Benji keen to have Demetriou at Tigers
WESTS Tigers veteran Benji Marshall says the next man in line to coach the club is north of the border but it’s not Wayne Bennett.
Chief executive Justin Pascoe has been busy jetsetting across the Tasman interviewing potential replacements for current coach Ivan Cleary.
But Marshall says the man who is a perfect fit for the job is closer to home.
He has endorsed former Northern Pride coach Jason Demetriou as someone who can lead the Concord club into the future.
“He’s one of the best coaches I have ever been under – technically and culture-wise,” Marshall said.
“Does the club take a leap on a not-so-high-profile coach or a high-profile coach?
“To me it doesn't really matter. What I do know is players come and go and coaches come and go and the one thing that always remains in the club and the fans.”
While former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire is high on the list of targets for the club, Marshall also sees plenty of merit in luring mastercoach Bennett to Sydney.
“I think Wayne would also be a good fit, his whole coaching style and the culture he brings, he’s got good people around him,” Marshall said.
One of those guys “around” Bennett is Demetriou, who’s tutelage he’s been under at the Broncos as an assistant coach for the last two seasons.
Before that, he had a stint as player-coach for the Keighley Cougars in England.
Demetriou returned to coach in Australia in the Queensland Cup. He took the Northern Pride to consecutive minor premierships and to the title in 2014.