Next Time we make the Top 8

[tig_prmz]

All of us as a group probably have a good idea of where Wests Tigers is at.

It would be interesting to see how people's hopes are.

 

[The Fresh Oil]

2025 has a good ring about it.

 

[Fallen Angel]

It’s insane really. It may be another 6 to 7 years at least. That may sound crazy, but it would have sounded crazy saying that in 2016. To not have one season in the last decade where we at least fell over backwards into 8th and got bailed out in week one shows how incompetent this club has been. And there are no signs of things getting better anytime soon.

 

[jrtiger]

I'm gambling a little bit here given there's still a lot to play out in the player market, but I think we can make the 8 next year. my reasons are below.

- our pack is elite. this year there has been some jostling for position but I believe the pack we are rolling out this week is the final product, with Pole eventually back on the bench and Samuela likely in jersey 17.

- halves has been the biggest issue since Round 1. lack of direction, cohesion, footballing smarts, control, x-factor. Sezer is a steady hand who will lead the side around and kick well. his combination with Bateman has also been successful in the past. Latu is truly special and will be a gun for hire out on that left edge. a preseason with those two, plus Bula as first string fullback, Koroisau through the middle and Da Silva on the bench is a very very good spine on its day.

- all of the young brigade that are regular first graders now (Bula, Tupou, To'a, Utoikamanu, Blore, Pole, Da Silva) will all be another year older. I know there are people have their doubts about Starford at the moment, but I think there is a very good player there. he's fallen by the wayside these past couple weeks, but that doesn't mean he's a lost cause at 21. guys like Fa'agutu, the Laulili'i's, Galvin, Feledy, Sukkar and Miller will all be pushing for first grade debuts next year which is only going to lift the bottom line further.

- we're definitely after outside backs, namely centres. if we can keep Staines and sign a first-grade proven centre that will shore up our edges, we will improve. also will ensure that guys like Naden and Kepaoa are one step further back on the depth chart. guys like Brad Parker, Paul Momirovski and Braidon Burns are ideal for what we want.

- it will be year 2 of 'The Marshall Plan'. repetition is everything, and the style of play and development of our identity will be another 12 months down the track. I think that with everything listed above, plus another preseason and an opportunity to further implement the desired style of play will get us to where we need to be.

this is probably stupidly optimistic given our circumstances, but if things pan out the way I think they will in the off season, we will be far closer than we think.

 

[mikey]

I'm going glass half-full on the proviso we get a decent half/ 5/8.

That will give the rest of the team some belief their efforts like this year in the forwards will be rewarded - that belief is a big factor in a team's success.

 

[Kelce68]

It’s insane really. It may be another 6 to 7 years at least. That may sound crazy, but it would have sounded crazy saying that in 2016. To not have one season in the last decade where we at least fell over backwards into 8th and got bailed out in week one shows how incompetent this club has been. And there are no signs of things getting better anytime soon.

*Yawn.

 

[Saturnalia]

We'll probably have a permanent settlement on the moon before we make the eight.

 

[Fallen Angel]

*Yawn.

What about any of that is untrue?

 

[Kelce68]

What about any of that is untrue?

It may be another 6 to 7 years at least.

And there are no signs of things getting better anytime soon.

Those.

Though I didn't say your post was untrue; I yawned upon reading it.

 

[innsaneink]

Hopefully next year if we get some decent outside backs but probably 25

Benji really needs to step up too our red zone attack needs major overhaul

 

[Fallen Angel]

It may be another 6 to 7 years at least.

And there are no signs of things getting better anytime soon.

Those.

Though I didn't say your post was untrue; I yawned upon reading it.

Well, I could lie and say I believe we’ll make the finals in 24 or 25, but I can’t see it. I’d rather be honest. I know it’s grim and probably boring, but sometimes reality is grim and boring. Is our roster looking any better than anyone else’s next year? Enough to get out of the bottom 4 at least?

 

[Tom Shines]

Make the 8?

I would take winning 7 games, avoiding the spoon and not having the season all over in May

 

[matchball]

Always next year until about this time next year when I say next year.

 

[twentyforty]

Benji was called into the “secret meeting” to pitch his 5 year plan. And that’s ok, but we still have a board of knee jerkers.
I’d like to hear the board collectively present a 3, 7 and 10 year plan for the club, and not only present it but show that they’re committed to it, before I can even think about finals.
Benji is right to keep his social media job going, because there’s a possibility he may not see the end of 26.
Gosh, it seems that most decision makers at the club have other priorities. I want them all to be obsessed with Wests Tigers, bring life to the dream, give us the vision and bring it to life, before I can have confidence in them.
I honestly can’t see us making finals during the next few seasons.
We traditionally fall apart at seasons end, so I’ll be watching and hoping for a strong finish for a glass half full kinda view.

 

[gregjm87]

I think 2026 is our next hope.
Currently our halves for next year are Sezer who I don't think is good enough and Fainu who will likely be inconsistent due to his youth. We haven't recruited anyone for our awful backline and we are again relying on kids stepping up to provide any depth across all positions.
Looks like next year a struggle.
25 those kids start to play some decent footy but still not consistent enough to be a threat.
26 if all goes well we find Fainu a halves partner, retain the young talent who by now should be established and push for the 8.
This all assumes that Benji can actually coach and we don't need to restart with a new coach's vision.

 

[earl]

And that’s ok, but we still have a board of knee jerkers.

Here is the thing - they haven't changed their approach yet. They are still backing Benji and in reality all they've done is give him better support by upgrading the recruitment team. That recruitment team have just signed the best kids we could and one of those kids is in a key position that we've struggled in for years.

So atm I have the board and management doing the right thing.

If Benji can't get this team performing on the park though the whole plan is going to be shown as ridiculous as it was when they announced it. I want to make the finals next season. I expect to come last but I don't see why we can't improve significantly. We are the worst team by far in the comp.

 

[Tucker]

Last night Joey Johns made the stunning claim that Benji Marshal was definitely the coach to get this squad firing. No context, no reasoning…he just is, because reasons?

I think we have a big problem out side of our board and our roster. Our coach (and I don’t mean Sheens) doesn’t coach very well. He isn’t coming up with any innovative plays, doesn’t have us playing a brand of footy that worries defences, doesn’t have us defending as a unit and isn’t improving our weakest players.
Last night was absolutely a must win game. We struck them with a wet noodle.

I think 2025 will be the earliest we make the 8 but probably 2026 in reality. Benji needs help from a strategic point of view. He is likely a good man manager, but he needs to be able to think on his feet during a game and get the result dependant on how the game is playing out in front of him. Close losses when you were the better team is worse than a flogging, because a bad day at the office happens…shit happens. However losing a game you should have won comes back on the coach for mine. He dropped the ball last night giving one of only 2 guys worrying the defence of St George a rest. Api needed to play 80. No slight on Talyn but Api is twice as good as him currently. All attack should have gone through Laurie last night, Wakeham was having a poor game.

We’ll have a decent squad next year but Benji can’t lead them to the finals on his own.

 

[Tom Shines]

Last night Joey Johns made the stunning claim that Benji Marshal was definitely the coach to get this squad firing. No context, no reasoning…he just is, because reasons?

I think we have a big problem out side of our board and our roster. Our coach (and I don’t mean Sheens) doesn’t coach very well. He isn’t coming up with any innovative plays, doesn’t have us playing a brand of footy that worries defences, doesn’t have us defending as a unit and isn’t improving our weakest players.
Last night was absolutely a must win game. We struck them with a wet noodle.

I think 2025 will be the earliest we make the 8 but probably 2026 in reality. Benji needs help from a strategic point of view. He is likely a good man manager, but he needs to be able to think on his feet during a game and get the result dependant on how the game is playing out in front of him. Close losses when you were the better team is worse than a flogging, because a bad day at the office happens…shit happens. However losing a game you should have won comes back on the coach for mine. He dropped the ball last night giving one of only 2 guys worrying the defence of St George a rest. Api needed to play 80. No slight on Talyn but Api is twice as good as him currently. All attack should have gone through Laurie last night, Wakeham was having a poor game.

We’ll have a decent squad next year but Benji can’t lead them to the finals on his own.

Agreed… I wonder if Sheens is giving advice trying to help Benji during the game ?

Team selections are confusing at best… Kepoa on the wing last week, and persevering with Talau are head scratchers…..and replacements during the game seem to be a problem… this has always been an issue with Sheens coached teams since his first stint here …

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

So many voting 2025. You guys are optimistic. I can't see us making the finals ever again.

 

[upthetigers]

Don't you think we're in a similar position to the Panthers? They struggled for a bit before their juniors became stars. We just need to persist with them and have them put in consistent performances which will come in time. If we lose our good juniors it will be the death of the club it's a really important next few years we have to get it right.