Wests Tigers have reportedly 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 recruitment boss Warren McDonnell to juniors.
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Fulton’s signing was defended by then chairman Lee Hagipantelis at the time but Marshall, who took over as coach from Sheens late last season, remained at odds with his new recruitment boss.
Hagipantelis and the board were replaced last month, with the club’s new powerbrokers now taking action.
Fulton was informed of his dismissal by Tigers interim chief executive Shane Richardson on Tuesday.
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 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.