Benji takes the Tigers reins a year early after Sheens packs it in

Benji Marshall is set to officially step into the Wests Tigers head coaching role a year earlier than originally expected after Tim Sheens told the wooden spoon-bound club he’s “had enough” and was shown the door.

The Sporting Base understands powerbrokers at Wests have been considering swinging the axe for some weeks now, especially after stakeholders began voicing concerns in mid-July. The move was only expedited after Sheens’ management spoke to the club about the 2005 premiership winner hitting his limit in the role.

The club wants to keep Sheens around in a mentoring role, but nothing more.

That doesn’t particularly align with what the 72-year-old was originally promised, which was an administration role—the same one he had before this five-year plan was enacted. The Tigers are no longer planning to honour that handshake agreement.

The plan surrounding Marshall has also been accelerated. The star playmaker-turned-coach was originally supposed to learn under Sheens for another year, through the 2024 NRL season, before taking the reigns heading into 2025. Instead, he will move up into the top gig from as soon as next season and begin his coaching tenure.

He is currently contracted by the club until the end of 2027.

While nothing is set in stone completely yet, club chairman Lee Hagipantelis has told the Sydney Morning Herald things are already in motion behind the scenes and are likely to be wrapped up soon.

“It is indeed regrettable that I find myself having to speak of these matters publicly… but, there have been internal discussions about expediting the transition of Benji into the head coaching role which is something that was always contemplated within that two-year transition period,” the Tigers chairman explained.

“These discussions emanated from a conversation with Tim’s management only very recently. The discussions continue and nothing has been resolved as yet.”