Former NZ Kiwis captain Benji Marshall has cemented his transition into coaching, after agreeing a deal that will eventually see him take the helm of Wests Tigers.
The 37-year-old hung up his boots at the end of 2021 and has made no secret of his desire to move into coaching after returning to the Tigers as a club ambassador this season.
Marshall's role has also seen him take on a consultant and mentor to the Tigers' younger players this season.
But Marshall's role with the Tigers will extend even further in 2025, after signing a deal that will see him take over from Tim Sheens as head coach, after spending two seasons as an understudy from 2023.
Marshall has agreed to a five-year deal with the Tigers that would see him involved in their coaching structure until 2027.
"It was always a privilege to wear these great colours," Marshall wrote in an Instagram post. "To be back wearing them in another way as an Assistant Coach under the great Tim Sheens and alongside my brother [Robbie Farah] for seasons 2023 and 2024 also the opportunity to become our Head Coach in 2025 and beyond is a dream come true.
"I love this club and can’t wait to get to work!!! I am passionate about the success of our club and will give it my all."
Sheens will take charge of the club in 2023 and 2024, after leading the side in exactly 250 games from 2003 to 2012, winning the NRL premiership in 2005 and giving Marshall his debut.
"This is about having Wests Tigers DNA surging through the club, and it's about putting together a rock-solid coaching plan for the next five years," said Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe.
"Benji and Robbie are two of the most talented players this club has seen, and Tim's coaching record speaks for itself.
"These three have achieved just about everything there is to achieve in the game and this partnership I know will be really, really powerful for our club."
The Tigers are without a coach after the sacking of NZ Kiwis boss Michael Maguire last month.
Under Maguire, the Tigers won just three of their opening 12 games of the season to sit 13th on the ladder at the time of his departure.
Since Maguire's axing, the Tigers have lost four games in succession to sit bottom of the NRL ladder after 16 games.
