West Tigers coach Benji Marshall says he has video evidence to refute rumours that he had an altercation with star centre Adam Doueihi during an opposed training session earlier this week.
The club was in the spotlight when it was reported that the player didn’t take kindly to a tackle laid by his coach, leading to a heated confrontation.
Ahead of the Tigers’ clash with the Roosters on Sunday, Marshall was asked to clear up the reports, where he strongly hit back, adamant there was nothing to see.
“I’m not got to add any fuel to something that’s not true,” Marshall said.
“I’ll show you the video.
He also defended his hands-on involvement during these sessions,
“I’ve been doing it (joining in training) for the last three years and all of a sudden now it’s become an issue.
“It’s not about me, the way I do things, the way I coach or the way I do things, or whatever, there’s always a reason for it.
“It comes down to winning and losing and when you are losing these things come out.”
Pressure is growing at the club after the Tigers have fallen to 14th on the ladder on the back of six straight losses.
Sexton announces Bulldogs departure
Toby Sexton will leave the Bulldogs in the wake of the arrival of Lachlan Galvin with the disgruntled halfback linking with Catalans Dragons in the Super League.
Galvin’s arrival on a multimillion-dollar long-term deal means Sexton is surplus to requirements beyond this season and despite being shopped to the Wests Tigers and being linked with a return to the Gold Coast, he will head for France.
“I’m super pumped to be joining the Catalans Dragons for the following season and can’t wait for what’s ahead,” said Sexton in a club statement with the playmaker agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the French club reportedly worth $1 million in total.
The 24-year-old has been in career-best form for the Dogs this season but the club delayed re-signing him with contract negotiations dragging on for months.
Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney could be the next big name getting out of Belmore.
He is contracted for next year but his agent has already been granted permission to test the market for 2027.
Galvin has been named on the bench to face Brisbane on Friday, the third time their prized mid-season signing will come on from the interchange in four appearances since joining from Wests Tigers.
In the previous two, Galvin was substituted in after half-time to play limited minutes next to Matt Burton in the halves, pushing Sexton to hooker.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo insisted the Bulldogs were unified as to their plans to use both Galvin and Sexton.
“We are all on the same page and I’ve got a number of good people around me whose opinions I trust inside our four walls, and we’ll continue to do that,” Ciraldo said.
Ciraldo hit out at critics of their recruitment activities now that they are flying high in second place on the NRL ladder.
Canterbury and Ciraldo raised eyebrows recruiting a handful of utility players ahead of the 2024 season, rather than prioritising beefing up their lightweight middle forward rotation.
But the additions of Kurt Mann, Connor Tracey, Josh Curran and Jaeman Salmon all proved shrewd as the Bulldogs booked their first finals appearance since 2016.
Toby Sexton collides with Kurt Donoghoe. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“It’s probably the same voices who are doubting what we did now who doubted our recruitment strategy, doubted our forward pack and doubted a lot of other things we did along the way,” Ciraldo said.
“At the end of the day, how we play towards the back-end of the season, everyone will have an opinion on that.
“But we’re really comfortable with what we’re doing now and how our team is evolving.”
Catalans coach Joel Tompkins was thrilled to snare Sexton.
“Toby is an exciting young half with a strong kicking game, excellent game management, and composure under pressure,” Tomkins said.
“He’s already showing that he can perform at the top NRL level, and I believe he’s only going to get better. His attitude, professionalism, and competitive nature will be a great fit for our squad and the culture we want to build within the team.”
Papa could rumble against Raiders
Canberra great Josh Papalii insists he still has a lot to offer as a player and has kept the option of playing elsewhere in the NRL in 2026 open.
The 33-year-old prop is back with the Queensland team ahead of his 24th and final State of Origin game and was asked in Maroons camp about his club future.
Papalii now has the most games in the top grade for the Raiders but will not be at the club next year.
While Super League has been touted as the competition where he will finish his career, Papalii is yet to make a call on his next move.
“I’m still unsure,” he said.
“I feel like I still got a lot to offer as a player and as a mentor and just being an older head I still feel like I can still play good footy, and I think our season down in Canberra is sort of showing that.
Josh Papalii makes a hit-up. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
“Holding the record for Canberra now and overtaking Jason Croker down there with the most games for Canberra Raiders is obviously very special, and that’s how I sort of want to keep it.
“But if the team that you’re playing for is not offering you another contract for the following year and you want to play on, you’ve obviously got to look elsewhere.
You never say never. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of footy in me, whether that’s in the NRL or Super League.”
Papalii won’t be available for Saturday’s home clash with St George Illawarra due to his Origin commitments.
The top-of-the-table Raiders are marching towards a minor premiership and the 321-game Papalii has been a prime reason why. He’s playing great and enjoying it at the same time.
“You put an older head amongst younger boys, there’s a bit of control and obviously a bit of fun off-field and all that,” he said.
“We know how to go about our work. I’m just taking it one week at a time. I am a bit older, but a bit wiser too, I think.”
with AAP
