July 26, 2026 — 5:00am
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Benji Marshall’s contract gives him more power than almost any other coach in the NRL, but that is about to be challenged as the Wests Tigers realise he can no longer be surrounded by “yes men” after a tumultuous week for the club that could result in the loss of another quality half.
Regular halfback Adam Doueihi stood up to Marshall on Thursday, calling him out on issues at the club and standing down from Saturday’s clash against the Raiders after Marshall had moved him to lock – a stance for which Doueihi was called selfish in the meeting.
Rift: Benji Marshall and Adam DoueihiGetty/Monique Westermann
Doueihi’s agent, Isaac Moses, has now organised peace talks between Marshall and Doueihi with a view to keeping his client at the club. Moses only found out about the fallout between coach and player after the event – and while he backs his player’s opinions, he has made it clear to Doueihi that he felt he should have played.
Moses will put his own issues with Marshall to one side to find a solution. The aim is to bring the pair together so Doueihi can play in the Tigers’ next game, against Parramatta next Sunday.
The “selfish” accusation is hard to argue with, but Doueihi’s behaviour this year suggests he is anything but. For Doueihi, the positional change was a culmination of issues that had been irking him before he made his snap decision.
The most obvious is that star five-eighth Jarome Luai is leaving the club for the Eels next season, then the PNG Chiefs in 2028, and the idea of Doueihi mentoring and combining with rookie half Javon Andrews has been discussed.
Benji Marshall has been at the heart of another tumultuous week in Tiger Town.Kate Geraghty
Doueihi’s selection at lock didn’t lend itself to that. So no matter how you spin it, Luai’s exit is having an impact on the club.
Doueihi has busted his backside to support Marshall and create a team culture. From putting on team meals to being the one who brought the players together for coffees. He paid for his own flight to support the team at Magic Round when he was out injured. He is also currently playing through a shoulder injury.
Doueihi should have sensed something was up with his selection going into the Raiders game when Marshall showed little interest in his judiciary appearance on Tuesday night. He didn’t get a phone call from his coach after beating a careless high tackle charge.
The initial thought is that the situation is not beyond repair, but the Tigers have lost two marquee halves in Lachlan Galvin and Luai in the last 13 months.
Lachie Galvin had his issues with Marshall during his time at the Tigers.Renee Nowytarger
Galvin had a dossier of complaints about Marshall – the contents of which have been hidden away. Luai was told to move on after signing with PNG to accommodate the next wave of talent.
So the Tigers are facing the loss of three top halves at a time when playmakers have never been more in demand.
It can also be revealed that Marshall’s agent, Matt Desira, not only brokered a great deal for his client, but timed it to perfection. The contract was struck when the club was in the midst of a boardroom crisis and effectively hands all power over the team to Marshall.
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The coach, a 2005 premiership winner and club legend, has the final say over everything at the club, from his assistant coach down to the gear stewards. And if he is sacked or asked to accept changes to his deal, he is entitled to be paid out in full.
The latest drama could actually be the making of Marshall as a coach as it is going to bring change.
Marshall was untouchable as a player, on and off the field. His status as a generational great meant any shortcomings were glossed over. But being a champion player doesn’t automatically translate into being a great head coach and leader of men.
There is a growing feeling at the Tigers that Marshall needs outside help. One of his biggest issues is that he doesn’t have enough people challenging him. There is already discussion that one of his main men, John Morris, is heading to the Dragons. That has been denied. But Marshall will be offered assistance in the off season.
The club could do worse than consider if Shane Flanagan would join as a senior assistant. It’s something Flanagan is open to. Whether Marshall would accept it is another thing. He has the legal right to tell the club to shove it.
The view that there have been double standards at the club has also been relayed to me. Some players are allowed to get out of training with too much ease, while bad habits like vaping have been ignored.
Gardiner mystery Dragons candidate
Perth Bears coach-in-waiting Ben Gardiner was the mystery third person in the running for the Dragons job, it can be revealed.
Ben Gardiner went for the Dragons job.NRL Imagery
Dean Young was confirmed as St George Illawarra’s head coach on Monday, ahead of former teammate Ben Hornby and Gardiner.
Gardiner, who is Mal Meninga’s assistant coach ahead of Perth’s inaugural NRL season in 2027, was a serious contender for the Dragons job and given that he has to wait for the Perth gig, he would have taken the chance if it was offered to him.
He recently knocked back the Hull Kingston Rovers in the English Super League.
The Dragons’ interest in him is sure to be a point of discussion at the Bears as doubts remain over Meninga’s commitment. Meninga is the one who raised the Gardiner/Dragons issue at the Bears. Meanwhile, Meninga has put down a bond on his rental home out west in a sign that he is more committed to the club’s cause than he has shown to be publicly.
There is still concern that he won’t make it to the start line as Bears coach next year, but the fact he has taken up his Perth rental may quiet the noise for a period of time.
Show me the money
Liam Martin’s agent, Allan Gainey, will ask the Panthers for their best offer when they meet this week. He wants the club to give him an indication of Martin’s worth to get an idea of the next step.
The NSW Origin hero is a big-game player who leaves nothing in the tank every week. Martin is on about $780,000. He is easily worth $850,000 on the open market.
Liam Martin is sure to be in demand if he hits the open market.Getty Images
The length of his deal may be the point of contention. To plenty of teams, a three-year option worth close to $2.6m would be fair. The figure they land on at Penrith will be of interest to many clubs.
Sean shines
Bulldogs five-eighth Sean O’Sullivan gave us a reminder of his ability last weekend in the win over the Tigers – and it appears English clubs have taken note. Even though he has taken the option up at the Dogs for 2027, there may still be greater options for him overseas next year.
Manu eyes 2027 return to NRL
Former Rooster Joey Manu is already being offered up as a short-term signing to clubs for the back half of next year, when his French contract is up. It appears it will be a stepping-stone deal before he joins the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Manu and his family toured the Chiefs’ Port Moresby facilities on Monday. The 29-year-old will return to France in September, where his deal with Top 14 club Racing 92 is estimated to be worth as much as €1 million ($1.6 million) a season.
Former Rooster Joey Manu and his family at Port Moresby airport on Monday.Zac’s stroke shock puts things in perspective
There have been too many stories lately about leading NRL figures confronting serious health problems. But this one is close to my heart as it relates to a colleague and friend.
Zac Bailey is a rising star of the media world. Already a great reporter, he is now the back-up sports newsreader to the best frontman in the business, James Bracey, at Nine.
A few weeks back, Zac called in sick. We didn’t know what he was going through, and he kept his health issue quiet for some time. But here is the story, in his own words, of what Bailey – a fit man of just 35 – has endured.
Nine NRL reporter Zac Bailey.NRL Photos
The stroke
“On Tuesday, June 2, the medical episode started with what was like a blinding light across both eyes, blurred vision and a piercing headache. Then I started to feel very disoriented, off balance, had weakness down one side and my speech was very slow.
“I thought it was pretty serious because I’d never experienced anything like that. The two most concerning symptoms were the weakness down my left side and inability to speak properly. That’s when I knew I could be in a bit of trouble.
“I suppose it was a little scary because I was home alone and thought to myself, ‘What happens if these symptoms get worse and I can’t get help?’ Thankfully, I was able to call an ambulance.”
The diagnosis
“I was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital where CT and MRI scans found three strokes in my brain – also called an embolic stroke.
“They conducted a procedure which found I had a hole in my heart known as a PFO [Patent Foramen Ovale]. This discovery meant a clot had travelled from elsewhere in my body, through the hole in my heart and into my brain, causing the stroke.
“The cardiologist [Dr George Lau] then conducted an operation where they feed a device through the femoral vein in the groin, through to the heart. The device is placed on either side of the hole/flap in the heart to close it.
“I thought it was a stroke all along, but it was pretty confronting to see scans of my own brain with white marks on it indicating dead brain matter. It’s definitely not something I expected to happen to me at 35.
“I’m just incredibly grateful and thankful the clots didn’t land in more vital parts of the brain because the outcome could’ve been disastrous and life-altering.
“When I asked my neurologist Neil Simon how lucky I was, he said I’m ‘net lucky’. Unlucky I had a stroke, but extremely lucky that I’ll make a full recovery.
Bailey on location at Magic Round.NRL Photos
“Once they found the hole in the heart, I was relieved something could be done about it and the stroke wasn’t lifestyle related. Thankfully it’s a pretty easy fix these days.”
The recovery
“After a stroke, victims suffer from neuro-fatigue or post-stroke fatigue. This is caused by two main things:
1) neuroplasticity, where the brain is building new pathways to bypass the damaged brain tissue.
2) loss of automaticity – it takes more energy to complete everyday tasks like walking and talking.
“Basically, you begin the day with less energy and everything you do takes more energy to complete. You just have to rest and sleep as much as possible as your body and brain recover.
“I’m still fascinated by the whole process and have learned so much about the heart and brain.
‘I’m “net lucky”. Unlucky I had a stroke, but extremely lucky that I’ll make a full recovery.’
Zac Bailey
“The hardest part of the recovery has been the lack of energy. I’ve never been so tired without doing much at all. I became the king of nanna naps over the first six weeks.
“I’ve really had to slow down. A week after the stroke I was only walking a couple of hundred metres and getting tired and needing to rest. I really had to listen to my body big time and have slowly built back up to now where I can get my 10,000 steps in.
“The fatigue can linger for months, but I’m feeling better each day and hopefully back to my best in no time.”
The gratitude
”I can’t thank my partner, my parents, friends and work colleagues enough for their support over the past couple of months. I’d be in all sorts of trouble without them. I truly have been overwhelmed by all the love and support from everyone who reached out to check in or pick me up when I needed it.”
Back to work
“I’m hoping to be back on the road and back news reading at the end of August after my break. I’ve missed doing what I love and I can’t wait to get back to interviewing people, telling their stories and delivering the sport news to all of Nine’s sport and footy fanatics.”
Thompson discontinued by 2GB bosses
In an unusual call by 2GB, league commentator Matt Thompson has been replaced on The Continuous Call team by inexperienced up-and-comer, Mike Pearsall.
Known primarily for his role as Nine’s chief match caller, Thompson has also been a regular fixture on the team for years and has forged a popular combination with Darryl Brohman. The pair have also recently linked with Cooper Johns to form an entertaining trio.
Pearsall has also taken over from Gavin Pitchford as the Sunday Continuous Call Team host and will also commentate the weekly 4pm game.
Mathew Thompson, Nine’s chief rugby league commentator.Dominic Lorrimer
Thompson was told this week he’d been replaced on the roster immediately. “Obviously my priority is my busy role with Wide World of Sports, but I make time for radio purely because I love it,” he said. “It’s a very different style of broadcasting to TV and I relish the challenge of bouncing between the two.”
“It’s always been a treat working with Darryl. We are close friends and he’s one of a kind. We have a pretty cool chemistry. I know the listeners enjoy it. So I am disappointed that has ended. But that’s the media and I wish my mates all the best for the rest of the season. I’ll still be popping in to steal their party pies at the footy.”
2GB was recently beaten by Triple M in the rugby league ratings and it’s hard to see them reversing the trend anytime soon.
Jones misses QRL top job
Here is something worth noting: ARL Commissioner Kate Jones, the candidate favoured by NRL boss Peter V’landys and Queensland political heavyweights, missed out on the top job at the Queensland Rugby League.
Instead, it went to former Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel. It will be fascinating to see how the relationship between the NRL and the QRL plays out as a result. With V’landys now the top boss across the game, there could be a few run-ins.
Lachie makes Rose’s day
Bulldogs halfback Lachlan Galvin made the day of 12-year-old Rose Pastro Lazzarini after she wrote a lovely letter to him to wish him the best for his 21st birthday.
Halfback Lachlan Galvin and Bulldogs fan 12-year-old Rose Lazzarini.
The letter young Rose sent to Galvin.
Rosie suffers from hip dysplasia and explained to Lachie that the resilience he had shown over his high-profile switch from the Tigers to the Bulldogs was inspiring to her as she faced her challenges.
The Bulldogs organised a surprise training visit and a meeting between Lachlan and Rosie.
“Lachlan has been a huge role model for Rosie,” mum Louise said. “It meant so much to me to see how genuine and down-to-earth he was when he met her, taking the time to speak with her and getting to know her. The day is definitely one which she will never forget.
“As a mum of two daughters, I see how important it is for young girls to have positive sporting role models. Over the past year, Lachie has been a real inspiration to Rosie. She has learnt a lot from watching how he has worked through some challenging times after joining the Bulldogs, and from seeing his resilience and commitment to the club.”
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