Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[gregjm87]

anyone else wake up today and think Benji sux?

how come every commentator, punter, fan and barrista knows that if we kicked to the corners and were disciplined against parra we would've gone so much better.

his game plans suck.

we're going to go terrible until he gets sacked.

anyone saying we're in teh same position as the dogs is rubbish. Ciraldo was a defensive coach for years and has it in his blood. Benji has never been that player. He's off the cuff. Just like our teams discipline, game management, ball control and field position.

dang.

Yes, but Ive woke up with that opinion for months on end. As much as I hold that opinion I'm still not convinced sacking him at the moment is the right option.

 

[851]

Ive only once had a decade of success like that.
Ive been a supporter since 1984 with Balmain and now Wests Tigers.
So between 84 and 93 they made the finals 6 times (85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90).
That run of good years hooked me and has not even hinted at happening since....bastards

Like Wests, 78, 79, 80 & 82, then 91, 92 & 96, with a lot of bad in between and after

 

[Tucker]

I don’t get the fixation with Benji having a break?! I wonder whether other coaches had a week off this year? I’m no fan of him as coach but would a week more in the rankle have really helped?

Well firstly, no other coach was starring down the barrel of a potential third spoon in a row.
…and yes, without the players there he could have gotten tonnes of work done. Instead they all had a week off then returned and performed the same crappy way….a 40 point flogging to the Dragons.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Well firstly, no other coach was starring down the barrel of a potential third spoon in a row.
…and yes, without the players there he could have gotten tonnes of work done. Instead they all had a week off then returned and performed the same crappy way….a 40 point flogging to the Dragons.

Tucker do you take holidays?

 

[Tucker]

Tucker do you take holidays?

Yes, at the end of a large project. Not in the middle of one.

 

[king_sirro]

If you are employed, imagine saying no annual leave between January and Sept. or worse, pre- season and then.

Plenty of jobs like that and they aren't even professional sports. Professional sport is on an entire other level and sacrifices have to be made or you don't cut it. Simple as that.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

What’s a large project for you in terms of time?

 

[Tucker]

What’s a large project for you in terms of time?

9-12 months

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

Plenty of jobs like that and they aren't even professional sports. Professional sport is on an entire other level and sacrifices have to be made or you don't cut it. Simple as that.

Respectfully, totally disagree. We hang out hat on Benjis week away when no one was there. Just shows how bad we suck

 

[king_sirro]

Respectfully, totally disagree. We hang out hat on Benjis week away when no one was there. Just shows how bad we suck

I'm not hanging my hat on that week off at all. It had little to do with how we suck. However, an NRL coach simply doesn't go on an overseas holiday midway through the year. That is simply disturbing that our coach thinks it acceptable, and sadly some fans do.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

9-12 months

Feel sorry for you mate. Imagine if you could project plan and take a rest. Might come back and finish the project earlier with RnR.

 

[Year_of_the_Tiger]

I

I'm not hanging my hat on that week off at all. It had little to do with how we suck. However, an NRL coach simply doesn't go on an overseas holiday midway through the year. That is simply disturbing that our coach thinks it acceptable, and sadly some fans do.

Im not endorsing it but it only gets air as the media hyped it. I know for a fact that Bennet takes mid year breaks. Just doesn’t get air.

 

[TSP]

Yes, at the end of a large project. Not in the middle of one.

There aren’t really any excuses for it.

If you are trying to instill a hard working culture, you must lead by example whether you like it or not.

 

[Kaito]

Tucker do you take holidays?

No days off he is a paid gun. On the run from the law 😁

 

[TSP]

Feel sorry for you mate. Imagine if you could project plan and take a rest. Might come back and finish the project earlier with RnR.

As a boss, he’s got too many mouths to feed.

He likes the pressure …most of the time.

 

[Modman]

Look at the options with ties to Richo. The name who keeps popping out to me is ...

Willie Peters

If only we could get him as an assistant to Benji!

Willie Peters with that wanker Anasta as his manager , id be suprised if any chance of coming to tigers.

 

[yeahcaz]

While I’d certainly prefer Bateman doesn’t return, I don’t think it’s the end of the world. He’s probably still the best option we have at right back row and I’d like to think he goes better with better players around him. He just needs to tone down the hot head acts and nail down that spot and stop getting moved

 

[Betterdays22]

SMH / Michael Chammas:

John Bateman’s agent has contacted Shane Richardson to inform the Wests Tigers boss of his client’s intention to return to the club for the next two seasons.

The Tigers had been privately hoping Bateman, who still has two years to run on his deal worth close to $600,000 a season, would remain in England or join another NRL club to free up a roster spot and salary cap space.

It comes as an irate Richardson lashed out at a group of injured and fringe NRL players in the aftermath of last week’s defeat to Parramatta in the “spoon bowl”.

Richardson noticed a number of players sitting in the stands laughing after the defeat consigned the Tigers to a third consecutive wooden spoon, prompting an angry response from the CEO.

Sources with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely told this masthead that Richardson, who was also sitting in the designated Tigers dugout to the side of the tunnel, told players they should be embarrassed and at least pretend to care about the plight of the club.

The players who were sitting behind the Tigers’ bench included Brent Naden, Aidan Sezer, Justin Olam, Jayden Sullivan and Tallyn Da Silva. The fans sitting nearby allegedly heard the exchange between the CEO and the players.

A visibly angry Richardson also demanded the players make their way around the ground to thank the fans who had turned out to watch their team earn the dubious honour of finishing bottom of the ladder for the third year in a row. Richardson declined to comment when contacted on Friday.

In the days immediately after the team’s poor showing against the Eels at Campbelltown, the club received a phone call from Bateman’s agent, Isaac Moses, to clarify misconceptions around the veteran back-rower’s future given the widespread impression the Tigers did not want him next season.

Bateman, who signed a four-year deal at the start of 2023 when Tim Sheens was head coach of the Tigers, has struggled to live up to his price tag since returning to the NRL.

He was granted permission to leave the Tigers mid-season to play under former England teammate Sam Burgess at Warrington in the Super League.

Richardson has a close relationship with Burgess from their time together at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Under the terms of the release, the Tigers had to terminate Bateman’s existing contract. Under NRL rules, any payouts would have had to go into this year’s salary cap.

The Tigers and Bateman then drew up a new contract to replicate the final two years on his deal. The NRL would not have approved the contract termination-renewal unless Bateman went into the salary cap for 2025 and 2026 at the value of the original deal.

The Tigers, who were willing to release Bateman to free up salary cap space this year, were hopeful he would decide not to return to the club after his stint in England.

But Moses this week contacted Richardson to confirm his client’s intention to see out the remaining two years of his contract.

Several Tigers players have been told they are free to explore options at rival clubs – including Sullivan, Naden and Charlie Staines – but are yet to secure deals elsewhere.

Cant help but think this might be manger games to squeeze some $$

If not, Bateman still has something to offer. Dont have anything to back this up but I feel we are a much better defensive side with him on the field. Benji needs to tell him to stay on an edge and run lines like the penrith backrowers.

 

[balmain boy]

SMH / Michael Chammas:

John Bateman’s agent has contacted Shane Richardson to inform the Wests Tigers boss of his client’s intention to return to the club for the next two seasons.

The Tigers had been privately hoping Bateman, who still has two years to run on his deal worth close to $600,000 a season, would remain in England or join another NRL club to free up a roster spot and salary cap space.

It comes as an irate Richardson lashed out at a group of injured and fringe NRL players in the aftermath of last week’s defeat to Parramatta in the “spoon bowl”.

Richardson noticed a number of players sitting in the stands laughing after the defeat consigned the Tigers to a third consecutive wooden spoon, prompting an angry response from the CEO.

Sources with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely told this masthead that Richardson, who was also sitting in the designated Tigers dugout to the side of the tunnel, told players they should be embarrassed and at least pretend to care about the plight of the club.

The players who were sitting behind the Tigers’ bench included Brent Naden, Aidan Sezer, Justin Olam, Jayden Sullivan and Tallyn Da Silva. The fans sitting nearby allegedly heard the exchange between the CEO and the players.

A visibly angry Richardson also demanded the players make their way around the ground to thank the fans who had turned out to watch their team earn the dubious honour of finishing bottom of the ladder for the third year in a row. Richardson declined to comment when contacted on Friday.

In the days immediately after the team’s poor showing against the Eels at Campbelltown, the club received a phone call from Bateman’s agent, Isaac Moses, to clarify misconceptions around the veteran back-rower’s future given the widespread impression the Tigers did not want him next season.

Bateman, who signed a four-year deal at the start of 2023 when Tim Sheens was head coach of the Tigers, has struggled to live up to his price tag since returning to the NRL.

He was granted permission to leave the Tigers mid-season to play under former England teammate Sam Burgess at Warrington in the Super League.

Richardson has a close relationship with Burgess from their time together at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Under the terms of the release, the Tigers had to terminate Bateman’s existing contract. Under NRL rules, any payouts would have had to go into this year’s salary cap.

The Tigers and Bateman then drew up a new contract to replicate the final two years on his deal. The NRL would not have approved the contract termination-renewal unless Bateman went into the salary cap for 2025 and 2026 at the value of the original deal.

The Tigers, who were willing to release Bateman to free up salary cap space this year, were hopeful he would decide not to return to the club after his stint in England.

But Moses this week contacted Richardson to confirm his client’s intention to see out the remaining two years of his contract.

Several Tigers players have been told they are free to explore options at rival clubs – including Sullivan, Naden and Charlie Staines – but are yet to secure deals elsewhere.

Shifty Moses at it again

 

[yeahcaz]

Cant help but think this might be manger games to squeeze some $$

If not, Bateman still has something to offer. Dont have anything to back this up but I feel we are a much better defensive side with him on the field. Benji needs to tell him to stay on an edge and run lines like the penrith backrowers.

Agreed. Too many times we haven’t used backrowers properly. iPap has basically spent 2 years playing as another battering ram