Tim Sheens insists his successor Benji Marshall and recruitment boss Scott Fulton can co-exist at the struggling Wests Tigers as they continue their pursuit of a winning halves pairing.
The Tigers board met on Tuesday night to discuss recruitment targets, addressing potential options to replace Manly-bound Luke Brooks and the injured Adam Doueihi to begin 2024.
Marshall, who will become the Tigers’ head coach in 2025, has clashed with Fulton on the matter since the ex-Sea Eagles recruitment boss arrived without Sheens’ or Marshall’s approval this season.
The club has already missed out on Shaun Johnson, Cameron Munster and Mitchell Moses in recent times.
More recently, ex-Canberra grand final player Aidan Sezer has been linked with a move to the joint venture from the English Super League and Jack Cogger, Penrith’s understudy for Nathan Cleary, is another option reportedly favoured by Fulton.
Even back-up halves Brandon Wakeham and Daine Laurie are off-contract at the end of 2023 so the Tigers’ situation is becoming urgent, lest the transition from Sheens to Marshall in 2025 come without a functional, established halves pairing.
Benji Marshall. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“That’s what we’re doing all the time, is talking about our recruitment,” Sheens said. “Not only from outside in, bringing people in or what we’ve got to do, it’s our juniors and our own kids and obviously the halves situation at the club, by way of experienced halves is an obvious one.
“When we identify something (for the halves), we’ll let you all know.”
Ahead of Thursday’s clash against St George Illawarra, Sheens was tight-lipped on the boardroom machinations but believed Fulton and Marshall were capable of putting their differences aside in pursuit of winning.
“I don’t think there’s going to be an issue where someone can’t work with someone,” he said.
“We’ve all got to be professional in these sorts of situations.That’s what I expect from both guys.”
The last-placed Tigers have won only three of 17 matches in Sheens’ first season since returning to the head-coaching job.
They would be two wins and points differential behind the 16th-placed Dragons with a loss.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
In that scenario, it would likely take three wins from their final six games to save them from consecutive last-placed finishes.
But Sheens said he would not use wooden spoon avoidance as motivation ahead of the clash in Wollongong.
“We don’t talk about wooden spoons,” he said.
“We’ve got to put another win on the board, that’s for sure, to help shut all you guys (the media) down, to start with.
“It’s no different, every week we’re chasing the win.”
Piggins, Heads inducted into NRL’s hall of fame
South Sydney great George Piggins and renowned rugby league journalist Ian Heads are the latest inductees into the NRL’s Hall of Fame.
The duo were honoured on Wednesday at a ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They are the first inductees since 2019. A one-club man, Piggins played for the Rabbitohs between 1967 and 1978 and was the starting hooker in their 1971 grand-final victory.
He had a 51 per cent winning record as the club’s coach between 1986 and 1990, twice receiving the Dally M coach of the year award in that time. But it was Piggins’ influence as chairman in 2002 that has ensured his lasting legacy.
The now-78-year-old was integral to Souths winning reinstatement to the NRL after they were a casualty of the Super League war.
Since 2003, the Rabbitohs’ player of the year has received the George Piggins Medal in recognition of his service to the club.
“George Piggins has made a massive contribution to the game of rugby league over his lifetime. His dedication as a determined administrator, coach and player deserves recognition,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.
“His determination, fighting spirit and ultimate success will forever be enshrined in rugby league history.
“George epitomises the spirit of rugby league – aspire, work hard, never give up and succeed.”
Heads becomes just the fourth non-player – alongside administrator JJ Giltinan, commentator Ray Warren and journalist Peter Frilingos – to be admitted into the hall of fame.
Heads began his career covering sport with the Daily Telegraph in the 1960s and later served as editor of Rugby League Week.
Biographies on players Ben Elias, Brad Fittler, Andrew Ettingshausen and Peter Sterling are among the more than 50 books Heads has either written or co-written.
He has also written extensively on the history of the game, including comprehensive biographies of the Sydney Roosters, the Rabbitohs and the development of rugby league in Australia.
“Ian Heads was one of the game’s great storytellers,” Vlandys said. “He was a giant in journalism and a gentleman.
“He has always been highly respected for his knowledge of the sport and for his dignified coverage of the game.”
Long-serving Jake Granville signs Cowboys extension
Jake Granville will don North Queensland colours for at least one more year after the fan-favourite signed a contract extension with the club.
Granville will bring up his 200th NRL appearance on Saturday against Parramatta, after 189 games for the Cowboys and 10 for Brisbane.
His new deal all-but confirms the 34-year-old will reach 200 Cowboys games, triggering automatic life membership of the club.
Granville won the 2015 premiership with the Cowboys, playing at hooker, and was a member of their 2017 grand-final losing team.
“We’re ecstatic Jake has decided to extend for another year,” Cowboys general manager Micheal Luck said.
“His output on the field this year playing primarily in a new position as a middle forward has been exceptional, but the fact he has taken it in his stride and excelled comes as no surprise to anyone inside our club.
“He sets standards in his preparation, the way he trains and how he recovers – he is the perfect example for our younger players to show what it takes to be a long-term NRL player.”
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