Incoming Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has spoken for the first time since incumbent Tim Sheens announced he would step down a year earlier than had been planned.
As part of a succession plan, Sheens was due to step aside ahead of the 2025 NRL season 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 had been put up to face the media by Sheens as a “learning curve”, but bristled at one reporter’s question very early in the piece.
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The 2005 Tigers premiership hero was less than impressed when the journalist asked how the accelerated succession plan “will all work”, and whether Sheens would in fact move on — which had already been confirmed on Wednesday.
“I don’t know what you’re asking me,” Marshall replied.
There was an awkward moment when the reporter’s clarification was met with an icy response.
“Just with your question, I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Marshall fired back.
“Tim is moving on. So, have you done your research before you came?
“Everyone knows that; it’s been quite well documented.”
When pressed on where assistant coach Robbie Farrah would fit into the succession plan, Marshall was blunt.
“He’s assistant coach still,” he said.
But he wouldn’t be drawn on any other details on next year, insisting his only focus was assisting Sheens for the remaining three games of the season.
“One thing I’ll be quite clear with: next year is next year,” Marshall said.
“I understand everyone wants to know everything about what’s gonna happen here, but at the same time, there are three weeks left in the season. And although I know (people want) the information to be made public, everything that I will be doing internally will stay that way.
“When I do know what’s going to happen, you will be the first to know.”
Historic leaks of sacked coaches, disgruntled players and other off-field issues have dogged the club consistently — leaks that Marshall is determined to plug.
He 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 club. He 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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
– With AAP
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