Tim Sheens to stand down as Wests Tigers coach in Benji Marshall bombshell

Benji Marshall (pictured right) is set to take over Tim Sheens (pictured left) as head coach of the Tigers at the end of the season. (Getty Images)

The Wests Tigers are reportedly set to announce Tim Sheens will step down as head coach, which will be a year ahead of the plan, to allow assistant Benji Marshall to lead the club in 2024. The Tigers have endured a woeful NRL season in 2023, despite hopes the duo of Sheens and Marshall would turn the clubs fortunes around.

Despite the introduction of premiership winner Api Koroisau as club captain, the Tigers have slumped to 17th and are all set for their second wooden spoon in as many years. And according to The Sydney Morning Herald, the club is reportedly set to make a change with Marshall to take over the head role next year.

INTERESTING: Payne Haas re-signing sparks questions over Walsh’s future

CURIOUS: Melbourne Storm detail emerges after Tino’s $12 million Titans deal

Sheens was expected to run the club until the end of 2024 after taking over from Michael Maguire, which would see him guide Marshall into the role. The veteran coach was then going to return as general manager to help Marshall.

Although it appears the Tigers board is looking to take the club in a different direction, sooner rather than later. “It is indeed regrettable that I find myself having to speak of these matters publicly,” Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told the publication.

“But there have been internal discussions about expediting the transition of Benji into the head coaching role which is something that was always contemplated.”

Wests Tigers head coach Tim Sheens (pictured left) is set to stand aside from his role in 2024. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Sheens is expected to move into an ambassador role for the club at the end of the season. The Tigers have only won three of their 21 games this season. Sheens won the 2005 premiership with the Tigers, while Marshall was five-eighth at the time.

NRL fans reacted to the news with Sheens stoically copping the brunt of the criticism for a team that has struggled for many years.

Only recently, Sheens moved to quell rumours that Marshall was running the show at the Tigers in recent weeks. When asked in July if he’s still the head coach and will be next year, Sheens replied: “Yes I am. Yes. That’s what my contract says. “I’ve been around long enough to hear the noise and navigate through the noise. If you win games that shuts the noise down.

Story continues

“I’m first grade coach and as with most clubs they have attack coaches and defensive coaches and Benji does attack. I’m educating them and giving them some rein or some ability to create what they want to create within the group.

Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall (pictured) is set to take over the Tigers in 2024. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“It’s no different to most clubs. The senior coach does more a managerial role in many ways. That doesn’t mean I’m not picking the team or not involved in picking the team. I am.”

Marshall played under Sheens at the Tigers from 2003 to 2012, before the coach was sacked at the end of the 2012 season. Sheens was reportedly left suspicious that the senior playing group (which included Marshall) might have had a hand in his departure.

And recently, leading NRL journalist Michael Chammas claimed their relationship broke down as a result, making for some difficult conversations as Marshall was appointed Sheens’ assistant this year along with Robbie Farah. “One thing I think Benji is mindful of is his relationship with Tim Sheens deteriorated pretty badly as a player and coach,” Chammas said on Triple M radio.

“They probably won’t admit it but I remember going to Tim Sheens when we did a special piece for Benji’s 300th game – Tim Sheens didn’t want to give a tribute to Benji Marshall. I don’t think things ended well and I don’t know if Tim felt as though Benji or the senior players there had a part in his demise or not. But whatever the reason was, there wasn’t a relationship that was there. They didn’t speak for many years.”

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.