Parish linked with Tigers post

Former Salford coach Matt Parish has emerged as favourite to succeed Australia's national coach Tim Sheens at Wests Tigers.

Sheens, currently preparing the Kangaroos for next month's Test match against New Zealand, parted company with the Tigers on Tuesday, despite having two years left on his contract, after his team finished outside the play-offs.

The long-serving Sheens, who is being linked with the vacancy at New Zealand Warriors, has been offered a director of rugby type role with the Tigers but has yet to decide whether to accept.

Parish was appointed by Salford in the summer of 2011 as the successor to Shaun McRae but was in charge for just six matches before quitting to return to Australia and has been assistant to Geoff Toovey at Manly Sea Eagles this season.

Former Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown, who is due to take up a three-year contract with St Helens in November, has also been linked with the vacancy, although Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys told a news conference that the club has not been in contact with any potential replacement.