Tigers reach out to Cheika, defer decision on GM until after review
The Wests Tigers board has voted to defer a decision on the general manager role until after they are presented with the findings of an external review into the club’s operations.
In a potential sign that significant changes at board and management level are forthcoming over the off-season, the club’s directors have postponed any decision on who will lead the football department.
The club is open to a potential restructure of the business, both at management and board level, holding off on an appointment until after the review. Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis confirmed the decision from the board to wait on the appointment of the new general manager.
The Herald reported on Monday that former player Mark O’Neill was expected to be put forward as the preferred candidate to chase for the general manager role but plans have now changed.
The Wests Tigers have also reached out to former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to gauge his interest in working in rugby league when his commitments with Argentina end after the Rugby World Cup.
The Tigers will wait for the findings of the review, but even if they choose to pursue O’Neill in the future, they are no certainties to lure the former premiership-winning player away from the Parramatta Eels, where he performs a similar role.
If negotiations with O’Neill fall through, the Tigers are expected to revisit the possibility of having Cheika on the books in some capacity.
Cheika, who led Lebanon to the quarter-finals of last year’s Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom, comes highly regarded by club legend and assistant coach Robbie Farah.
He is also related to injured Tigers star Adam Doueihi, who is hopeful of returning from an ACL injury midway through next season.
The former Australian rugby union coach has formerly worked with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and impressed with his knowledge of the game during his stint as Lebanon coach.
He has indicated a desire to work within rugby league but has been limited due to the 18-month contract he signed with the Pumas which doesn’t expire until the end of Argentina’s World Cup campaign in France.
As for O’Neill, the Tigers have held informal discussions with him about his interest in returning to the club.
One of the driving forces behind the push for O’Neill is his former teammate Benji Marshall. The new head coach has given the Tigers his support to lure O’Neill back to the club.
O’Neill’s relationship with Marshall extends back two decades. Before Marshall’s retirement in 2021, O’Neill told the Herald he once told Marshall, ‘You’re not the king’ after watching the then-teenager sign a crown above his signature.
Marshall respects his 2005 premiership-winning teammate, who is 10 years his senior.
O’Neill has expressed his interest in discussing the role but is currently employed by the Eels, where he has been general manager since 2018. He doesn’t have a contract with the Eels for a specified time frame and would be free to leave immediately if he opts to sign with the Wests Tigers.
The Tigers haven’t had a general manager for the past 12 months after deciding to appoint Tim Sheens as head coach. The club opted against bringing Sheens back into the administration role despite the veteran coach signalling interest in doing so after being replaced as head coach.
The previous general manager, Adam Hartigan, is now working with Phil Gould at the Bulldogs.
The Tigers also had discussions with Knights head of football Peter Parr, who decided to remain in Newcastle despite a third party organising a meeting.
