Tigers legend’s warning after Benji Marshall pens five-year coaching deal

Wests Tigers icon Benji Marshall backs himself to resurrect the team’s fortunes, but not everyone is convinced by the appointment.

Despite having no coaching experience, Wests Tigers icon Benji Marshall backs himself to resurrect the team’s fortunes after signing a five-year deal with his former club.

On Thursday evening, Tim Sheens was announced as the Tigers’ coach for the next two seasons, with Marshall poised to take over from 2025 in a bid to rejuvenate the struggling club.

It comes after Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo rejected a five-year deal from the club in recent weeks.

The Tigers, who are currently reeling at the bottom of the NRL ladder, haven’t played finals since 2011, but Marshall is adamant he can turn things around alongside Sheens and former teammate Robbie Farah, who will be an assistant coach to Sheens in 2023 and 2024.

“It’s very exciting, I love this club,” Marshall told Fox League’s NRL 360 on Thursday evening.

“To have this opportunity to go and be mentored by someone like Tim Sheens for two years and then take over as head coach, it’s something I’ve dreamt of.

“It’s come a bit sooner than I expected but you know what, I back myself to take this opportunity and do a good job.

“I’m passionate about it and looking forward to the challenge.

“We’ve been in this position before in 2003 when (Sheens) took over.

“It was very similar, we were in dire straits on the bottom of the table, we brought all these kids through that made an impact and we won a competition in 2005.

“At the moment as a club we’ve struggled to attract players, no doubt.

“I’ve been a part of this coaching system with a lot of good kids coming through and we’ve had success there, so we have to bring those kids through and I think Tim is the best guy to do that.

“Me not having any coaching experience, the last five years of my career I felt like I did more coaching than playing. That doesn’t resonate to what an assistant coach does but I’ve seen the ins and outs.

“I know how to plan an attacking structure, I know what it takes to be successful in attack and that’s what my job is going to be.”

Benji Marshall speaks to the media. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sheens, who is currently serving as the club’s the director of football, coached the Tigers in 249 games from 2003 to 2012. He and Marshall were the driving force behind the club’s maiden premiership in 2005.

But not everyone is convinced, with Balmain legend Benny Elias warning on the Fox League Podcast: “Any Wests Tigers supporter out there can’t be upset, Benji Marshall is an icon of our club and an absolute superstar.

“Do I think the job would faze him? No. He’s full of confidence and he’s only going to get better and better.

“But, look, he’s not coached anyone, anywhere.

“It doesn’t mean if you’re a legend of the club that you’re going to become a good coach, but in saying that I’ve got the total confidence in a Benji Marshall type.

“He’s very thorough and I think he’ll learn a lot with Tim Sheens. He’ll nurture him and lean on him way more than just being an assistant coach. I think he’ll take a lot more senior role.

“It’s hard to be critical, Benji is a legend and everyone loves Benji Marshall, who doesn’t, he’s a superstar.

“But it is a gamble and you’ve got to ask the board of the Wests Tigers who made this decision.

“Only time will tell, I wish to god he is the right man for the job and I’ve always voiced that I’d go for a bloke who is tried and true.

“Benji is a very impressive human being and very knowledgeable. I think he’ll do very well and I was to gamble on any player that hasn’t done it, Benji Marshall would be in the top three.”

Meanwhile, 9News reporter Michael Atkinson tweeted: “I hope this works, because Benji seems like a top fella, and Tigers fans have probably suffered long enough... however, I can’t help but feel this has a better chance of being a disaster in the making. Seems a huge risk.”

How good!! @Benji_Marshall6 to join @WestsTigers pre season as assistant to Tim Sheen's and move to Head Coach in 2025. The man has got some footy IQ for sure🏈🏈🏈🏈

— stephen mcivor (@stephenmcivor5) July 14, 2022

Marshall played 257 games in 14 seasons for the Tigers after making his NRL debut in 2002, scoring 1181 points for the club.

“This is about having Wests Tigers DNA surging through the club, and it’s about putting together a rock-solid coaching plan for the next five years,” Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said in a statement.

“This is a very clear path forward for this club and we are delighted to have Tim, Benji and Robbie reunited for the next phase of our club’s growth.

“Benji and Robbie are two of the most talented players this club has seen, and Tim’s coaching record speaks for itself.

“These three have achieved just about everything there is to achieve in the game and this partnership I know will be really, really powerful for our club.

“It also demonstrates that we are putting pathways in place not just for our players, but for our coaches as well.

“It’s a great day for our club.”

Originally published as Tigers legend’s warning after Benji Marshall pens five-year coaching deal