A fiery debate has erupted over Benji Marshall’s role in selecting his next assistant coach following the departure of John Morris last week.
According to The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read, Wests Tigers CEO Shaun Mielekamp and the club’s Head of Football Pat Richards will narrow down the new candidates before Marshall becomes involved in the process.
It is understood Marshall will ultimately have the final say.
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“Shaun Mielekamp and Pat Richards, who is the head of footy, will go through the applications, come up with a shortlist,” Read said on NRL 360.
“Then Benji will become involved in the process, and ultimately it will become Benji’s decision as to who the assistant is.”
However, that process was questioned, with concerns raised over whether Marshall, who is currently under pressure, should have the final say on his next assistant.
“You don’t want yes-men, particularly at that club,” Read’s News Corp colleague Dean Ritchie said.
“I don’t think Benji should be involved. I think the club should make a decision and tell Benji this is your assistant coach.
“I don’t think a coach under pressure should have full reign. If you give him a full say, he brings in one of his mates and you’ve got problems again.
“There has to be a layer there, a filter there.”
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Read immediately hit back at the suggestion, labelling it absolutely “ridiculous”.
He added, “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life.
“What coach in the game doesn’t have a say in his assistant coach?”
Braith Anasta also backed the Tigers coach in having a say in the appointment.
“I genuinely think a coach should have a say in this,” he stated.
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Gorden Tallis agreed, “He’s got to work with him every day, and he’s got to trust him. The head coach has got to trust his assistant.”
While Marshall was originally given free rein in choosing the members of his coaching staff, it was suggested the latest process was designed to ease some of the pressure on the Tigers head coach after another poor season.
“I imagine it’s a process they’re going through and they want to relieve some of the tasks (that are on his plate),” Read continued.
“I think they’re trying to take some of the pressure off him.
“There’s some big decision that needs to be made this off-season and they’re just trying to ease the load on him. Ultimately, he will have a say.”