Wests Tigers turn to facilitator in bid to find peace between warring factions

After weeks of uneasiness, the Tigers warring factions finally got in a room together as they plan for a long road back from the bottom of the ladder. That could include a new-look halves pair.

Wests Tigers warring factions were finally together on Thursday as the Tigers conducted a strategic priority session aimed at putting some distance between the club and the bottom of the ladder.

The likes of Benji Marshall, Scott Fulton, Tim Sheens, Brett Kimmorley and Justin Pascoe took part in the meeting which included a range of staff from across the club.

The meeting came 72 hours after a scheduled three-way meeting between Pascoe, Marshall and Fulton failed to eventuate. That meeting, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, was supposed to put out fires between Marshall and Fulton – the coach-in-waiting and the club’s recruitment boss had failed to see eye-to-eye on a range of issues in recent weeks.

Assistant coach of the Tigers Benji Marshall arrives prior to the round 21 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Instead they held individual meetings with Pascoe where they told the club’s chief executive that they would act professionally and get along with each other.

That truce faced its first test on Thursday as they finally came together in Wollongong as part of an annual event where an independent facilitator helps bring the club together in a bid to try and have the organisation operate more smoothly.

The event took place just hours before the Tigers lost to St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium which left the Tigers with a tight grip on successive wooden spoons.

The strategy session capped a turbulent week for the Tigers. While they sit four points adrift at the bottom of the premiership ladder they dominated headlines in recent days for a string of off-field matters.

The Marshall-Fulton dynamic will continue to be an ongoing issue despite suggestions the pair have been told – and agreed – to work together.

Daine Laurie will leave the Tigers at the end of the season. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers were boosted by the impending arrival of Manly talented duo Latu and Samuela Fainu on rich four year contracts starting from next year. They also locked in representative star Api Koroisau until at least the end of 2026.

The Tigers have also emerged as a likely destination for St George Illawarra half Jayden Sullivan who was formally given permission to negotiate with rival clubs on Wednesday.

Sullivan’s likely arrival, coming on top of the signing of Latu Fainu, will help ease some of the concerns over the club’s playmaking situation. While new faces are on the way, the Tigers suffered another setback on Friday when it was confirmed that Daine Laurie would return to Penrith next season.

Laurie was one of the Tigers best players in their loss to St George Illawarra, playing in the unfamiliar position of five-eighth. His promising performance at pivot came too late for him to win a new deal at the Tigers, the club having made it clear in recent weeks that they were exploring other options.

The Panthers took advantage of the Tigers’ hesitance as they signed Laurie back on a one-year deal.