Incoming Wests Tigers head coach Tim Sheens says Benji Marshall‘s combination of football smarts and personality will make him successful when he inherits the job.
Marshall is set to take the reins of the struggling club from 2025, with the appointment labelled one of the biggest coaching gambles in NRL history.
But Sheens, who coached Marshall and the Tigers to the NRL premiership in 2005, has little doubt the 37-year-old will handle the giant task with aplomb.
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A number of players who have gone on to become successful coaches such as Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley and Craig Bellamy all played under Sheens before transitioning into the coaching box, and Sheens revealed the similar traits Marshall possessed to those iconic mentors.
“(Marshall has) football smarts, which is something you need,” he told Nine’s 100% Footy.
“I saw that in Billy (Slater) when I worked with him in the Australian side, how smart he was.
“He also (has) the right personality. Benji is one of those guys who will give himself to his players (and) I think that’s important these days with the current crop (of players).
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“He’s modern enough … the boys know him, the boys love him, I think he’ll handle it quite easily.”
Sheens used the example of Slater’s Origin triumph with Queensland as evidence of why previous coaching experience wasn’t the be-all and end-all.
“Everything points to him doing well,” he said.
“For instance, Billy Slater, he hadn’t coached before but he’s now recognised after that series as being a very good coach.
“I know club footy is a bit different, but coaching is coaching. Plenty of coaches have done it early and you don’t have to be eight-year assistant coaches.
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“I really don’t give a damn about what some people say, everyone’s got an opinion.
“There’s plenty of people who will get stuck into me in the next 18 months, it’s not going to be easy … the only thing that’s going to shut people down is winning.”