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NRL fans erupt after Benji Marshall's bombshell announcement

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Benji Marshall, pictured here revealing his aspirations to coach the Wests Tigers.
Benji Marshall has revealed his aspirations to coach the Wests Tigers. Image: Getty/Fox Sports

Benji Marshall has revealed his aspirations to coach his beloved Wests Tigers, throwing his hat in the ring to work under Tim Sheens.

Sheens has reportedly signed a two-year deal to take over as the Tigers head coach after Michael Maguire was sacked last month.

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The 71-year-old Sheens has been working as the Tigers' head of football, but will now reportedly return to the head coaching role that he left in 2012.

Sheens coached the Tigers for 250 games after first taking the role in 2003, leading the joint venture to their maiden premiership in 2005.

After a failed bid to lure Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, the Tigers have reportedly convinced Sheens to step back into the hot seat.

NRL reporter Michelle Bishop revealed on Tuesday that Sheens has agreed to a two-year deal and will be working with Marshall and Robbie Farah in part-time roles.

Discussing the development on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, Marshall revealed his aspirations to be head coach of the Tigers one day.

"The dream for me would be to be an NRL coach and at the Wests Tigers would be an ideal situation,” Marshall said.

“Obviously it has been reported that Tim Sheens is going to get the job and mentor someone.

“If the opportunity was for me to be mentored under him with a pathway to become a head coach it is something I would definitely consider.

“I love my job that I do now, but that is an opportunity that I might never get again. The opportunity to try and become a head coach.

“So if they do go down that path and ask me I would definitely be interested and consider that.”

Benji Marshall, pictured here with his son and wife after playing his 300th NRL game in 2019.
Benji Marshall with his son and wife after playing his 300th NRL game in 2019. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)

NRL fans in frenzy over Benji Marshall announcement

Marshall said it would be a dream to coach at the Tigers after playing 257 games for the club across two separate stints.

“If the view is a genuine pathway to become a head coach,” Marshall said.

“I sort of do that (assistant and skills coach) with the kids now anyway.

“For me an NRL head coach is a dream job. And to be able to be mentored by someone like Tim Sheens and learn underneath him with a chance to get there. If that’s the route they want to go down with me, that is something I would be interested to explore.”

Tim Sheens, pictured here during a Wests Tigers training session.
Tim Sheens looks on during a Wests Tigers training session. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images) (Mark Evans via Getty Images)

Marshall said he was ready for the pressure associated with being a head coach after being asked by co-host Paul Kent.

“I understand that and yeah I am,” he said.

“I am ready and the reason I am is because you don’t actually know until you hit that pressure gauge whether you are ready.

“But the thing I have always done is I back myself. If they do go down that path where they want me to do it, I’m all in.

“I love working here (Fox Sports), but if this is a real opportunity and they come to me then I am in.”

NRL fans were left in a frenzy over the prospect of Marshall coaching at Wests.

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