Incoming Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has wasted no time trying to recruit talent, while some of the club’s current stars aren’t expected to play under him.
Marshall, who will replace Tim Sheens as the Tigers coach in 2025, has already approached Eels halfback Mitchell Moses about a return to Concord.
Sheens has handed control of the roster to Marshall and the latter must decide who stays between Adam Doueihi, Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings - who all want to play in the halves.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta asked the panel on Wednesday night who Marshall will be trying to sign first.
“He’s already gone after Mitch Moses,” Paul Kent responded.
“Sheens has put him in charge of their roster and their cap at the moment, he’s making him have a good look at that because good coaching comes down to good recruitment.
“Wayne Bennett said for years the best coaches are the best recruiters, that’s the secret. So first cab off the rank for Benji is to learn that, look at the roster, work out where you’re getting value for money and where you don’t.
“At the moment he’s got Doueihi, Brooks, Hastings all sitting there trying to get three into two.
“He has to figure out what he’s going to do there and as the long term coach of the club he has to come up with an answer.”
Veteran rugby league reporter Brent Read doesn’t expect all three of those players to be at the club next season.
“I spoke to Tim today about it, they’re all November 1 guys so if they’re not extended by then, they’re in the last year of their deals and they can go sign with other clubs.
“Tim said he wants to make a decision on those guys in the next month and that will come down to Benji.”
Sheens will have lunch with Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould on Thursday and Read believes potential player swaps will be on the topics of conversation.
“The one Tigers name that has been linked with the Bulldogs is Jackson Hastings,” Read said.
“If the Bulldogs said we’d love Jackson Hastings I reckon the Tigers would go ‘he’s all yours’.”
Benji already ‘in charge’ as star approach revealed, brutal Tigers reality sinks in
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