Todd Payten SNUBBED an approach from Tim Sheens to replace Michael Maguire at Wests Tigers

Todd Payten has admitted he was sounded out by the Wests Tigers to replace Michael Maguire, but he never considered leaving the Cowboys an option.

The Tigers sacked Maguire last month after losing nine of their first 12 games this season and failed to make the finals in each of his three campaigns in charge.

Wests football chief Tim Sheens has since been confirmed as Maguire’s replacement, with the 71-year-old set to return to coaching next season, 18 years since he steered the club to a Grand Final triumph and won his fourth and last premiership.

Sheens will be replaced by former Tigers great Benji Marshall in 2025, but the veteran coach had considered turning to another member of the 2005 premiership-winning side.

‘We spoke on the phone and Tim [Sheens] asked me a couple of questions,’ Payten, who played eight seasons for the Tigers and will face his former team on Sunday, told News Corp.

The 43-year-old felt his former coach was not simply interested in having a chat, but was sounding him out as a potential candidate to replace Maguire. Payten, however, has no intention of leaving the Cowboys – incidentally the team Wests beat in the 2005 Grand Final – yet.

‘To be honest, I never gave it [succeeding Maguire at the Tigers] a second thought. Nope,’ he said.

The NRL strugglers parted ways with under-fire coach Michael Maguire last month

Tim Sheens will return to coaching in the NRL for the first time in a decade next year, when he takes charge of the Tigers for the second time

‘I am really happy at the Cowboys.

‘We have worked so hard as a club to get the foundations right for success and I feel we have got that at the moment. […] We still have a way to go to a win a premiership, so I’m no hurry to leave.’

The Tigers have endured a dismal season and are rooted at the bottom of the ladder, with 14 defeats in 17 games so far. The poor results on the field have been further exacerbated by discontent off it with a number of players publicly criticising the club.

Sheens hasn’t coached in the NRL in a decade and the Wests Tigers will be Marshall’s first job as head coach.

Benji Marshall will succeed Sheens in the coaching box from the 2025 season 

Payten, however, believes his former coach and teammate have all it takes to turn the club’s fortunes around.

‘I believe Benji will succeed,’ Payten said. 

‘I admire Tim and Benji both so much, they had such an impact on my career and I really want them to do well and turn things around at the Tigers.

‘It’s a bold appointment, but if anyone can do it, it’s those two guys.’