Kaito
Well-known member
Olam: Here to help
Justin Olam talks about his desire to build something special at Wests Tigers ahead of the team's first pre-season trial in New Zealand.
www.weststigers.com.au
2024 Pre-Season
- Thread starter KingRobbie
- Start date
www.weststigers.com.au
Watching a player like Thurston drag some dogshit teams into the finals (more than 3 times) negates that somewhat for me.
Also watching Benji have a decent winning record against the Storm for the most part does your argument no favours either...
I'm not knocking the bloke
- But winning as often as losing doesn't make him a winner for mine...
BAGNF05
Well-known member
The same team that made the grand final the year after Thurston retired. Good call 👍
PrattenParkMagpie
Well-known member
I'm following this thread with interest.
There's always stand-out players in every era, and zillions of opinions about who's best etc.
Reminds me of the old quote “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
Because what "we" see as individuals is one thing: what statistics reveal is another.
And perhaps the best narrative is from fellow players.
Personally, Benji is the best of my time (and I've seen a few) and no one has changed our game for the better than him.
(*** Warning - this is a Hoops Fox article, and still includes his opinionated slant)
www.foxsports.com.au
Why Benji is waxing lyrical about ‘outstanding’ teenage Tigers: Hoops
Why Benji is waxing lyrical about ‘outstanding’ teenage Tigers: Hoops
www.foxsports.com.au
Kaito
Well-known member
A glowing article from Hooper, surprising. Says
Galvin will partner Sezer in the first trial hmmm
JT - 17 Years in Grade 9 Finals
Farah - 17 Years in Grade 3 Finals (All at WT's)
Benji - 19 Years in Grade 6 Finals (3 at WT's)
- 4 Finals with him playing a main role in the team.
A reasonable difference considering 2 of them were in the same team for the majority of that time...
BAGNF05
Well-known member
Ah that’s right he was injured, my memory obviously let me down there. My bad. I do remember watching Michael Morgan lead the Cowboys to a GF though. Point still stands. Benji had to overcome much more dysfunction than JT.
Also, JT is more of a winner than Benji, I’m not disputing that. Doesn’t mean Benji was not a winner. Lol.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
I couldn’t be bothered looking for it but I remember Newcastles win percentage used to plummet without Joey, from like 75% to 15%. It would be interesting to see the top 10 list in this statistic-probably tell you more about winners.
rugbygoated
Well-known member
Not sure if it's been touched on before but really interested to see the old Canberra Raiders connection of Aidan Sezer and John Bateman this year. They'll probably be on opposing sides though. Does anyone know which side of the field Bateman/Papali'i are training on? Papali'i was left and Bateman was right in 2023
If JT was more of a winner than Benji, what happened in 2005 ?
Surely nobody is questioning Benji’s credentials as a champion player ?
I believe that will transition into him also being a champion coach, but as he says himself results will speak louder than words.
I just hope the club and the fans are willing to at least give him the benefit of the doubt if things don’t go to plan in 2024 and judge him based on results by the end of 2025.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
More so his ability to stand up at big moments. He underachieved for a player of his calibre. It’s not even debatable.
Enmore_Tiger
Well-known member
Like when he captained the World Cup Final win over Australia, or was is the Trans Tasman rest with the NZ try in the last minute?
innsaneink
Well-known member
What's Sullivan's injury?
Pretty sure Latu is ok to play in trials, just has to sit out an nrl approved game.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Some calf or achilles niggle that @The-moP passed on yesterday.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
You can’t name any moments he did that for our club? And do you really think in 13 seasons at our club, 3 finals series is an adequate return?
BAGNF05
Well-known member
You’re not considering context.
What was the probability of the Tigers making the finals for all those years, given that a Benji Marshall injury was all that was needed to derail a club that didn’t have the high profile playing roster of its competitors. I don’t recall a season (maybe there were a couple around 2010) where we were considered a strong chance of finishing top four and competing for the trophy. Each time we finished 9th most experts still considered the Tigers had probably over achieved. And I’ll ask again, name another halfback/five eighth who has lifted the Tigers into the top eight just once.
Josh Reynolds ❌
Mitchell Moses ❌
Luke Brooks ❌
Moses Mbye ❌
Adam Douehi ❌
Some of those players won at origin level and played grand finals at stronger clubs.
