Future Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has informed new recruitment boss Scott Fulton that he is not interested in making a bold play for rising Manly playmaker Josh Schuster.
It comes as Manly and the Wests Tigers finalise an immediate swap deal that will see Tommy Talau depart the Tigers midway through the final year of his deal to link up with the Sea Eagles.
In return, the Tigers will receive highly regarded young playmaker Latu Fainu, which the Tigers hope could also yield the signature of his older brother, Samuela.
While a deal is yet to be finalised, both Latu Fainu and Tommy Talau were rested from the lower grades this weekend in preparation for the likely swap.
Marshall’s lack of interest in Schuster comes as Manly offered the five-eighth a new three-year deal to keep him on the Northern Beaches, almost guaranteeing that he will remain at the Sea Eagles.Fulton, who was recently signed by the Tigers to oversee the club’s recruitment, has a close connection with Schuster having lured him to Manly as a teenager.
He had told club officials that he had the relationship with Schuster to entice him to the Tigers if they wanted to pursue his signature.
However, Marshall, who will take charge of the club as Tim Sheens’ successor in 2025, has told the club that Schuster is not the answer to the Tigers’ halves dilemma.
The club has been keeping a close eye on Schuster’s form over the past couple of months and, in line with the advice of Marshall, have decided against pursuing the hulking playmaker.Meanwhile, Daine Laurie is set for an NRL recall when the Tigers head north to face the Cowboys on Saturday.
Laurie hasn’t played in the NRL since round four, losing his fullback spot to boom rookie Jahream Bula. He will now get a shot at the No.6 jersey in the absence of Luke Brooks.
Laurie has recently been offered deals to link up with Super League clubs Warrington and Leeds.
The 23-year-old has opted against taking them up and will be given the chance to prove his worth when the Tigers square off with the Cowboys in Townsville.
Laurie, who joined the club from the Panthers in 2020, is off contract at the end of the season and will now get a chance to prove he is worthy of a new deal.
He was meant to play for the Tigers in their last game however a concussion in NSW Cup prevented him from partnering Brandon Wakeham in the halves. The pair are expected to combine this weekend.
Good deal, let’s proceed.
I like Benji being front and centre with things.
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Future Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has informed new recruitment boss Scott Fulton that he is not interested in making a bold play for rising Manly playmaker Josh Schuster.
It comes as Manly and the Wests Tigers finalise an immediate swap deal that will see Tommy Talau depart the Tigers midway through the final year of his deal to link up with the Sea Eagles.
In return, the Tigers will receive highly regarded young playmaker Latu Fainu, which the Tigers hope could also yield the signature of his older brother, Samuela.
While a deal is yet to be finalised, both Latu Fainu and Tommy Talau were rested from the lower grades this weekend in preparation for the likely swap.
Marshall’s lack of interest in Schuster comes as Manly offered the five-eighth a new three-year deal to keep him on the Northern Beaches, almost guaranteeing that he will remain at the Sea Eagles.Fulton, who was recently signed by the Tigers to oversee the club’s recruitment, has a close connection with Schuster having lured him to Manly as a teenager.
He had told club officials that he had the relationship with Schuster to entice him to the Tigers if they wanted to pursue his signature.
However, Marshall, who will take charge of the club as Tim Sheens’ successor in 2025, has told the club that Schuster is not the answer to the Tigers’ halves dilemma.
The club has been keeping a close eye on Schuster’s form over the past couple of months and, in line with the advice of Marshall, have decided against pursuing the hulking playmaker.Meanwhile, Daine Laurie is set for an NRL recall when the Tigers head north to face the Cowboys on Saturday.
Laurie hasn’t played in the NRL since round four, losing his fullback spot to boom rookie Jahream Bula. He will now get a shot at the No.6 jersey in the absence of Luke Brooks.
Laurie has recently been offered deals to link up with Super League clubs Warrington and Leeds.
The 23-year-old has opted against taking them up and will be given the chance to prove his worth when the Tigers square off with the Cowboys in Townsville.
Laurie, who joined the club from the Panthers in 2020, is off contract at the end of the season and will now get a chance to prove he is worthy of a new deal.
He was meant to play for the Tigers in their last game however a concussion in NSW Cup prevented him from partnering Brandon Wakeham in the halves. The pair are expected to combine this weekend.
Good deal, let’s proceed.
I like Benji being front and centre with things.
I love that he put his foot down.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
The one guy who has ultimate clout as a tiger is Benji. Doubt he will ever lose the political game
When do you reckon Latu will play 1st grade for us?
Having seen him play in KOE I’d be throwing him in next game.
That’s the only thing that will bugger up Benji’s tenure is politics. Don’t think Benji has the time or patience for any nonsense.The one guy who has ultimate clout as a tiger is Benji. Doubt he will ever lose the political game
This deal is too good to be true. Surely Manly aren’t trading their future away for Tommy. Great for us if true and gives some hope thing will get better
This club can't let us have good news even for a couple of hours.
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Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has hit out at suggestions Benji Marshall is ready to walk away from the club over creative differences with new recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
Marshall is due to take charge of the Tigers from 2025, although there has been speculation his ascent to the top job could be brought forward given the club’s struggles this season under Tim Sheens.
Of more immediate concern have been the whispers that Marshall is having second thoughts over his coaching future given the recent appointment of Fulton, which was made without any input from Marshall or Sheens.
Rugby league has been awash with talk over the past week that Marshall was weighing up his future amid suggestions he and Fulton were on different pages over attempts to keep Luke Brooks and a potential move for Josh Schuster.
This masthead spoke to sources close to Marshall over the weekend who confirmed there were issues that needed to be addressed, but they had not got to the point where he was ready to turn his back on coaching.
Hagipantelis spoke to Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe on Sunday afternoon and was assured that Marshall is going nowhere.
The Tigers say Benji Marshall is going nowhere. Picture: Getty
“Beyond confident,” Hagipantelis said.
“I just got off the phone with Justin – we have heard all this today – and he spoke to Benji. It is just ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. There is no suggestion whatsoever that Benj or Scott are going anywhere.
“They are on a list management committee. Their roles complement each other, don’t conflict. Scott’s role is to go out and recruit what Benji wants and what he sees that the club needs for the future moving forward.
“There is no conflict there. They will have healthy and robust discussions as to players from time to time as you would expect.
“There is nothing unusual (about that). In fact, it is to be encouraged. All of those discussions of course must be retained in-house.”
The Tigers took their time before tabling a two-year deal to Brooks which encompassed a significant pay cut on his existing salary.
Benji Marshall is set to take over as Tigers head coach in 2025. Picture: Getty
This masthead revealed a fortnight ago that Brooks rejected the deal, personally calling Marshall to inform him that he was heading to the open market.
Brooks is yet to secure a deal for next season – he was heavily linked with Manly over the weekend, where he shapes as a quality foil for Daly Cherry-Evans.
Marshall and Sheens were already on edge after the club brought in Fulton, a move that spelled the end for former recruitment boss Warren McDonnell, a close confidante of the pair.
Schuster has emerged as the latest bone of contention at the club amid talk that Fulton’s close relationship could prompt a move for the Manly five-eighth.
Marshall is known to be opposed to the move – there had been talk that if Schuster arrived, he could leave. Hagipantelis insisted the relationship between Marshall and Fulton is complimentary.
“As I say there is no issue, there is no conflict, there is no concern,” he said.
Asked about the Brooks negotiations, Hagipantelis said: “The list management committee elevates a recommendation to the board.
Tigers legend Paul Sironen with Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis. Picture: Justin Lloyd
Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall won’t leave the Tigers, according to the club. Picture: Getty
“The board considers the recommendation and moves forward with an offer. The offer was made. The end, the end.
“Tim and Benji had expressed a desire to retain Luke. Hence why the offer was made to him.”
Hagipantelis confirmed Schuster’s name had been raised, although he is unable to sign with any rival clubs until he enters the final year of his deal on November 1.
“Absolutely, there have been a lot of players whose names have been raised,” he said.
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“He may be available for discussions after November 1 but at the moment it is also speculative and purely academic.
“It is their roles to raise these names and to go through all the pros and cons and come to a view, which is what they then act on and move forward.
“It is just disruptive. You have two people at the top of their games whose roles compliment each other, don’t conflict. That sort of stuff getting out of the list management committee saying they are not on the same page doesn’t help. It is frustrating.”
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Schuster plays in a tuxedo and seems a bit temperamental. I can understand Benji being weary of player like that in a key position on a lot of money.
The article by Read is a real worry. Lee and Pascoe going behind their back is understandably creating issues.And why is Lee now doing all communication with media? Is Pascoe locked in a basement somewhere?
I have no confidence in Lee, I think this club is his little vanity project.
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