Wests Tigers have sacked recruitment boss Scott Fulton just days after the NRL club secured their biggest building block yet in Jarome Luai.
Fulton joined the joint-venture midway through the 2023 season in an appointment that proved immediately controversial.
Then coach Tim Sheens and his second-in-charge Benji Marshall had been kept in the dark by the board’s move, while Fulton’s arrival also effectively demoted his predecessor Warren McDonnell.
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The signing was defended by then chairman Lee Hagipantelis but Marshall, who took over as coach from Sheens late last season, remained at odds with Fulton.
Hagipantelis and his board were dismissed in December as part of a major shake-up that also saw chief executive Justin Pascoe resign.
The club’s new powerbrokers have now backed in Marshall and resolved the conflict, with Fulton informed of his dismissal on Tuesday by Tigers interim chief Shane Richardson.
Fulton has been credited with recruiting Latu Fainu and Samuela Fainu from his former club Manly as well as ex-Dragons halfback Jayden Sullivan.
Luai will join the Tigers ahead of the 2025 season after opting to leave Penrith on a five-year deal worth $6 million.
It is unclear what, if any, role Fulton played in recruiting Luai, who said he had built up a rapport with his childhood idol Marshall through the process.
“I’ve had a great connection with Benji,” Luai said.
“I’ve seen a few headlines that (I will) go from the top to the bottom, that sort of thing.
“It resonated with me because I always back myself to win, no matter where I go.
“I’m really excited about it, I’m excited about the challenge.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers have announced Queensland Cup winner Solomona Faataape on a one-year development contract.
The 23-year-old was named the Brisbane Tigers’ players’ player of the season after scoring 16 tries and recording 10 try assists in their title-winning season.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Solomona and his family to the club and I’m excited for him,” Marshall said in a club statement.
“Solomona has a bundle of talent, he’s a good person, and it’s great to have him on board.
“I look forward to seeing him work extremely hard over the next phase of pre-season.”
Faataape made his first appearance at training on Monday.
