Wests Tigers' NRL coach Mick Potter considers Marshall's video partly as an 'up-yours gesture' to the club (Getty) © Getty Images

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Under-fire National Rugby League (NRL) coach Mick Potter concedes Benji Marshall's decision to wear a Blues jumper over the weekend was in "bad taste".

Marshall appeared in a video posted on the Super Rugby club's website on Saturday morning to confirm he had signed a two-year deal with the Auckland-based side.

The 28-year-old's decision to wear a rival jersey just hours after playing in Wests Tigers'26-22 loss to struggling Parramatta sparked outrage amongst Tigers fans and several past NRL players.

Asked if he saw Marshall's appearance as an 'up-yours gesture' to the Tigers, Potter told Sky Sports Radio on Monday morning: "Yeah, I see it a little bit like that but I think it's more just in bad taste.

"I wouldn't say its naivety because I think Beni probably knows better."

Pressed on whether the saga surrounding Marshall's future has had a destructive effect on the Tigers' disastrous season, Potter, who insists his relationship with the Kiwi international is "very good", replied: "No not destructive, I think it's been distracting and it's unfortunate.

"It's been distracting for the team, he's an influential player amongst his peers and I didn't want to let him go but he's made that decision to move on and I wish him all the best."

While clearly unhappy with some of the veteran's off-field decisions, Potter defended Marshall's poor on-field form and accepted some of the responsibility for the playmaker's struggles.

"He's trying to make it work for him and that's part of my job to get that out of him, and I see that as a little bit of a failing within me that I'm not being able to get what Benji wants to do (out of him)," he said. "I thought he had an improved performance on the weekend and it's no lack of effort from Benji and I'm really happy that he's trying his best."