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The Wests Tigers have 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.<\/p>\n
While former player Mark O\u2019Neill appears the frontrunner for the vacant general manager\u2019s role, the Tigers have sounded out Cheika about potentially joining the Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n
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Pumas coach Michael Cheika shakes hands with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Club management on Monday night put a recommendation to the board for the club to pursue O\u2019Neill as general manager, but aren\u2019t guaranteed to lure the former premiership-winning player away from the Parramatta Eels, where he performs a similar role.<\/p>\n If negotiations with O\u2019Neill fall through, the Tigers are expected to revisit the possibility of having Cheika on the books in some capacity.<\/p>\n Cheika, who led Lebanon to the quarter-finals of last year\u2019s Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom, comes highly regarded by club legend and assistant coach Robbie Farah.<\/p>\n Cheika is also related to injured Tigers star Adam Doueihi, who is hopeful of returning from an ACL injury midway through next season.<\/p>\n Michael Cheika took Lebanon to the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup last year.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t expire until the end of Argentina\u2019s World Cup campaign in France.<\/p>\n As for O\u2019Neill, the Tigers have held informal discussions with him about his interest in returning to the club.<\/p>\n One of the driving forces behind the push for O\u2019Neill is his former teammate Benji Marshall. The new head coach has given the Tigers his support to lure O\u2019Neill back to the club.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill\u2019s relationship with Marshall extends back two decades. Before Marshall\u2019s retirement in 2021, O\u2019Neill told the Herald<\/em> he once told Marshall, \u2018You\u2019re not the king\u2019 after watching the then-teenager sign a crown above his signature.<\/p>\n Marshall respects his 2005 premiership-winning teammate, who is 10 years his senior.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill has expressed his interest in discussing the role but is currently employed by the Eels, where he has been general manager since 2018. The Tigers will discuss the matter at a board meeting on Monday night.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n The Tigers haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n The previous general manager, Adam Hartigan, is now working with Phil Gould at the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Watch the NRL Grand Final Exclusive Live and Free on Channel 9 and <\/i><\/b>9Now<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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