NRL: Wests Tigers sack Jason Taylor

Tigers coach Jason Taylor. Photo / Getty

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has been sacked by the NRL club, effective immediately, and assistant Andrew Webster becomes interim coach.

Wests Tigers Chair Marina Go comfirmed the axing in a statement on Monday.

"We are committed to building a side that will be in a position to win NRL premierships and believe that this decision is the correct one for the future of the club," said Go.

Following back-to-back thumpings by Canberra and Penrith, it is understood board members were ready to move Taylor on.

Taylor's controversial reign included the public stoush with ex-captain Robbie Farah who was forced out of the club after last season.

The club's "big four" of skipper Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks were all reportedly seeking certainty about the club's coaching position before re-committing for 2018.

All four are off contract and the club is fighting to retain their biggest stars in the face of poaching raids from rival clubs.

They are reportedly keen to play under North Queensland assistant coach Todd Payten, who mentored them during his time as the Tigers' under 20s coach.

Payten and former Penrith and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary shape as the leading contenders to take over full-time.

Taylor won 31 and lost 20 matches since taking over at the start of the 2015 season and has a career coaching record of 43 per cent after previous stints at Parramatta and South Sydney.

He was sacked in controversial circumstances by the Rabbitohs in 2009 following a Mad Monday altercation with second-rower David Fa'alogo.

He last year survived the bitter showdown with Farah which led to the NSW No.9 departing for the Rabbitohs.

Farah is still on the Tigers' books with the club forced to pay a portion of his salary for this season.

The joint venture has not played finals since 2011 and with the club desperate to get back to the finals, Sunday's 46-6 flogging at the hands of the Raiders was the last straw for Taylor.

- AAP