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Marshall concedes results don't justify new Tigers deal
Scott Bailey, AAP • December 12th, 2025 5:01 pm
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has been offered a new contract taking him up to 2030 | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Benji Marshall has admitted Wests Tigers' results did not warrant his new long-term extension as coach, but says a premiership is possible before the deal ends in 2030.
Already contracted until the end of 2027, the Tigers on Friday offered an incredible show of faith in Marshall by locking him in for the next five seasons.
His new deal came as Shaun Mielekamp was appointed interim CEO, and Holman Barnes representative Dennis Burgess stood down from the club's board.
Shaun Mielekamp has been appointed interim CEO of the joint-venture club | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
In the space of 11 days the Tigers sacked more than half their board, had their CEO Shane Richardson resign, invited the board members back and now extended Marshall as coach.
Speaking for the first time since the political turmoil engulfed the NRL club last Monday night, Marshall admitted he had been "put off" by the dramas.
But he was confident it would not cost the club star playmaker Jarome Luai, while also hopeful the Tigers could convince Jahream Bula to remain at the joint-venture.
And the 40-year-old also revealed he had not even considered an extension prior to a fortnight ago, before the new deal offered him stability at the club.
"I was put off, if I'm being honest," Marshall said.
Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
"The thing that you've got to be real with is, I'm like the fans, what's happened is such a shock. We've built something really good here.
"But to get the assurance that it's not going to affect what we're doing going forward and the football program will stay the same.
"(This deal gives) stability for the players, stability for myself, so the noise goes away about you've got to make the top eight or you're getting the sack.
"To give that stability to the players and the understanding of what's going to happen in regards to my role in the coaching structure ... I think it's very important."
Marshall's new deal means he has the second longest current contract of any NRL coach, with only Cameron Ciraldo locked in beyond 2030 at Canterbury.
In two years in charge of the Tigers, Marshall has taken them to 17th and 13th, albeit while showing serious signs of improvement as they attempt to break a 15-year finals drought.
"I'll be honest, I probably haven't in terms of performance deserved to have the extension," Marshall said.
"But if you look at the plan and the vision and the people we're brought in and where we're going and the improvements, you could probably beg to differ there.
"But at the end of the day, I'm here until 2030. I back myself, I back the players we've got, the squad we've built.
"That plan's going to stay the same."
Asked directly if he believed the Tigers could win the club's second premiership before the end of 2030, Marshall simply responded: "Yes".
Wests Tigers star Jahream Bula (c) at Tigers training this week | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Key to that, no doubt, will be the retention of Luai and Bula.
Marshall said he had spent parts of the past fortnight reassuring players at the club the plans for the future remained in place.
Much of that time has been spent with Luai, who despite being contracted until the end of 2029, has a clause to leave after next season.
Marshall conceded dramas like the recent ones at the Tigers were "probably" why Luai had the clause in his deal, but insisted the playmaker was not leaving.
"I sat down with Jarome at length about where we're going and he's fully committed to the club," Marshall said.
"He copped a lot of flak for the clauses he had in his contract. And I'll be honest, those clauses are not going anywhere.
"But he's given his full commitment to our side. And if there's anyone I trust in our team the most, it's that bloke.
"We're working really hard on making (Jahream stay). I don't usually talk about recruitment, but I'll be honest. You don't know with these decisions.
"But I am confident that he will stay and we're doing everything possible to keep him."
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