Tigers fire Fulton as Richo strengthens Benji's position with major recruitment move

I’ve had a long association with St Augustine’s since about 1970. That Principal did a great job pulling the Brimson Centre together , as well as all the other construction. When he told me he was going over to the Sea Eagles, my heart sank. I couldn’t bring myself to rain on his enthusiasm. Bob Fulton was a nasty piece of work. He also Phil Blake’s game because he was jealous of him. Phil went to Augustine’s .

I totally agree, it would be more professional to have a face to face. He was reportedly not on speaking terms with the head coach he was meant to be recruiting for. So I’m not sure how much respect you need to show when it seems professionalism isn’t being upheld at Fulton’s end.

I’ve mentioned occasionally that I have family involved with the club and across at St Augustines school. You might remember the school Principle took over as Manly GM for a short while at the club a few years back - until he found out the influence of the Fulton family at the club. “Protected” is a polite way to put it.

As far as I’m concerned I thought they deserved an Order Of Australia for taking him out of Manly. But to give Bozo’s protected son the benefit of the doubt, he’ll be snapped up by Harboard United Devils. I never understood the reach of Bozo.

I don't believe his time away makes anything disproven when he has 3 coaches and media reps all claiming the playing group are running the show in his posting days. Farrah was directly implicated and, if you'll remember, had his own 1on1, emotional interview to state his case. He was only 18 months away from the club and it would be hard to argue he didn't still have connections. His involvement in Madge's departure is speculation but he finds himself in with Sheens and Benji. It is speculation for sure but he has been the most consistent person at the club and he does have form along with ambition.

That’s instantly disprovable by the fact that they remained a complete basket case when he wasn’t there. I’m not any fan of his, but there is absolutely nothing linking him to anything untoward at the club in recent times, and this is the first time I’ve heard any suggestion of such.

I reckon Farrah has been the one consistency in all the mess around the WT club right back to his playing days and revolving coaches. Unsubstantiated of course but he strikes me as a guy who goes after what he wants.

Possibly. It’s probably just my way of thinking. These guys are not day labourers or contractors and the last mob would have done a bit of schmoozing to bring him across from Manly and a fair life decision to come over on Felton’s behalf. Unless, as others have alluded too, he has somehow been undermining the club I would think a face to face in some manner is more professional.

I can’t see Farrah leaking against Sheens and Marshall.

Given their basket case administration and dire results for the past few seasons (since Ivan jumped off the bus leaving it driverless) the Tigers' recruitment has actually been remarkably good, and pretty easy to understand. First job was improving general play defence and getting better field position. Klemmer, Papali'i and Bateman all strong additions the starting pack worthy of any top 8 team. Api Koroisau one of the best 9s in the game. Big tick for that. Evidence that it's working? Despite finishing bottom of the table the Tigers ranked 6th for tackles in the opposition 20 last season. And 11th for run metres conceded. What was lacking? Playmakers who can convert field position into points. Finally moving Brooks on and recruiting Luai for '25 is the best available move. Another big tick. Sezer and Sullivan are stop gaps. Young Lachie Galvin is the future. And Duoeihi will be back mid season giving another option at 5/8. Next job? Some strike backs. Bula given a shot at fullback last season showed his worth. Laurie, who showed potential but despite plenty of chances never really shone, released. Staines recruited - jury still out but he can't be judged by last season where he only played 9 games due to injury. If used intelligently in partnership with a good centre, he is a very promising strike winger. (IMHO it's time to move Nofa on.) Olam recruited. Out of favor with Storm, but let's be real, he's a big step up in class for the Tigers. The guy has no reverse gear. A great role model on the field for the young backs coming through. Another big tick. A couple of more speculative young players Faataape (who could turn out to be a gun) and Alaimolo from rugby also has plenty of promise. So... what's left to do other than wait for 2025? Get the bench right. There's not much impact there, unless Fainu adapts very quickly to NRL level. And get players settled in positions, rather than chopping and changing every week. Which will also help improve goal line defence, which is still sub-par. This season the Tigers will still be also rans. But I expect them to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder - to around 12th or 13th.

Don, Reports out of Souths was that Morris was trying to knife JD. He didn’t jump, he was pushed and the Burgess circus just deflected the attention away from him. Benji might want to look over his shoulder there.

Yeah he was the one to lock them down, which then makes Fulton surplus to requirements. Is it brutal? or just an honest conversation about the needs of the organisation in change. Also while I would also argue it would be more brutal to bring him in to fire him and him have to walk embarrassingly out of the club in front of players and staff. Richo is to the point kinda guy and while it seems harsh from the outside he probably was thinking this might have been more respectful way of doing it. They knew when they brought Richo in that they were bringing someone to put a broom through the place. It’s most likely why he was the one targeted to bring in. Wipe the slate clean for a new CEO in 6 months or if things improve the guy to take them forward knowing he wouldn’t dance around the issues the previous lot did.

Just my thoughts but I have thought for a while that Tigers recruitment seems to have had a scatter gun approach. I have difficulty trying to determine their plan with all the players they have signed or targetted.

Nat, all valid. It's a move by Richo that says both "you're our guy" and "you're accountable". I actually like it as there is clearly a mandate for change and Richo is the change agent. Time will tell about BM and I hope for Wests ,even though not my team, that he nails it and they start to see some semblance of professionalism, stability and decent results. Roll on the season eh!

Would you out that on Fulton? WT have been a leaky sieve for years and I would point the finger squarely at Farrah.

How many coaches have followed Bennett thinking they could replicate what he does? Even ol’ coach had over 150 BRL coaching games under his belt before moving to Canberra and learning more with Don Furner. Bennett’s greatest skill is talent identification and man management. Gibson, Bozo, Masters and Sheens could devise some terrific plays but Bennett always kept it very simple. IMO, at this stage of his career, Benji needs all the assistance he can get.

Last part first: Farah has been puppeteering that club since his playing days and I suspect it would be a case of Stockholm syndrome in Benji’s relationship with him. The whole “support you 100%” is the proverbial swinging axe. Give them 100% accountability and see which way it goes. I would suspect that had this clean out happened 18 months earlier Benji might not have had a look in there at all. To give a failing and desperate club a literal rookie coach is being set up for failure. Not saying Benji cannot coach but this team at this time? It is a storybook fantasy than astute business decision.

Given that he was pretty obviously leaking to the papers to undermine the coaching staff, I’m not sure that he deserves kid gloves.

I get he is a good operator and I can understand letting him go. As I mentioned above, Richo must have been the main player to secure Luai and Olam as to be so brutal as affording him just a phone call to terminate their relationship. They have both been around a while so maybe there is history there as well.

Fulton and Marshall weren't on speaking terms according to reports and rumours. Fulton was dropped into the club as a "CEO pick" without notice given or opinion sought from Tim Sheens or anyone in coaching. He was good at getting a couple of Manly players over at higher $ than they were on. CEO and Chair are punted, so their contentious or unpopular "picks" get the shaft as well. Not an uncommon thing in sports and business. Richo is backing Benji to the hilt and removing any possible impediments to him not "owning" the squad they are building and any internal white anting. Big move. But if Benji turns out to be a dud it also removes any opportunity for blame to be deflected to Fulton, a Head of footy or other functions. Personally, I reckon the best person they have in the coaching staff is John Morris. Farah is an interesting one. Almost came to blows with dave Furner late last year and the old regime punted Furner and backed Farah. Not sure what value Farah actually brings to an already inexperienced coaching set up.