Need advice? Leave it to Beaver

As Wests Tigers officials were hard at it on Tuesday explaining another nightclub incident involving star player Benji Marshall, across town the NRL's longest-serving player was keeping his head down and getting on with the business of preparing for his next match.

Steve Menzies has been playing first grade for Manly since 1993 - 334 games without a hint of off-field drama or controversy.

Menzies' manager Wayne Beavis often jokes that the only time he hears from his client is at Christmas when Steve rings to wish him all the best for the festive season.

A book is about to be released chronicling Menzies' career, but don’t expect any dirt because there isn’t any.

Even his nickname of 'Beaver' owes more to the TV show that anything devious.

So why is it that someone like Menzies can play 16 seasons straight and keep his nose clean while the same old names are continually caught up in alcohol-fuelled blues with belligerent punters in the wee hours of the morning?

Menzies has a simple plan to avoid idiots on the drink - don’t go where they are likely to be.

And that means staying away from Kings Cross - a magnet for fools looking to make a name for themselves by provoking a fight with an NRL star.

"If you stay in your own area then there are more people who like you than don’t like you," Menzies explained to Sportal.

"I've had people shouting out at me but you've got to do your best to defuse the situation by walking away."

Menzies' club has a simple rule about Kings Cross - they forbid their players to go there.

The Roosters, who are based a few kilometres from the notorious hotspot, have a similar ban in place.

Parramatta did likewise when star player Jarryd Hayne was shot at earlier in the season but now, conveniently, tell us it was only a temporary ban.

Eels players were with Marshall when the latest drama unfolded in the Sapphire Lounge on Sunday night.

Marshall lashed out when a fan attacked him - physically and verbally - but was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Pictures of the fracas have inevitably made it into the media and it's an ugly look for Marshall and rugby league.

But the Tigers are refusing to carpet their star player despite this being the latest in a string of off-field blow-ups.

Marshall may well be the innocent party - as he is claiming - but it's clear he's a very slow learner.

He could do worse than phone Menzies for some pointers.