Their performances weren’t too far off last season and it’s the off field issues that are breaking the club. Issac Moses holding the club to ransom has been another issue. Up to 7 players saying they’ll leave if Benji goes with Luai one of those, I don’t think they had any real option, especially with Benji’s standing within the club
NRL Wests Tigers
- Thread starter WahsaurusRex
- Start date
NZWarriors.com
In a stunning turnaround, sacked Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell is on the verge of returning to his role after a series of crisis meetings between the NRL and Holman Barnes Group, the Tigers’ majority owner.
Just nine days after HBG punted O’Farrell and three other independent directors, the former NSW premier has been asked to return to the role for what will be his third stint as the leader of the joint venture.
This masthead has been told the NRL has relayed its concerns about the state of the club to HBG, with the conversations set to result in O’Farrell’s return.
O’Farrell is aware of the NRL’s intent to see him reappointed and is giving strong consideration to accepting the role. A decision is expected as early as Thursday despite speculation that Balmain legend Benny Elias was going to be handed the role as chairman.
Neither Barry O’Farrell nor executives at HBG responded to calls on Wednesday night.
It comes as the Wests Tigers are poised to extend the contract of coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2029 in a bid to provide stability at the embattled club.
After more than a week of changes and adverse headlines, the Tigers are attempting to lock down their most important football roles by extending Marshall’s tenure and appointing Shaun Mielekamp as interim chief executive.
Mielekamp steps up from his role of general manager of football to replace Shane Richardson, who quit after deciding he could not work with the Tigers’ majority owners, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG).
However, the biggest news for long-suffering fans will be revelations that Marshall will remain coach in the long term. Sources not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead that club officials are deep in negotiations with Marshall and his management. While a contract has not yet been signed, all parties are hopeful of finalising an extension shortly.
It has been a baptism of fire for Marshall since taking over as head coach from long-time mentor Tim Sheens. The Tigers earned the wooden spoon in the former champion playmaker’s first season in charge, but there were some positive signs as they climbed the ladder four spots to finish 13th this year.
That has been aided by Marshall’s ability to help attract talent, with Jarome Luai recently reiterating that playing under the former Golden Boot winner was one of the reasons why he chose to switch from four-time premiers Penrith. Terrell May, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May also said they were attracted by the opportunity to learn and play under the Kiwi international.
In making an early call on Marshall, Tigers officials hope several big-name stars – Luai and Jahream Bula in particular – decide to also commit to the club long term. Luai has a clause that allows him to leave the club at the end of 2025 if he chooses, while there is a mutual option in Bula’s contract for his services beyond next season.
The vacant board positions will be filled at a meeting of directors on December 15.
The HBG has also moved to assure all stakeholders that Balmain will remain a part of the joint-venture.
Tigers utility Adam Doueihi on Wednesday spoke glowingly of Marshall’s evolution as an NRL coach since playing alongside him at the end of his career.
“We play for Benji, he’s our head coach,” Doueihi said at a promotion for El Jannah chicken. “He steers the ship every day so we follow his lead. Benji’s been good to me.
“I’ve been under him for a few years now and he’s really grown every week.
“He’s really started to grow into a really solid head coach. I’m starting to learn a lot under him. He’s learned a lot from the past few years working under Sheensy.”
Doueihi, who has played every position except prop and second row in his eight-year career, has been training in the halves this pre-season, having finished 2025 at halfback when Latu Fainu was injured.
The 27-year-old declined to comment on Richardson’s exit and the boardroom upheaval at the club beyond insisting the Tigers are on the right trajectory under Marshall.
“We couldn’t have gone backwards from where we were [as 2024 wooden spooners],” Doueihi said.
“We’ve got to keep trying to climb that ladder. We don’t really have time to think or worry about any external noise or anything else.
“The more you get distracted mentally and physically, you won’t last throughout these pre-season days because they’re that tough.”
Just nine days after HBG punted O’Farrell and three other independent directors, the former NSW premier has been asked to return to the role for what will be his third stint as the leader of the joint venture.
This masthead has been told the NRL has relayed its concerns about the state of the club to HBG, with the conversations set to result in O’Farrell’s return.
O’Farrell is aware of the NRL’s intent to see him reappointed and is giving strong consideration to accepting the role. A decision is expected as early as Thursday despite speculation that Balmain legend Benny Elias was going to be handed the role as chairman.
Neither Barry O’Farrell nor executives at HBG responded to calls on Wednesday night.
It comes as the Wests Tigers are poised to extend the contract of coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2029 in a bid to provide stability at the embattled club.
After more than a week of changes and adverse headlines, the Tigers are attempting to lock down their most important football roles by extending Marshall’s tenure and appointing Shaun Mielekamp as interim chief executive.
Mielekamp steps up from his role of general manager of football to replace Shane Richardson, who quit after deciding he could not work with the Tigers’ majority owners, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG).
However, the biggest news for long-suffering fans will be revelations that Marshall will remain coach in the long term. Sources not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead that club officials are deep in negotiations with Marshall and his management. While a contract has not yet been signed, all parties are hopeful of finalising an extension shortly.
It has been a baptism of fire for Marshall since taking over as head coach from long-time mentor Tim Sheens. The Tigers earned the wooden spoon in the former champion playmaker’s first season in charge, but there were some positive signs as they climbed the ladder four spots to finish 13th this year.
That has been aided by Marshall’s ability to help attract talent, with Jarome Luai recently reiterating that playing under the former Golden Boot winner was one of the reasons why he chose to switch from four-time premiers Penrith. Terrell May, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May also said they were attracted by the opportunity to learn and play under the Kiwi international.
In making an early call on Marshall, Tigers officials hope several big-name stars – Luai and Jahream Bula in particular – decide to also commit to the club long term. Luai has a clause that allows him to leave the club at the end of 2025 if he chooses, while there is a mutual option in Bula’s contract for his services beyond next season.
The vacant board positions will be filled at a meeting of directors on December 15.
The HBG has also moved to assure all stakeholders that Balmain will remain a part of the joint-venture.
Tigers utility Adam Doueihi on Wednesday spoke glowingly of Marshall’s evolution as an NRL coach since playing alongside him at the end of his career.
“We play for Benji, he’s our head coach,” Doueihi said at a promotion for El Jannah chicken. “He steers the ship every day so we follow his lead. Benji’s been good to me.
“I’ve been under him for a few years now and he’s really grown every week.
“He’s really started to grow into a really solid head coach. I’m starting to learn a lot under him. He’s learned a lot from the past few years working under Sheensy.”
Doueihi, who has played every position except prop and second row in his eight-year career, has been training in the halves this pre-season, having finished 2025 at halfback when Latu Fainu was injured.
The 27-year-old declined to comment on Richardson’s exit and the boardroom upheaval at the club beyond insisting the Tigers are on the right trajectory under Marshall.
“We couldn’t have gone backwards from where we were [as 2024 wooden spooners],” Doueihi said.
“We’ve got to keep trying to climb that ladder. We don’t really have time to think or worry about any external noise or anything else.
“The more you get distracted mentally and physically, you won’t last throughout these pre-season days because they’re that tough.”
I got up this morning and watched a podcast with some journalists saying how they shouldn't extend Benji at the moment. The episode release matches when that SMH article would have been out. So, it gives them content to talk about. They are aligned with Fox so they often push the opposite of SMH/Channel 9.
It is funny the news cycle how you hear one thing and then see the opposite. Or the little agends in the media organisations.
My opinion if he is coming into the final year of his contract it is fair enough looking at an extension. I get waiting as it is unlikely Benji would be poached by another club for a head coaching role. As a club they do need stability and they were improving last year. The length they extend him to is another debate.
It is funny the news cycle how you hear one thing and then see the opposite. Or the little agends in the media organisations.
My opinion if he is coming into the final year of his contract it is fair enough looking at an extension. I get waiting as it is unlikely Benji would be poached by another club for a head coaching role. As a club they do need stability and they were improving last year. The length they extend him to is another debate.
NZWarriors.com
The NRL have thrown their weight around to get the CEO reinstated.
‘The NRL have relayed its concerns about the state of the club to HBG, with the conversations set to result in O’Farrell’s return.’
This sentence indicates the NRL are sick of the disfunction and have shown the owners who’s boss - potentially threatened their license?
Elias stunned by Benji deal as besieged Tigers make huge call
'The most important decision the club's made'
www.nine.com.au
Tigers are screwed as long as they have a player agent using player power to get his way- not a good way to run a club (along with the board shit)
NZWarriors.com
Had a read of the WTF the other day, what a rollercoaster, good bunch of fellas though. Things seem to be looking up for them now with the independent board members reinstated and getting rid of Gary Glitter. Much harder to solve that player agent problem though
Elias related to Issac Moses, they should be careful how they use him at the club. Don’t think they’re fans of Benji?
They seem more like fans of losing
NZWarriors.com
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