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Benji Marshall has pleaded with Wests Tigers bosses to not let internal issues leak into the public domain as the incoming rookie head coach attempts to bring stability to the struggling NRL club.
Speaking for the first time since Tim Sheens said he wouldn’t continue as head coach in 2024, Marshall also moved to deny reports of a rift with recruitment manager Scott Fulton.
The former New Zealand international showed his ability to match it with the media on Friday, bristling at questions over Sheens’ future at the club and whether he would stay on in a consultant capacity.
As part of a succession plan, Sheens was due to step aside in 2025 but the veteran coach expedited his exit earlier this week and will hand the reins to Marshall 12 months ahead of schedule.
Marshall said he would conduct media duties for the next three weeks, starting with Saturday’s home game against the Dolphins, but Sheens would pick the team.
The task awaiting Marshall has been labelled the toughest in the game.
Benji Marshall. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
He has never coached at NRL level, the Tigers haven’t made the finals in over a decade and the club must win its last three games of the season to avoid a second-successive wooden spoon.
“It’s not about the money, it’s not about the challenge, it’s about what I get out of it because I really enjoy it,” Marshall said.
“I’ll bring that enjoyment to work every day, and try to turn those results around next season.”
The charismatic 38-year-old will lean on the likes of Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy and Todd Payten for advice but said the Tigers needed to present themselves as a united club.
“It’s a challenge (to stop) information getting out there, but it’s rugby league,” Marshall said.
“Our challenge is putting the results out there on the field because we’re losing it amplifies those things, results on the field will help dictate that and will turn that around.”
Former coach Michael Maguire was blindsided by Sheens’ return to the club as a football manager, and Sheens and Marshall were shocked when club powerbrokers hired Fulton from Manly earlier this year.
Fulton and Marshall clashed over the decision to sign Manly’s Josh Schuster and the former star is keen to keep backroom discussions behind closed doors.
“If you look at the people who have signed in the last few weeks, since Scott and I have worked together, there’s been some really good signings from us working together,” Marshall said.
“I think that puts that stuff to bed. Everyone wants to know everything, but I’m at the point where that can stay internal.”
Marshall has signed unwanted St George Illawarra playmaker Jayden Sullivan and Manly brothers Samuela and Latu Fainu for next year and said the club is keen to strengthen further, declining to say whether he had final say on recruitment decisions.
Samuela Fainu on debut for Manly against Wests Tigers. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“We’re making strides in the direction we want to go with the roster,” Marshall added.
Meanwhile, Luke Brooks may have played his last match for Wests Tigers after the halfback was ruled out of his farewell home game against the Dolphins with a calf injury.
Brooks is leaving for Manly next year and will face a race against the clock to be fit for the Tigers’ final games of the season when they head to travel away to face the Sydney Roosters and the Sea Eagles.
Api Koroisau trained at halfback on Friday with Jake Simpkin set to take over duties at hooker.
© AAP
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