@lestronge I’m not comparing the two. I think Schuster is an immense talent but appears to have a shocking attitude and is very injury prone. I just read he hasn’t played more than 4 games in a row since 2021. He’s also on big money, even if subsidised he still won’t come cheap.
But the main issue is where do you play him? He’s not an NRL 6, we have excellent back rowers signed up long term and we have Matamua coming through at 13.
I have no issue with Talau leaving at the end of the year but unless Manly are willing to chip in heaps I don’t think it’s worth the risk with Schuster. I might be wrong and I hope I am because I think all the dominos are falling in such a way that we’ll probably swap him for Talau.
I’d rather have a crack at Sam Williams or Ben Hunt.
Sam Williams? Sure you jest
@helmesy can someone who works in marketing please explain why our chairman would provide quotes to a journalist writing an article that the head coaches close friend has been moved aside to bring in another recruitment official, significantly changing the structure of the football department without consultation with the GM of football?
Because there is nothing more important to Lee than Lee. He needs to learn to shut up.
@helmesy can someone who works in marketing please explain why our chairman would provide quotes to a journalist writing an article that the head coaches close friend has been moved aside to bring in another recruitment official, significantly changing the structure of the football department without consultation with the GM of football?
There goes any hope this board would undertake an interpendent review
Instead they just continue to make it up as they go - nothing about the process he described suggests this was strategic
And by not consulting the GM Football/Coach - I can't see how this doesn't create some level of animosity and lack of trust- at a time we need everyone on the same page and working for each other
Top 8 2023
Massive story imo
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has defended the club’s decision to sign Scott Fulton as the club’s head of recruitment without consulting NRL coach Tim Sheens and his assistant Benji Marshall.
The Tigers last week secured the services of Bob Fulton’s son, a long-time talent scout at Manly, to join the club immediately.
The decision came as a surprise to Sheens and his right-hand man, Warren McDonnell, whose role in recruitment at the club has now been diluted.
Hagipantelis said the board, alongside chief executive Justin Pascoe, were responsible for negotiations and didn’t feel they had an obligation to keep the coach, or McDonnell, in the loop with their plans for the club.
“The decision was made in the best interest of the Wests Tigers,” Hagipantelis said. “An opportunity presented itself to the board. The board dealt with it quickly, undertaking all necessary due diligence. There was of course a great deal of commercial sensitivity given the gentleman involved was employed by another club, and we were very respectful of that.
“The decision was taken to deal with the matter at board level with our CEO. We acted promptly and in the best interest of the club. This is another resource which we’ve added to our football department and we’re very excited to welcome Scott to the Wests Tigers.”
Fulton will take over the recruitment of the NRL squad, while McDonnell has been told he will now focus on junior pathways.
The decision to pursue Fulton came after the club missed out on signing Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses after a widely publicised pursuit of the halfback.
McDonnell had asked to negotiate on his own with Moses’ agent Isaac Moses given his relationship with the player-manager and his preference to keep discussions confidential.
The Tigers board granted McDonnell his request but were disappointed with the outcome of the negotiations. An offer was never taken back to the board for approval, leaving Tigers powerbrokers concerned the club had been used as leverage for Moses to extract more money out of Parramatta.
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has twice previously moved on McDonnell from the club.
He returned to the club at the end of 2021 when Sheens made it a prerequisite for him accepting the job as the Tigers’ director of rugby league, with an ultimatum that forced the club to move on highly regarded former general manager Adam Hartigan.
Hartigan has since been employed by Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould to work alongside Cameron Ciraldo and the club’s recruitment staff.
Tigers sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the situation, say that Sheens’ nose has been put out of joint by Fulton’s appointment but Hagipanetlis said he did not envisage any tension as a result of the club’s decisions.
“I do not anticipate there will be any concerns or issues with what is a wonderful addition to our football department despite the efforts of some to suggest that there may be,” Hagipantelis said.
“Everyone that is employed by the Wests Tigers is employed for the sole purpose of furthering the interest of the Wests Tigers only. This was not a situation of our making in that the opportunity was presented to the board.
“The board fully explored the opportunity and made the decision that the engagement of Scott would be in the best interest of the Wests Tigers. He’s employed in addition to our current resources and we think he will greatly benefit our recruitment program.”
Fulton had been in talks with the Dragons about joining the embattled club, which risks missing the finals for the fifth successive year.
But with the club yet to decide on who will be their coach beyond this season, the negotiations with Fulton never reached the pointy end. He became increasingly frustrated and was open to other opportunities.
That was when the Tigers pounced. It was only last week the board floated the prospect of luring Fulton to Concord, and within days the agreement had been brokered.
The Tigers recognise the speed with which Fulton closes out player deals, and were impressed at the ease in which their own negotiations with him progressed.
“The board and I acted swiftly when the opportunity was presented to us and we believe the appointment of Scott Fulton will be a great addition to the club and the current football program,” Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said.
Taking this article on face value and assuming its all true, I actually think that Lee, Pascoe & the board have done exactly the right thing here, however the details should never have gotten outside the club (separate issue...this has been leaked from within).
Tigers fans have bitched and moaned about our recruitment efforts for years and there has been a lot of criticism of the management of the Moses recruitment efforts, lack of Plan B etc. Well management just did something about it, quickly and effectively. keeping it from Sheens is not ideal but obviously they felt it necessary based on Sheens friendship with McDonnell (which is big enough problem in itself). This is what management are supposed to do, fix a problem when they see it. its not as if McDonnell has been covering himself in glory and with minimal info, I have no real confidence in McDonnell.
The only problem I have with the whole thing is it getting out into the media. This sort of decision making and action is what we have been demanding of management. We want change but when its delivered we complain about it and beat management with it?
@helmesy can someone who works in marketing please explain why our chairman would provide quotes to a journalist writing an article that the head coaches close friend has been moved aside to bring in another recruitment official, significantly changing the structure of the football department without consultation with the GM of football?
Simple explanation? Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
We just seem to go from one bloody drama to another.
Explain to me how replacing someone who on the face of it is seriously underperforming with someone with some runs on the board, is a drama.
Just for the record, I’m more than happy with the change, but gee it’s a massive slap in the face for Sheens.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
@doug-heffernan he’s a good player. I think he’d do well here
Players like Sam have never truly established themselves because they slip when the heat is on. They are just that slight level below an average NRL half, no matter how hard they try.
We just seem to go from one bloody drama to another.
Explain to me how replacing someone who on the face of it is seriously underperforming with someone with some runs on the board, is a drama.
Just for the record, I’m more than happy with the change, but gee it’s a massive slap in the face for Sheens.
Joel, this is management actually doing their job. I dont know if Fulton is going to perform miracles in that role but McDonnell hasnt either and IMO the friendship "boys club" element with Sheens & mcDonnell is not a positive and shouldnt have been allowed. I agree its a slap in Sheens face on the face of it but tough things are needed by management.
Lee discussing it in the media is a big problem. The fact that the media knew that Sheens hadnt been told is an even bigger problem. Thats come from the Sheens camp.
Here is an alternative media headline that is just as accurate if not more realistic. "Tigers shore up recruitment in their rebuild". Dont fall into the media bait.
@tiger5150 I think everyone is happy with the Fulton appointment. My issues are:
- the coaching department should have been informed of the change. Not saying they should have the power to stop it, but they deserved to be informed.
- Lee and Pascoe should not be talking to the media about this.
Saturday was our biggest win in years and less than 48 hours Lee and Pascoe are in the headlines again. They need to both shut up.
@tiger5150 I think everyone is happy with the Fulton appointment. My issues are:
- the coaching department should have been informed of the change. Not saying they should have the power to stop it, but they deserved to be informed.
Maybe. Lee said that it had to be dealt with quickly and without letting other people know to get it over the line. Who knows? I agree with you, but you also have to ask yourself why would they feel it necessary to do it without telling Sheens. IMO that is just as telling that there was IMO clearly a clique formed there that management felt is not positive and that telling them would have been counter productive.
- Lee and Pascoe should not be talking to the media about this.
Lee was directly asked about it which means the media already knew. How did they know? That is a MUCH bigger problem.
Saturday was our biggest win in years and less than 48 hours Lee and Pascoe are in the headlines again. They need to both shut up.
Lee didnt wake up and say "wow what a gorgeous day, sun is shining, we just won now would be a wonderful time to add drama". Lee has had to try to put out a fire because someone inside the club, who has knowledge of Sheens inner circle has told the media, days after our first win. THAT is the problem in this case. I know that "Lee should shut up" has become like a pavlovian response for fans but that is not the problem in this case.
