NRL 2023: Tim Sheens denies Benji Marshall approached Mitchell Pearce without his ‘authority’

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has broken his silence on recruitment rumours, slamming suggestions assistant coach Benji Marshall reached out to Mitchell Pearce without his ‘authority’.

Why Pearce knocked back Benji's plea.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has bristled at suggestions Benji Marshall approached Mitchell Pearce without his ‘authority’ after the former NRL star told News Corp he was contacted by the assistant coach.

Sheens was reluctant to talk about the recruitment rumours circulating the club when asked about Pearce on Thursday afternoon.

Pearce has confirmed he received a phone call from Marshall on Wednesday around making a shock NRL comeback – but knocked him back.

In a text message to News Corp from France, Pearce said: “I don’t really have much to say. Benji called me yesterday and I told him I’m contracted to Catalans.

“We are top of the table and I want to win a comp in Super League. That’s pretty much it.”

Tim Sheens has denied Benji Marshall approached Mitchell Pearce without his authority. Picture: David Swift

Sheens denied the notion that he and Marshall were not on the same page when it came to pursuing Pearce.

“Yes. We don’t do anything without telling each other. If you’re getting me into that (that we aren’t on the same page) … that’s only what I want to talk about in that respect. I’m happy to talk about this game this week,” Sheens said.

Pearce, a premiership-winning halfback, turns 34 next week.

The veteran coach had earlier in the week told journalists the club was not interested in the former Roosters and Knights playmaker.

It was reported on Wednesday night on NRL 360 that Pearce would be offered a staggering $1.5 million over two years to return home to Australia.

The Tigers are on the lookout for an experienced half but would now move on from trying to sign Pearce.

“To be quite honest guys, I prefer not to say anything at all about it because I want to talk about the game this week. It’s obvious we have been chasing now, for a while, a senior half of some sort,” Sheens said.

“The conversation was had, he’s not interested. He’s on contract so that’s it.”

Sheens said going after Pearce was not a signal from the club they are looking for another option than halfback Luke Brooks, who is off-contract.

The Tigers could look to Jack Wighton, after declaring he would test the open market.

But he conceded the Tigers would continue the chase for a seasoned half, like it did with Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses and Melbourne’s Cameron Munster.

“When we have been dealing with Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster, what do you think?,” Sheens said when asked what sort of message it sent Brooks.

“It’s not to replace him in particular. We are recruiting and we’ll continue to recruit. From my aspect, we don’t stop recruiting in the middle of the year either. We’ve moved a couple of players too, it’s an ongoing thing all the time,” Sheens said.

Canberra’s Jack Wighton has also been linked to the Tigers after the five-eighth declared he would test the open market.

But Sheens was quick to deny any interest, saying the club had not had any contact with Wighton.

“We’re getting calls like you are going to be interested in him because he’s on the market. We’re not, we have not spoken to him, we didn’t know he was off contract,” Sheens said.

“He’s been linked to us because we have been looking for a ballplayer. He’s still got a year to go … I know we are going to be linked but at the end of the day I’m really just keen to talk about the game this week.

“I’m not going to say anymore, I said I wouldn’t and you dragged me in a little bit.”

The Tigers travel to Brisbane on Saturday to take on the ladder-leading Broncos in a desperate bid to get a win on the board after an 0-4 start to the season.

Sheens is hoping for a repeat of last year’s round 20 clash when the Tigers walked away from Suncorp Stadium with the two-points.

“It’s a very important game for us, they have hit their straps... we managed to sneak up on the last time. But they are a very strong side and we’re up for it,” Sheens said.

EXCLUSIVE: PEARCE REVEALS WHY HE REJECTED BENJI AND THE TIGERS

By Phil Rothfield

Pearce has confirmed he received a phone call from Wests Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall on Wednesday around making a shock NRL comeback – but knocked him back.

The phone call indicates a complete breakdown in communications on the Wests Tigers’ coaching staff following claims by head coach Tim Sheens they were not interested in Pearce.

In a text message to News Corp from France, Pearce said: “I don’t really have much to say. Benji called me yesterday and I told him I’m contracted to Catalans.

“We are top of the table and I want to win a comp in Super League. That’s pretty much it.”

The story broke on NRL 360 on Fox Sports on Wednesday night that the desperate Wests Tigers were chasing the former premiership winning halfback.

Pearce turns 34 next week.

Why Mitchell Pearce knocked back Benji Marshall's plea.

Sheens had earlier told journalists the club had no interest in Pearce.

And then Benji jumps on the phone to make an offer.

As one insider suggested: “They don’t appear to be on the same page.”

We tried to contact Sheens on Thursday morning about the situation via a text message.

“Good morning Tim. Just looking for clarity for the story I’m writing on Mitchell Pearce. Benji phoned Mitchell yesterday but you’ve told people you’re not interested in him. What’s the story? Thanks Buzz.”

He did not come back to us.

It was reported last night that Pearce would be offered a staggering $1.5 million over two years to return home to the NRL.

The news is also unsettling for under siege halfback Luke Brooks, knowing Benji is looking at other options because of his poor start to the season.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Tim Sheens denies Benji Marshall approached Mitchell Pearce without his ‘authority’