Benji Marshall secures mega Wests Tigers contract extension until 2030
The Wests Tigers have locked in coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2030, handing him a mega contract extension despite finishing last in his debut season and ongoing boardroom chaos.
Wests Tigers interim CEO Shaun Mielekamp has defended the club’s decision to hand coach Benji Marshall a whopping five-year extension despite failing to guide his team to the finals.
The Tigers on Friday announced both a new deal for Marshall that’ll keep him at the club until 2030, while also appointing Mielekamp as caretaking chief executive.
The development caps off a turbulent fortnight centred around instability between the club’s owners and the board, prompting the exit of CEO Shane Richardson.
Asked whether Marshall’s new contract was a reaction to their off-field dramas, Mielekamp said: “No, I don’t believe that had any connection.
“It’s really important for us moving forward that there’s a lot of stability and unity … it’s [Benji’s extension] a great moment for us.”
There were fears that current senior players would no longer be committed to the club should their boardroom dramas create uncertainty around Marshall’s future.
Those consternations can be allayed, for now.
“All the instability, all the media, all the noise and everything, of course it was all a concern,” Mielekamp said.
“But we’re here now to actually move forward and make sure that it’s a clear message about stability, unity and where we’re headed.”
The deal will see Marshall become only the second coach in the game to be contracted until the end of 2030, joining Cameron Ciraldo who recently re-signed with the Bulldogs off the back of consecutive finals appearances.
Talks had heated up in recent days as Marshall’s management took advantage of the wild fire which has engulfed the Tigers in recent weeks.
Originally, it was suggested that Marshall would be given an extra two years.
If Marshall sees out his contract, he will easily become the second most capped coach in the Tigers history, with only his former premiership winning mentor Tim Sheens having more games at the helm of the club.
Sheens coached 11 seasons at the Tigers. Marshall finished last in his first season in charge in 2024 but the Tigers improved to 13th on the ladder this year.
Their nine wins in 2025 was their most since 2018.
Marshall enjoys significant support from the senior players at the club and the move is a strong show of faith to not only Marshall but a host of big-name players at the club.
Marshall’s contract was due to expire at the end of 2027.
While the Tigers have moved to lock down their coach the management of the club remains in turmoil.
Despite suggestions that the stood-down board members had been formally offered a chance to return to the board, it is understood that none have been contacted by the club’s owners the Holman Barnes Group.
The NRL have been pushing for the return of the four board members who were stood down last week. They want Barry O’Farrell to return as chairman while Annabelle Williams, Michelle McDowell and Charlie Viola will also be welcomed back. Viola will reject an approach while it remains unclear if Williams or McDowell will return to their posts.
Some of the quartet only learnt of their sackings via media reports and have since had a statement posted on the Holman Barnes statement retracted.
The board next meets on Monday.
Mielekamp brings nine years of experience as former chief executive of the Central Coast Mariners, taking them from wooden spooners to back-to-back champions.
“I’m not going to comment about the board, but my previous experience does mean that I’ve definitely been through some tough times,” he said.
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Originally published as Benji Marshall secures mega Wests Tigers contract extension until 2030
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