Benji's Babes

100% agree Halbrowne61, would not have been spoken about if there has not been a whisper or 2 out there for someone to run with it.Someone must of said something along those lines.
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
An immediate improvement to our backline defence would be to move Galvin to centre and bring in Fainu into 6. Both are strong defenders. I am not sure who would be the other centre.
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I’d look at Douehi on the wing.
He is the only one in our side that runs the ball back hard. Less one on one mistakes on the wing and gets the sets started on kick returns.
Our Lomax (or to that effect)
 
As stated before on another thread West Tigers can't Sack Benji just yet but if we start the 25 season in the same fashion, they will put the trigger.
 
Blocker1963 said:
With nothing to looses, its time to remove some dead wood from the Team, bring in some young and enthusiastic players with a mix of experiences
1. Bula
2. Laulilli
3. Toa
4. Saukuru
5. Willett
6. Galvin
7. Fainu
8. Stefano
9. Api (TDS)
10. Pole
11. Fainu
12. Twal
13. Fainu
14. Mason
15. Z Clarke
16. Miller
17. Faagutu
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There is something to lose, our dignity... 50-0 is bad enough but 100-0 no thanks
 
Bellend said:
As stated before on another thread West Tigers can't Sack Benji just yet but if we start the 25 season in the same fashion, they will put the trigger.
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OK, but then can we understand at least what will be different in 2025? Are we saying that the addition of 1-2 quality players will make the difference, appreciating also that API is also going to be 1 year older? At what stage of the season do you pull the trigger? And is starting at that point better than starting new? Not questions to you, questions for management of WT.
 
Tiger_heart said:
OK, but then can we understand at least what will be different in 2025? Are we saying that the addition of 1-2 quality players will make the difference, appreciating also that API is also going to be 1 year older? At what stage of the season do you pull the trigger? And is starting at that point better than starting new? Not questions to you, questions for management of WT.
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Not all struggling teams improve within one season after a change of leadership.
Look at Canberra when sticky took over.
Penrith when Cleary took over (both times).
Cowboys when Payten took over
Broncos when Kevy took over.
Bulldogs when Ciraldo took over.
For example.
Come next year if we suffer the same result without marked improvement then yes.
 
batboy said:
On top of that,
Or squad is riddled with blokes who don't want to do the work....
Throwing kids in the deep end will only create more of this "It's all too hard" mentality we're littered with....

How do blokes end up as professional athletes these days and can't (or won't) back themselves to get the job done is beyond me....
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When introducing new members of the team, the new guy wants to quickly develop trust and fit in I guess. So rather than impose his ideas he is more focussed on what others in the group mean when they say, "this is the way we do things around here.' I don't know really. just stabbing in the dark? Its beyond belief that an NRL footy club doesn't either have aspirations to win or doesn't know how to develop that winning attitude.
 
Bellend said:
Could be wrong Luai sticking points was Benji as coach, and this one of the main reasons he will not be sacked until next season.
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People underestimate the power of Luai.

The guy breeds success, and suddenly, we have a confident halfback who has won 3 premierships to combine with Api again and bringing a finisher in Turuva.

The energy that will bring to guys like Galvin and Bula will be something we couldn't acheive this year.

Aiden Sezer played a role for us, but he went to the UK for a reason—he just wasn't up to it at the NRL level, and we saw that when we attacked the Sharks line the other night for five sets in a row and couldn't score.

We will make the top 8 next year. I think we will be better off with Nelson over Stef if that's how it plays out. Mabe Stef will come good in a few years, but his heart isn't at the tigers and he wont perform here... I've accepted that. Happy to be proved wrong, but Nelson and Pole going hit for hit, that would scare any team.

My point here is that I think Benji will succeed, but it was never going to be this year with this squad.
 
mtd#2 said:
People underestimate the power of Luai.

The guy breeds success, and suddenly, we have a confident halfback who has won 3 premierships to combine with Api again and bringing a finisher in Turuva.

The energy that will bring to guys like Galvin and Bula will be something we couldn't acheive this year.

Aiden Sezer played a role for us, but he went to the UK for a reason—he just wasn't up to it at the NRL level, and we saw that when we attacked the Sharks line the other night for five sets in a row and couldn't score.

We will make the top 8 next year. I think we will be better off with Nelson over Stef if that's how it plays out. Mabe Stef will come good in a few years, but his heart isn't at the tigers and he wont perform here... I've accepted that. Happy to be proved wrong, but Nelson and Pole going hit for hit, that would scare any team.

My point here is that I think Benji will succeed, but it was never going to be this year with this squad.
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So you think a handful of blokes, most of which are already here, will drag us into the 8 next year?
What does your expected forward pack look like?
 
Tucker said:
So you think a handful of blokes, most of which are already here, will drag us into the 8 next year?
What does your expected forward pack look like?
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100% I do. Remember what Joey did to the knights in the early 2000's? They'd lose games by 40 without him then when he played, they could beat anyone. Luai is our Joey, but he has Galvin to step up next to him. Its mouth watering.

Our backline is pretty much set and looks REALLY good.

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Douhei
4. Olam
5. TBC
6. Galvin
7. Luai

We need to sign a forward or two.

8. Stef/Nelson
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Bateman (this will be his last season, but he has another good one left in him)
12. Samuela Fainu
13. TBC

In the event Stef stays and we sign Nelson, Stef at 8, Nelson at 10 and Pole at 13.
 
mtd#2 said:
100% I do. Remember what Joey did to the knights in the early 2000's? They'd lose games by 40 without him then when he played, they could beat anyone. Luai is our Joey, but he has Galvin to step up next to him. Its mouth watering.

Our backline is pretty much set and looks REALLY good.

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Douhei
4. Olam
5. TBC
6. Galvin
7. Luai

We need to sign a forward or two.

8. Stef/Nelson
9. Api
10. Pole
11. Bateman (this will be his last season, but he has another good one left in him)
12. Samuela Fainu
13. TBC

In the event Stef stays and we sign Nelson, Stef at 8, Nelson at 10 and Pole at 13.
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You have named the same side that has likely won the spoon this year plus Luai, a winger out of sorts currently and a prop starting to experience decline.
What about our depth? That is not a team that makes the 8.
 
There is no way Nelson is a better prop than Stefano. Has Nelson even made a line break this year? Stefano is gradually moving towards the leading prop in the game. He‘s big powerful and fast, probably faster than any prop in the game. Nelson wouldn’t even have half the tackle breaks of Stefano. He and Haas will be the best 2 props by end of 25.
 
It's going to be easy to tee off on MTD for saying we make the top 4 next season. I, for one, mildly disagree. But- I think we make the 8.

As he pointed out- the backs are nearly set:

1. Bula
2. Turuva
3. Doueihi
4. Olam
5. Staines
6. Galvin
7. Luai

While there are only 2 changes, they are significant changes. A winger that can create metres on runs out of dummy half. A halfback that controls the direction of the team. It's not an 'amazing' backline. But it has 3-4 genuine 'star level' players in it & serviceable support cast & the likes of To'a, Latu Fainu, Lualili'i & Faataape offering some depth.

With Utoikamanu in doubt, the forwards are harder to set without some speculation. If it were up to me..

13. Kit Lualili'i
12. Sam Fainu
11. Bateman
10. Pole
9. Koroisau
8. Asofa-Solomona

14. Twal
15. Hetherington
16. Sione Fainu
17. Sezar

Hetherington & Asofa-Solomona give that brute mentality we lack. We cannot win a strength match-up & get bullied too often. Sacrifice skill in place of brutality. Twal has been missed. Kit Lualili'i thrown straight in. Sink or swim. If he flounders- Fa'agutu gets his shot. A dynamic runner in the middle doesn't hurt the team. Sione Fainu & Pole offer that nice footwork at the line that compliments their lack of brutal strength. And Sezar covers a bunch of roles- I think as that ball playing #13 as the game opens up could be ideal.

The key for mine, and much to Tommy Shines' delight I'll repeat myself- we lack that physical edge. Klemmer used to have it. Utoikamanu doesn't use his obvious power to win the physical battle. Seyfarth is possibly our best, but he's an incomplete player still (great depth though). Asofa-Solomona never gets bullied. Hetherington never gets bullied. Bateman never gets bullied. Sam Fainu learning off these guys excites me.

We need to stop teams running on us. Do that, and this isn't a huge stretch to being a Top 8 side.
 
twentyforty said:
There is no way Nelson is a better prop than Stefano. Has Nelson even made a line break this year? Stefano is gradually moving towards the leading prop in the game. He‘s big powerful and fast, probably faster than any prop in the game. Nelson wouldn’t even have half the tackle breaks of Stefano. He and Haas will be the best 2 props by end of 25.
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For skill? No, Utoikamanu is definitely better.

Nelson is tougher & doesn't get beaten (individually) the way Utoikamanu does.

We can afford to be less 'talented' if we inject physicality.
 
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