Subtle detail from Wests Tigers NRL coaches box shows there’s a huge change underway at the club

Changes appear to be looming at the Wests Tigers following their gallant 28-22 defeat on Easter Monday at Accor Stadium.

Still chasing their first win of 2023, the struggling joint venture club won plenty of admirers for their grit – but still came up short against Parramatta.

In a possible sign of things to come, assistant coach and club legend Benji Marshall was spotted wearing a headset, barking instructions to the players as they almost orchestrated a famous come from behind win.

Head coach Tim Sheens sat behind Marshall in the coaches box, watching the action unfold.

On Saturday, Sheens stated he was in for the long haul, with Marshall to be the head coach come 2025.

In a possible sign of things to come, assistant coach and club legend Benji Marshall was spotted wearing a headset, (pictured) barking instructions to the players, with Sheens behind him in the coaches box

But if the defeats continue for last season’s wooden spooners, there is speculation Sheens may hand over control earlier than was planned.

NRL360 co-host Paul Kent believes Sheens is educating Marshall as well as fellow assistant coach Robbie Farah.

‘I think Tim Sheens is sitting back and essentially just managing things,’ Kent said on Monday.

‘He’s come in under this idea he has to educate these young guys to eventually succeed him as head coach and I don’t see anything wrong with him at different points just handing over and letting them have a little bit of control.

‘When Tim Sheens was at the Raiders he would call in players such as Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga and get them to help him with the game plan for that week.

‘He wanted input from them about what they are seeing.

‘He does put a lot of trust in those around him. He did it when he was back at the Raiders and now he’s doing it at the Tigers with his assistant coaches.

On Saturday, Sheens stated he was in for the long haul, with Marshall to be the head coach at the Tigers come 2025

‘The other person in the Tigers box is David Furner, his contribution would be significant and what Furner says would be significant and Sheensy, who coached him as a player, would have a lot of trust about him.’

The Tigers face the Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dragons and Rabbitohs in their next four games  – which alarmingly could see them fail to chalk up a victory before the State of Origin period.

TAB are offering punters odds of $29 for the Tigers to be winless this season. 

Eastern Suburbs was the last team – in 1966 – to go through a season without singing the team victory song.