The Wests Tigers have sacked their head of recruitment Scott Fulton just days after landing arguably the biggest signing in the joint venture’s history in Panthers star Jarome Luai.
The Daily Telegraph reported Interim CEO Shane Richardson told Fulton via a phone call on Tuesday morning that his services were no longer required at the Tigers.
Fulton was controversially appointed by previous Tigers management led by CEO Justin Pascoe without the knowledge of then coach Tim Sheens and assistant turned head coach Benji Marshall.
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Fulton broke his silence on his sacking to The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s disappointing because I had such high hopes for the Wests Tigers and the direction we were heading in with recruitment,” Fulton told The Daily Telegraph.
“But I really enjoyed my time under the previous management and what we were able to achieve in a short period.
“These things happen in rugby league and we’ll move on and look for the next opportunity.
I wish the club all the best.”
Sheens’ long-time recruitment boss Warren McDonnell left the club shortly after Fulton’s appointment, following his shift to the club’s juniors program.
Marshall’s relationship with Fulton has been strained for several months after the pair clashed over a number of recruitment and retention decisions since his appointment last year.
The sacking comes after Richardson gave Fulton a clean slate when he took over as CEO last month.
“I’ve never met Scott Fulton, so I don’t know that,” Richardson said of the feud between Marshall and Fulton.
“It is ridiculous for me to even comment on that until I get inside the tent and speak to Benji and Scott and everybody else.
“It is unfair to single out Scott Fulton or anybody else in this arrangement. It is abut building a club that is internally strong and works together and that is my task over the next six months.
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“I don’t want to make any comments about any individuals.”
Fulton has a strong resume from his time with the Manly Sea Eagles and did help lure some talent from his old club, so it is a loss for the Tigers.
Fulton helped sign potential future stars the Fainu brothers, Latu and Samuela, from Manly and Jayden Sullivan from the Dragons for 2024 season.
However, the price tag for the three unproven stars could have been a reason for his detractors at the Tigers, including Richardson who does business according to a tight template.
The Tigers also signed star playmaker Luai on a $6 million mega deal over five seasons from 2025.
It remains to be seen how much of Luai signing with the Tigers was down to the roster overhaul that Fulton was overseeing.
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However, Luai is close with Richardson from their time together at the Panthers when he was a junior coming up through the ranks.
Before joining the Tigers last year, Fulton helped build Manly’s current roster, which includes young guns Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Jason Saab.
Fulton knocked back offers from two other NRL clubs to join the Wests Tigers because he was excited about rebuilding the struggling club and their junior nursery in Campbelltown.
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