretty thick skin but when stuff gets made up about me saying to the coach ‘I’m going to drop you’ or whatever...I don’t talk like that and I’m not type of person. That makes me look bad and that pisses me off.”

It’s been suggested that the exchange effectively stamped Marshall’s departure papers but the 31-year-old said he’s known for the best part of three months that he won’t be at the club next season and that honesty has been the foundation of his strong relationship with McGregor.

“Mary will be the first one to tell you, we’re just always honest with each other and very respectful of each other and that’s the best way to operate as coach and player,” Marshall said.

“The club told me 10 weeks ago that they weren’t going to sign me. I asked them to keep that quiet for my other contract negotiations and to their credit they did that but I knew a long time ago that I was going to be leaving. We were always up front and honest about the whole situation and that’s why our relationship has been so good.”

While clearly miffed by the reports, Marshall, who notched his 250^th game earlier this season, said he won’t let it detract from his final week with the club that allowed him to resurrect his career in 2014 after an ill-fated stint in rugby union.

“It’s pretty emotional. I’ve got a real soft spot for this club after giving me the opportunity after having a not so great stint in rugby union,’ Marshall said.

“The chance to come back and play rugby league and play for such a great club has just been unbelievable. The players that I’ve been around and the players that I’ve met...I can’t tell you of a bad time because the whole time it’s been fun and a couple of the most enjoyable years of my life.

“I just want to enjoy this week and for the boys to enjoy each other’s company in what, for me, will be the last time with this group.”

Marshall conceded that Saturday’s clash may be his last in the NRL but he said he’s still not using the r-word just yet.

“Everyone around me has been asking the question ‘what’s happening, are you retiring?’ and I’ve been banning them from using that word at the moment because I don’t want to retire,” Marshall said.

“I want to play on and I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer. I know people think I’m past it or whatever and that I’m too old but realistically I’m 31 I’m coming back strong now from injury and feeling great.

“From my point of view I’m not retiring and I’ll be doing what I can to find a club but if t doesn’t go my way I’m lucky enough I’ve got something to fall back on. I’ve got that many friends who had to retire off the back of injury that didn’t want to. They’re not kicking stones and blowing up. That’s just footy.”