NRL 2023: Tim Sheens left out of Wests Tigers crisis talks

Wests Tigers have called an emergency meeting between warring recruitment manager Scott Fulton and Benji Marshall - and there will be one noticeable absentee.

Wests Tigers have called an emergency meeting between warring recruitment manager Scott Fulton and coach-in-waiting, Benji Marshall.

And this masthead can reveal head coach Tim Sheens has not been invited to the meeting in a further indication of his declining influence at the club.

There were even suggestions over the weekend Sheens may have coached his last game but this was denied by chairman Lee Hagipantelis.

Fulton and Marshall have been summoned by club chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe to a meeting at Concord on Monday to thrash out their differences.

Fulton and Marshall are barely on speaking terms and have become embroiled in another major disagreement over the signing of Leeds halfback Aidan Sezer to replace departing Luke Brooks.

Sezer is managed by player agent Matt Desira, who also looks after Marshall.

Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall at training. Picture: David Swift

Rival clubs are inquiring about Api Koroisau. NRL Imagery

Wests Tigers insiders have revealed club management will issue an ultimatum to Fulton and Marshall to start working together or face the consequences.

It comes among some serious player unrest emerging at the Wests Tigers.

The likely prospect of another wooden spoon has left morale at an all-time low.

This masthead spoke with two player managers over the weekend about the situation.

Api Koroisau’s agent Giancarlo Lombardo spoke about the frustrations of the Origin hooker.

“I’ve had four calls this week asking me if Api is unhappy,” he said, “I’ve heard all the rumours.

“You saw him in the dressing room after the game – that’s as frustrated as I’ve ever seen him.

“He’s come from losing seven games in three years (at Penrith) then lost eight out of eight at the start of the year.”

Daniel O’Loughlin looks after Isaiah Papali’i, Stefano Utoikamanu and Starford To’a among others.

A dejected Api Koroisau after the club’s latest loss.

“I don’t want to dig the boot in but there’s not a lot of fun there at the moment,” he said.

He declined to comment when this masthead asked him about the coaching combination of Marshall and Tim Sheens.

O’Loughlin is close to new Wests Tigers recruitment boss Scott Fulton.

He has confidence that Fulton can build a competitive roster, if Sheens and Benji step back and allow him to do his job.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Tim Sheens left out of Wests Tigers crisis talks