This is the mystery man who could hold the key to Wests Tigers retaining their off-contract superstars.

Joe Wehbe is known in league circles as the "football whisperer", a secret mentor to a host of Tigers topliners including Aaron Woods, James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses. In a bid to retain them and fellow free agent Luke Brooks, the Tigers have opened negotiations with Wehbe about a potential role at the joint-venture outfit.

While he works with some of the biggest names in the game across a number of clubs, he is no attention seeker. Described as a "touch footy guru", Wehbe has been at pains to keep his association with players confidential, but has quickly emerged as one of rugby league's most intriguing characters. He is the father of The X Factor contestant Carla Wehbe, who made such an impression during her 2013 audition that judge Redfoo cooed, "You have what it takes to make the world happy".

The property developer is close friends with Stephen Kearney and their association has spanned club and country. Wehbe was on staff during Kearney's stint as New Zealand coach, operating under the title "peak performance coach". Kearney, a former assistant to Wayne Bennett at the Brisbane Broncos, also invited Wehbe for a series of the NRL side's training sessions. His stint at Red Hill – at which he reportedly gave playmakers advice which included "trust the ball" – coincided with a three-match winning streak.