Palmer was head trainer at the Roosters for 24 years and more recently worked at Penrith and Parramatta. But the chance to return to the club he played for was too good to refuse.

"I'm going back to where it all began, as they say," Palmer said. "My first year [as a player] at the Tigers was '71 and I had five years there. Whenever I'm doing any team, as the song says, you've got to love the one you're with.

"I played as a local junior at the Balmain club. I still live in the area, I've never moved out so it's always been close to my heart."

The Tigers are in a rebuilding phase, something Palmer knows plenty about. He helped Tigers coach Ivan Cleary with Penrith's rebuild when they were at the foot of the mountains and also assisted Brad Arthur's turnaround of Parramatta. Now the man affectionately known as "40-20", "The Cougar" and "The Balmain Chalmer" is going back to where it all began.

"It was a tough decision because the Eels are obviously on the up, they've got a good coach and their CEO is a good mate of mine," Palmer said.