Wests Tigers Coaches

I predict Benji won't work.

My choice would have been John Morris. Experience in a dud club developing juniors and incorporating average veterans to have success. He seemed to have all the qualities we needed.

I like Benji, I usually go for the hardworking types like Twal, but Benji is my favourite player. Just that flair and speed and exuberance was something special, and I doubt we'll see the like of it again.

I don't see it working as a coach, though. He's all flair and speed and instinct. I felt in games he was ill disciplined and went for too much which often cost us and blew our momentum. Same for Robbie. He was also good at turning that around, but we had many below average years under Sheens, Robbie and Marshall and I'm not sure there's enough understanding of how to be successful consistently there.

Players like Trent Robinson were very intelligent players with limited physical ability. You could see they were intelligent and club leaders. Robinson was my favourite player when I watched lower grades. I think Benji has matured but I wonder how much. I wonder how he'll go with putting the team needs ahead of himself. I always felt he overtalked to the media to our detriment, adding unnecessary hype and pressure to players. You can see he's trying to help, but big talk usually led to disappointing results and performances.

I really like Benji, I thought we should have signed him again before he went to Souths, and I've never shared the bitterness that other fans have for him. I think he is an engaging talker and the media and players seem to like him. I also think his desire to coach is genuine and I believe he's given up easier work for more pay with less pressure for a job that puts his reputation on the line. Again I admire that.

I also don't mind the model of a junior coach working towards taking over as head coach, though there seems few examples where that has worked, so this would also be breaking new ground. I also don't mind Benji's inexperience, I'm just not sure he's the right person to do it. Can he, like Bellamy, give his forwards a role in the team that gives them confidence and they believe in? To me, Benji seems to soft for that and he'll need to learn to have more edge and hardness about him in the next two years when talking to players.

At the end of his career he'd learnt how to play effectively despite being slower and more limited physically, I hope he has learnt from this and will know what he's good at as a coach and what he should leave to others. I'm just not sure he will and unfortunately I don't think it will work.
We should have hired Natyhan Milone
 
I predict Benji won't work.

My choice would have been John Morris. Experience in a dud club developing juniors and incorporating average veterans to have success. He seemed to have all the qualities we needed.

I like Benji, I usually go for the hardworking types like Twal, but Benji is my favourite player. Just that flair and speed and exuberance was something special, and I doubt we'll see the like of it again.

I don't see it working as a coach, though. He's all flair and speed and instinct. I felt in games he was ill disciplined and went for too much which often cost us and blew our momentum. Same for Robbie. He was also good at turning that around, but we had many below average years under Sheens, Robbie and Marshall and I'm not sure there's enough understanding of how to be successful consistently there.

Players like Trent Robinson were very intelligent players with limited physical ability. You could see they were intelligent and club leaders. Robinson was my favourite player when I watched lower grades. I think Benji has matured but I wonder how much. I wonder how he'll go with putting the team needs ahead of himself. I always felt he overtalked to the media to our detriment, adding unnecessary hype and pressure to players. You can see he's trying to help, but big talk usually led to disappointing results and performances.

I really like Benji, I thought we should have signed him again before he went to Souths, and I've never shared the bitterness that other fans have for him. I think he is an engaging talker and the media and players seem to like him. I also think his desire to coach is genuine and I believe he's given up easier work for more pay with less pressure for a job that puts his reputation on the line. Again I admire that.

I also don't mind the model of a junior coach working towards taking over as head coach, though there seems few examples where that has worked, so this would also be breaking new ground. I also don't mind Benji's inexperience, I'm just not sure he's the right person to do it. Can he, like Bellamy, give his forwards a role in the team that gives them confidence and they believe in? To me, Benji seems to soft for that and he'll need to learn to have more edge and hardness about him in the next two years when talking to players.

At the end of his career he'd learnt how to play effectively despite being slower and more limited physically, I hope he has learnt from this and will know what he's good at as a coach and what he should leave to others. I'm just not sure he will and unfortunately I don't think it will work.

I think you overlooked a lot depends on what type of squad they can shape over the next few years.
 
Call me crazy but the guy I’m excited to see benji work with isn’t brooks but laurie, Laurie reminds me so much of a very early benji..think 03/04 a young tiny kid with Not much iq just running around, it’s out of the box but could a combo of Laurie and Doueihi but a future halves pairing for the club, screams benji motzen to me, maybe this time they’ll be able to stay on the park?
 
Pretty interesting that he has identified it already. Obviously a lot can change, but:

I would think the number 6 is Douiehi.

However, a lot of guessing over who he might be thinking for the other positions.

Fullback...Laurie would have to be the frontrunner. Tupou outside the box as a fullback maybe (might explain him playing a lot of cup there?) Not sure outside of those guys...Cathane Hill from Balmain SG Ball, Luke Laulili'i or Kanaan from Harold Matthews?

Half... Brooks or Hastings you feel would be who he is thinking.

The number 9 could be hotly contested...Tannous, Simpkin and Da Silva. Even Rua. All got potential.


The spine he said he identified are "3 years away' so they'd be in the pathways.
 
Sheens/Marshall - Inspired or insane?
That's the question.
However, as I see it, the Board has made a bold and brave decision. It may end in disaster - so what's new?
It just must may be the decision that will finally move this club on a trajectory that it deserves - to be one of the power clubs of the NRL.
When Ciraldo knocked back the club's offer, there was a tough decision to make - search for the 'next best', or search for a new perspective.

I believe the decision to invest in the Sheens/Marshall combo is a decision that should be applauded.
What if we had appointed Morris? Or Woolf? Or one of the other available coaches with some NRL experience?
We have been down that road for ever. Ever since Sheens was given the flick a lifetime ago.
And we have only been treading water (at best) or regressing ever since.

A brand new approach was needed. And that is what we have. It's a 'back to the future' scenario.
How will it end? Who knows. But I for one feel just a tiny bit of excitement for the first time in a long time regarding this club.
Sheens, Marshall and Farah were instrumental in evolving and instilling the Weststigers DNA. They know what it means to be a Weststigers club man. Yes, they have been 'shown the door' on at least one occasion, (and in less than savoury circumstances), but that hasn't dampened their love for the club. That's what we need. People who love the club and are determined to make is succeed.

Whether ultimately this decision proves to be insane or inspired, I congratulate the people who made this brave decision.
Great post.
 
The spine he said he identified are "3 years away' so they'd be in the pathways.
Yeah I was just trying to imagine Sheens train of thought and know he still likes some experience/senior heads in there.

Probably end up a mixture for Benji's first year of head coaching. A bit of youth, mixed with a bit more experience.

I think a few are right in saying Da Silva...he seems a very highly rated prospect. The club rates Douiehi long term in the halves by the sounds of things. A bit up in the air outside of that. I guess the only man who knows will be Sheensy.
 
Weidler seems annoyed he has received not credit

The story that doesn’t fit in with all the back-slapping about Benji Marshall’s appointment as Wests Tigers head coach from 2025 is a secret second approach to Cameron Ciraldo.

Just days before the spin went into overdrive to try and take attention away from the farcical manner in which their favourite son was catapulted into the NRL’s most poisonous position, the Tigers went back to Panthers assistant Ciraldo despite his snubbing of the club only weeks before.
And don’t think Tim Sheens will be at the Tigers for the long haul either: he has told friends of a desire to live in England.

Incoming Tigers coach Tim Sheens has insisted Benji Marshall has the potential to become a successful first-grade coach despite suggestions the move is a gamble
The “Tigerish” manner in which all of this happened has been lost in the feel-good story that Marshall is back, and with his old mate Robbie Farah at his side. The Tigers first appointed Sheens to work on pathways and oversee former coach Michael Maguire. Then Sheens sacked Maguire and declared Ciraldo the man the Tigers wanted. They missed out on him and it became evident Sheens would be willing to end his worldwide search and coach himself.
The spin to soften that blow started with Marshall going public to say what a good coach Sheens would be, followed up with the same from other Sheens supporters to prepare everyone for what was coming next. On Monday, colleague Michael Chammas broke the story that Sheens had the job. The man who sacked Maguire either appointed himself or was appointed to coach after a decade out of the NRL.

Before the deal was announced with Marshall, a conversation was had with Ciraldo to see if he wanted to sign on for two years under Sheens, followed by three as head coach. He politely declined.

Now, here is where it gets really odd. A lunch with News Corp journalists is being credited as the catalyst for the Sheens-Marshall dream team. The last time a media company – Fox Sports – worked with the club it was on the documentary Wild Wests: Tales From Tiger Town, which virtually ensured Maguire would be sacked as the club was portrayed as leaderless.

The News Corp role would be great for the Tigers: it means they will get the favourable media they have been craving as News Corp journalists can’t be too critical because it was their idea.
Imagine if Sheens flounders for two years and finds the soul-destroying task of coaching the Tigers to be too much? He might be saved from the News Corp blowtorch – as may chief executive Justin Pascoe and the board. But, if it goes well, the Tigers hierarchy can’t take credit, because it wasn’t their idea.

Marshall will certainly appeal to players. Having interviewed countless players about who they admired growing up, the most popular answer by far for backs is Marshall. Hopefully that will translate into recruitment.

Marshall’s toughness and determination are also overlooked. He came back from five shoulder reconstructions. If he can also utilise his communication skills and years of experience, he will have a fighting chance of success.
And word out of the Tigers is that David Furner has done a long-term deal, to be their fourth coach – the only one with recent NRL experience.
 
Weidler seems annoyed he has received not credit

The story that doesn’t fit in with all the back-slapping about Benji Marshall’s appointment as Wests Tigers head coach from 2025 is a secret second approach to Cameron Ciraldo.

Just days before the spin went into overdrive to try and take attention away from the farcical manner in which their favourite son was catapulted into the NRL’s most poisonous position, the Tigers went back to Panthers assistant Ciraldo despite his snubbing of the club only weeks before.
And don’t think Tim Sheens will be at the Tigers for the long haul either: he has told friends of a desire to live in England.

Incoming Tigers coach Tim Sheens has insisted Benji Marshall has the potential to become a successful first-grade coach despite suggestions the move is a gamble
The “Tigerish” manner in which all of this happened has been lost in the feel-good story that Marshall is back, and with his old mate Robbie Farah at his side. The Tigers first appointed Sheens to work on pathways and oversee former coach Michael Maguire. Then Sheens sacked Maguire and declared Ciraldo the man the Tigers wanted. They missed out on him and it became evident Sheens would be willing to end his worldwide search and coach himself.
The spin to soften that blow started with Marshall going public to say what a good coach Sheens would be, followed up with the same from other Sheens supporters to prepare everyone for what was coming next. On Monday, colleague Michael Chammas broke the story that Sheens had the job. The man who sacked Maguire either appointed himself or was appointed to coach after a decade out of the NRL.

Before the deal was announced with Marshall, a conversation was had with Ciraldo to see if he wanted to sign on for two years under Sheens, followed by three as head coach. He politely declined.

Now, here is where it gets really odd. A lunch with News Corp journalists is being credited as the catalyst for the Sheens-Marshall dream team. The last time a media company – Fox Sports – worked with the club it was on the documentary Wild Wests: Tales From Tiger Town, which virtually ensured Maguire would be sacked as the club was portrayed as leaderless.

The News Corp role would be great for the Tigers: it means they will get the favourable media they have been craving as News Corp journalists can’t be too critical because it was their idea.
Imagine if Sheens flounders for two years and finds the soul-destroying task of coaching the Tigers to be too much? He might be saved from the News Corp blowtorch – as may chief executive Justin Pascoe and the board. But, if it goes well, the Tigers hierarchy can’t take credit, because it wasn’t their idea.

Marshall will certainly appeal to players. Having interviewed countless players about who they admired growing up, the most popular answer by far for backs is Marshall. Hopefully that will translate into recruitment.

Marshall’s toughness and determination are also overlooked. He came back from five shoulder reconstructions. If he can also utilise his communication skills and years of experience, he will have a fighting chance of success.
And word out of the Tigers is that David Furner has done a long-term deal, to be their fourth coach – the only one with recent NRL experience.
Hahaha Weidler clearly annoyed he didn't get an invite for breakfast at Grappa with the others. He is really reaching with this story.
 
There's a story in today's telegraph about sheens first moves as coach, but it's behind a paywall just interested if it had anything to do with recruitment
No. In summary it is that he has approved Kimmorley's spine selection this week
 

How does the media get this stuff? Leaks are continuous.
This article is a matter of perspective. Certain journalists if they get a carrot will place it into the stew and stir.
This is a nothing article. Someone described on here that the journo probably didn’t get the invitation to the lunch with Sheens, that’s exactly what it is.
😂
 
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