NRL 2023: Chris Heighington to join Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers coaching team | What’s the Buzz

Heighington played 338 games over 16 seasons, winning premierships at the Wests Tigers in 2005 and at the Cronulla Sharks in 2016, always renowned for his outstanding work ethic.

He has worked part time at the Wests Tigers for several years before being elevated last week into a full-time assistant coaching role in which he will be in charge of the middle forwards.

“Chris is a quality human, hardworking, loyal, loves the club and the players respect him,” said CEO Justin Pascoe.

Heighington will join old teammates John Morris and Robbie Farah as the three assistants under Marshall.

He refers back to his career at the Cronulla Sharks where they went from last in 2014 to a title in 2016 as proof that not all rebuilds take forever.

“Obviously the season we’ve had wasn’t up to scratch,” he said. “But I’m a big believer in that every team’s a chance.

“At the Sharks we got the wooden spoon in 2014, made the semis the next year and then won the comp. It’s a process. Improvement game after game. You can turn yourselves around quickly.

“My biggest asset is probably working one-on-one with players and trying to create a better person and better player.”

Heighington is loving the prospect of working alongside his ex-Wests Tigers teammates.

“Benji’s unreal,” he said. “He’s going to be an unbelievable coach over a long period of time.

“Robbie’s footy knowledge is next level. And Johnny Morris has had heaps of experience. Plus we’ve all learnt a lot from Tim Sheens over the years.”

His role with the middle forwards will include overseeing the further development of Origin prop Stefano Utoikamanu and other emerging forwards.

“We’ve just got to work really hard to get the place ready to win footy games,” he said.

“I played a lot of footy and I know what success looks like.

“You need to work hard, believe in one and other and have a good culture.”

BUZZ MEDIA

Mel McLaughlin, 43

Channel 7 Sport

First job: The deli at Woolies and at a pet shop (dream job), back then I could slice ham as thin as you liked and groom dogs. What a combination.

Sporting heroes: Eric Cantona and Sir Alex Ferguson, I wanted to bowl like Warnie, I loved Liz Ellis – she went to my school and I interviewed her at our assembly when she came back a rock star. It was a huge thrill – and of course, everyone looked up to Cathy.

What league team do you follow: Parra. Always. Enough said. (Can I mention my other loves Man United, Socceroos and Matildas?).

What sports did you play: As many as I could. Netball from the age of 7 with my sisters – then straight to football as soon as I met a fellow Man United tragic at school. We formed the first female team at our local club, and for one summer, half our team played a season of cricket.

How do you spend a day off: Outdoors, always exercise and outdoors with our dogs which will generally escalate to too much food (and maybe champagne once or twice).

Career highlights: The FIFA Women’s World Cup. What a privilege and what a wild ride. I get emotional every time I think about it. So proud of what the Matildas did and what football did. The Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier in November 2005, I’ll never forget the build-up on the day, the actual game, and the round of applause from the journalists for Guus Hiddink in the post-match press conference. Tokyo Olympics 2020 – an incredible privilege to be in Tokyo during Covid – interviewing Jess Fox when she won gold, and Patty Mills when the Boomers finally won that first ever Olympic medal. There are many – I’m very lucky.

A GIFTED HORSE

Broadcaster Ray Hadley bought a horse at Magic Millions two years ago without telling his partner Sophie. So when they got married at John Singleton’s beautiful Saddles establishment in 2021, Hadley used his wedding speech to reveal he’d bought a yearling for his wife.

She apparently gasped: “Ah no.” Anyway, the horse was aptly named Saddles and won a 1200 maiden at Grafton on Monday for promising young trainer Adam Campton, who’s based on the Gold Coast.

He’s declared it won’t be the last win for a horse with a bright future over longer distances.

FROM WELLINGTON TO PARIS

Australia has always been lucky to have the world’s best race callers and Melbourne-based commentator Matt Hill is up there with the best of them.

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This is the guy who almost died while calling the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he contracted melioidosis — an infectious disease that landed him in intensive care in China before being flown to Hong Kong for four weeks in hospital and then home to Australia. Hill is going back to the Olympics with Ray Hadley and 2GB for Paris next year. Veteran David Morrow is likely to be joining them.

Anyone who can handle the pressure of calling 24 horses in a Melbourne Cup to an audience of squillions will no doubt do a great job.

Nine has yet to finalise its television commentary team. No doubt James Bracey will anchor the coverage.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Chris Heighington to join Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers coaching team | What’s the Buzz