Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

gregjm87 said:
The Wests Tigers are set to fast-track Benji Marshall’s ascension to the head coaching role in time for the start of the 2024 pre-season.
While Tim Sheens will remain the head coach in name, the club has mapped out a plan for Marshall to assume his responsibilities when the team returns for pre-season training in November.

The club had originally planned to give Marshall a two-year apprenticeship under the guidance of Sheens. However, Tigers powerbrokers believe they need to fast-track the handover after just nine months.
Saturday night’s 74-0 shellacking at the hands of the North Queensland Cowboys has once again placed a question mark over the club’s decision to invest so heavily in the Sheens-Marshall combination.

The Tigers have given no thought to parting ways with Sheens, but believe Marshall is ready to step up and take control of the team.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity confirmed Marshall has a far greater say in the running of the team than he did at the start of the year, but Sheens is still the senior figure who has the final say. Sheens is still in charge of team selection.

Those roles are set to change over the off-season, with Marshall to become the loudest voice in the room and Sheens to take a step back to oversee the development of the man who led the club to its only premiership back in 2005.
The Tigers still want Sheens to shield his protege from the bullets over the next year, which is why the veteran coach is expected to keep his tag as head coach and front the cameras.


Marshall has impressed the players with his demeanour and tactical nous since joining the coaching staff, with many inside the organisation of the opinion he’s ready to assume the head coaching duties.
The criticism from within the playing group under the Michael Maguire regime reflected a belief the coach lacked the communication skills for them to flourish on game day.

There is a feeling within the club that players are receiving mixed messages as a result of having two senior coaching figures. Some officials believe that having a singular figurehead on the coaching staff will help solve that problem.
In an interview with this masthead before the season, Sheens had foreseen a potential shift in the club’s plan given what he’d seen from Marshall over the pre-season.

“He’ll kill it,” Sheens told this masthead back in January. “He’ll make it, easy. There’s just no doubt. “In two years’ time he’ll be ready to go easy. In fact, I reckon in 12 months’ time I’ll have to watch my back.”
“I’m an interim coach, basically. And I’m happy about that. I have my say still. I’ve still got the big stick, but at the end of the day if they [Marshall and fellow assistant Robbie Farah] want to run with something and I’m happy with it, I let them run with it because that’s teaching them what they need to do.”

Tigers officials would not comment when contacted by this masthead on Sunday.
Some Tigers fans would prefer the bullets being aimed at Sheens to be directed towards management and directors, who decided an untested rookie coach in partnership with an ageing veteran mentor was the blueprint out of the club’s predicament.

While the loss to the Cowboys, the third biggest in NRL history, saw the club sink to a new low, the Tigers are clinging to the areas of improvement.
Coming into the game against the Cowboys, the Tigers had conceded just 22.9 points per game and had only once leaked more than 28 points in a match.

That’s a notable improvement on the 28.3 points per game they conceded under Michael Maguire and Brett Kimmorley last year. Yet they remain at the bottom of the ladder.
The fact the Tigers have lost five games this year by a converted try or less may provide some cause for comfort to those within the building.

The development of some of the game’s best young talent, including Jahream Bula and Fonua Pole, also provides light at the end of the tunnel, yet there remains a passionate fan base fed up with incompetence and ineptitude from a team that will this season miss the finals for a 12th consecutive year.
With Luke Brooks on his way out, Marshall’s first task is to find a replacement. The club is holding out hope of signing Manly teenage sensation Latu Fainu to wear Marshall’s famous No.6 jersey.
The club has also expressed interest in the likes of Brayden Trindall and Jack Cogger to play halfback. That job is now for new recruitment boss Scott Fulton to try and sort out.
Regardless of job titles and positions, it is Marshall’s voice which will soon matter most.
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I think in a recent interview sheens basically said Benji is already the full time coach, so current results must surely rest with him, so nothing would change except name
 
88 said:
Recruitment is obviously the main factor moving forward, but still think the assistant coaches are going to be super important to Benji’s success as head coach. Assuming Furner and Farah stay on, the fourth assistant needs to bring a lot. Maybe another older, steady head with past head coach experience and good track record of training structures. The KOE and JF coaches also key as they need to coach the same style and structures as first grade and help bring on the next generation.
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Ben Gardiner.
 
The Chad said:
Re-signing Staines & Laurie covers FB, wing & 5/8.

Latu Fainu to cover 7/6

Sam Fainu to the bench- 2nd row

Zac Fulton- 13

Brad Parker/Mawene Hiroti/Adam Pompey/Bradman Best/ Paul Momorovski- #3/#4

Keio Weekes- Wing/Centre

Hymel Hunt/ Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega/Waqa Blake/ COREY ALLEN- Wing

Clune/Sezar/Cogger/Walker/Trindall/Taaffe/Schneider/Lam/Pearce....Mbye? (insert additional names here)- 7/6

Bayley Sironen/Corey Waddell/Bryce Cartwright- 2nd Row depth

Obviously some of these players are not exactly 'exciting', but the right combinations can give the squad the right mix.

There is money to spare, so no need to be super frugal. BUT- the club needs to learn from previous mistakes- don't overspend on talent. For example- I'd be happy for Mbye to be back, on $300k. But $800k would cause a riot.

If he IS available- the team is in position to throw good money at Sam Walker. If they can make him a marquee signing, fill the roster with solid players, with our forwards & the young players coming through...
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Your analysis was good……and then I read Mybe………..you suggested Mbye……………..
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
 
Tom Shines said:
It appears they have these jobs until they die… a bit like the Pope or the Queen
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Reminds me of an old Simpsons episode when Homer formed a vigilante group to find the cat burglar and the power went to his head and he started running roughshod all over Springfield. Lisa says “If you’re the police, who will police the police?”. I feel like Pascoe’s response would echo Homer’s “Idk, Coastguard?”
 
Fallen Angel said:
Reminds me of an old Simpsons episode when Homer formed a vigilante group to find the cat burglar and the power went to his head and he started running roughshod all over Springfield. Lisa says “If you’re the police, who will police the police?”. I feel like Pascoe’s response would echo Homer’s “Idk, Coastguard?”
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Who will police the police?
Baddabing Baddaboom!
 
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