Benji Marshall has been urged to “embrace” Wests Tigers’ new head of recruitment Scott Fulton amid options pressure between the pair may end in him leaving the membership.
Plans are in place for Marshall to take over the top teaching position from Tim Sheens in 2025 – or earlier if Sheens chooses to step apart — however the Tigers have been pressured to disclaim rumours, he may go away the membership over a rift with newly-appointed head of recruitment Scott Fulton.
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Daily Telegraph reporter Brent Read stated on NRL 360 Marshall and Fulton had been at odds about recruiting Josh Schuster from Manly, with Marshall towards the transfer. The former Kiwis star was additionally determined to maintain Luke Brooks, who has joined Manly on a long-term deal from subsequent season.
NRL 360 host and former Tigers star Braith Anasta applauded Marshall for digging his heels in.
“From the outside looking in, I like this from Benji, I really do,” Anasta stated
“Because if he’s going to be the future coach of that club he needs to have his hands all over it, he needs to be in control of keeping player that come to the club.”
However veteran Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield stated Marshall could be higher off discovering a option to work with Fulton, whom Read instructed actually held the “power” with the Tigers board due to his current appointment.
“My view is Benji needs to embrace Scott Fulton. Benji has had a whack at Mitchell Moses, Shaun Johnson, Tyson Frizell, Ben Hunt, I’m told he had a whack at Munster and he got knock backs from all of them,” Rothfield stated.
“He needs Scott Fulton who has got connections with agents and a very good eye for young talent. He needs to embrace him and work with him.
“Of course (they don’t have to agree on everything) but if Benji’s going to threaten to quit every time there’s a disagreement…
“… Benji is a rookie coach but Benji needs blinkers on in coaching that football side. He needs to sit down with Fulton, discuss recruitment, discuss the sort of players they want and discuss the salary cap. But there’s no need to play it out in the media.”
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Tigers membership chairman Lee Hagipantelis on Monday assured the Tigers fan base Marshall wasn’t planning on turning his again on the membership.
“Beyond confident,” Hagipantelis stated to The Daily Telegraph.
“I just got off the phone with Justin – we have heard all this today – and he spoke to Benji. It is just ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. There is no suggestion whatsoever that Benj or Scott are going anywhere.
“They are on a list management committee. Their roles complement each other, don’t conflict. Scott’s role is to go out and recruit what Benji wants and what he sees that the club needs for the future moving forward.
“There is no conflict there. They will have healthy and robust discussions as to players from time to time as you would expect.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio reported rumours of a rift exist between Marshall and the membership’s new head of recruitment Scott Fulton, who was introduced over from the Sea Eagles.
“This started to pick up late last week,” Riccio stated on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The Tigers are just not on the same page and this stems back to the appointment of Scott Fulton without the knowledge of Tim Sheens or Benji Marshall.
“The appointment was made by board level and management.
“There has been somewhat of a suggestion that Benji Marshall is not on the same page and having second thoughts about having a crack at this head coaching job starting in 2025.
“Chairman Lee Hagipantelis has shut this down and suggested that it’s nonsense.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au