ROYCE Simmons says he is ready to take over as head coach of Wests Tigers should Tim Sheens decide to vacate the role at the NRL premier.
Currently the assistant to Sheens, Simmons' coaching stocks rose today after he and Laurie Daley were named as Graham Murray's assistant coaches for the New South Wales State of Origin side.
Sheens, off contract at the end of the season, is understood to be one of Newcastle's top choices to replace Michael Hagan from 2007, should he part company with the Tigers.
Simmons said he would be ready to fill the breach should the Tigers coaching position become vacant.
"I haven't looked at that and I don't know how the Wests Tigers feel about that, but if for some reason down the track Tim leaves the club and the Wests Tigers offered me the job, I would certainly take it," Simmons said after the Tigers returned to Sydney today following their 30-10 World Club Challenge loss to Bradford.
"I wouldn't think the Wests Tigers wouldn't want me on board if I wasn't trying to better myself and get better and help the Wests Tigers hopefully go to a new level again.
"If I wasn't doing that they wouldn't be happy with me.
"If someone down the track poached me for another job, I'd certainly listen to it."
Upon hearing of Simmons' appointment to the Blues' coaching staff, Sheens said: "Good luck to him, he should be coaching first grade."
Simmons held the head coaching role at Penrith from 1994-2001, with a record of 70 wins, 97 losses and four draws.
He coached the Panthers to the semi-finals in the 1997 Super League season, and again in the 2000 NRL campaign, but he was sacked after they picked up the wooden spoon in 2001.
Simmons said he wouldn't apply for the Newcastle coaching job, but would consider it if headhunted.
Sheens said he was in no rush to re-sign with the Tigers, despite suggestions his signature could be the key to retaining Scott Prince beyond 2006.
"Scott's management and our management are talking and we are hoping to put it all together before the start of the season," Sheens said.
"Again guys, I'm not in any rush.
"We have 12 months to go (on contract). I put no time limit on it, I'm just trying to tie up the best possible playing staff."
Asked if he was sounded out about the Knights job, Sheens said: "That's news to me. From what I've heard, every club and every coach has been (linked) to that."
Knights chairman Ken Conway meanwhile refused to comment on potential candidates for the Newcastle post.
Prince, who has been given permission to negotiate with Queensland-based NRL clubs up until the season's mid-March kick-off, hoped Sheens would remain with Wests Tigers.
"I think so, it's always nice to know who your coach is going to be for the next three to five years, however long he wants to sign for," Prince said.
"But it's certainly none of my business and I want to work out for myself what I want to do.
"Certainly we want to sort something out before the start of the season, hopefully we can do that, but at the moment it's in the hands of my manager and he's dealing with the clubs."
