Next Time we make the Top 8

[twentyforty]

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.

These media guys support each other in general. Joey always gives his opinion without supporting evidence.
The point is, Benji does have a lot of support around him atm. As Sheens said, He's the attack coach, Furner the Defence and Robbie the D on our line.
In 2025 all that changes, Benji Head Coach, Furner? and Robbie gone.
Now if Benji cant handle 25 with the training wheels off, then 26 is going to look like a repeat of 22, with the board desperate to once again shift the blame.

 

[earl]

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

2025 to win the comp mate.

 

[Halbrowne61]

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.

Just one reaction from me. I don’t think our pack is elite, it’s solid and has some balance but I’m starting to get concerned about Klemmer

 

[The Fresh Oil]

Make the 8?

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

Gotta calm down on those expectations mate. Thats dream talk.

 

[The Sniffer]

Whenever Knobhead Lee and Knobhead Pascoe are far far far away from this club is the answer.

 

[The Sniffer]

Just one reaction from me. I don’t think our pack is elite, it’s solid and has some balance but I’m starting to get concerned about Klemmer

Klem needs to hit the gym

 

[Moh]

Won't be next year.

We'll learn a lot in 2025, then hopefully 2026 is finals year.

 

[mikey]

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

One small step for mankind, still no top 8 for the Wests Tigers Houston.

 

[Buttface]

Next time we make the 8 I’m gunna buy me one of those fancy t-shirts that say “Woo Hoo, we made the 8!!!”
I will then have a collection of two.

 

[mikey]

Next time we make the 8 I’m gunna buy me one of those fancy t-shirts that say “Woo Hoo, we made the 8!!!”
I will then have a collection of two.

Hoarder?

 

[Fallen Angel]

Won't be next year.

We'll learn a lot in 2025, then hopefully 2026 is finals year.

This. 2026 minimum.

 

[Yanz 85]

2025 to win the comp mate.

The WNRL Comp.

 

[tiger_scott]

2024 = 8, out in week 1 of the finals
2025 = 5, out in week 2 of the finals
2026 = 5, Premiers
2027 = 1, Premiers

 

[Tom Shines]

2024 = 8, out in week 1 of the finals
2025 = 5, out in week 2 of the finals
2026 = 5, Premiers
2027 = 1, Premiers

I might sign up for that

 

[tiger_scott]

I might sign up for that

It's along shot, but if the gods of footy have a sense of karma, it's a chance

 

[Needaname]

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.

Let’s unpack that statement.
When did they struggle for a bit? I’m curious in terms of the timeline

 

[Fallen Angel]

Let’s unpack that statement.
When did they struggle for a bit? I’m curious in terms of the timeline

They got the spoon in 2001. Being behind Penrith by 22 years seems about right.

 

[Needaname]

Just one reaction from me. I don’t think our pack is elite, it’s solid and has some balance but I’m starting to get concerned about Klemmer

In my opinion it is having two bean poles in Klemmer and Steff that has us unstuck.
I would seriously bench one of them and play either Pole or James alongside them.
They may run hard and straight but the defence is all over these tall Timbers because there is no variety in their runs.

 

[Needaname]

They got the spoon in 2001. Being behind Penrith by 22 years seems about right.

Yeah that’s why I asked. I’m pretty sure they came second last in 2007 and was looking that way in 2015 and 2019 until the last couple of games.
But in reality you cannot compare us to the Panthers. They have never struggled for a Marquee recruit.
They have always had a plethora of junior talents to choose from. They had won maybe only 1 premiership in the same timeframe as our existence but made the finals on far more occasions.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Yeah that’s why I asked. I’m pretty sure they came second last in 2007 and was looking that way in 2015 and 2019 until the last couple of games.
But in reality you cannot compare us to the Panthers. They have never struggled for a Marquee recruit.
They have always had a plethora of junior talents to choose from. They had won maybe only 1 premiership in the same timeframe as our existence but made the finals on far more occasions.

As has most teams in the comp. No other side has come close to our finals record since 2000.