I have heard so many here complaining about Benji’s coaching ability. None of it has been backed up by fact – less winning the spoon. This is not a post about supporting Benji so don't get upset yet. This is on topic - follow the logic.
Our team this year did play well, in patches, was diabolical, in patches, and was average for the most part. What we lacked was consistency and strength – this is a combination of the roster and age/development of many of our players. It is also related to our lack of depth.
Being a coach at this level requires two things – the support of the players and the club. Benji, at this point in time has both. Being successful as a coach at this level requires something else; good systems. Look at the clubs that do it well - Penrith, Storm, Roosters, Cronulla. What they do well is have creative players executing within a well drilled system. They also have the ability to select players from depth; the next man up policy. This is the beauty of having systems in place.
The added benefit of developing good systems is that players can be attracted to the long term benefits as opposed to "the coach". I suspect that this is why when Bennet leaves clubs they take a while to recover - he, as the individual, attracts and develops players as opposed to developing the supporting systems. Des Hasler is another who is about the here and now.
Sheens was bought in to develop a support system to enable the club; but with clowns in charge of the circus he ended up as the coach. A system that, at its foundation, is based on providing a pathway to develop local talent given the pool we have to select from.
Richo is also a systems guy. He took over a circus, inherited the foundations of a system, and quickly put in place a plan to turn the club around. The circus tents were torn down, some clown appointees were moved on and the leaks were stopped. He inherited Benji, the coaching staff and the roster we had so 2024 was all about providing a stable platform the build from.
While we didn't perform well on the field, you can, if you look closely, see the systems starting to have an influence. We started with a very predictable attack, yet by the end of the year we had players in motion and were scoring points. Our line speed and kick chase was there for a good period of a few games and for patches in many. That demonstrates that they have been shown what to do – the issue is that we didn't have the roster, fitness, size or skill set to execute it for the full 80 minutes or week in week out.
Put losing a couple of players who want results tomorrow aside and consider where we are heading.
In 2025 we will have a first class 7 and 9 along with a solid but developing 1. Galvin will improve - especially with Luai taking much of the load. Bird provides utility (I expect as a 13 with the ability of being able to fill in across the board). Hunt can bend the line. Skelton provides a kicking target and between him, Taruva and Olam we have the ability to get back out of our end on kick return. Add to that 1/2 dozen reserve grade acquisitions to support AD, Sullivan, and Naden in Reggies, along with those blooded this year, and we have some depth pushing for FG spots.
This is the foundation we need and, provided the systems are right, the ability to have consistency in execution across the grades. We are still short a couple of quality forwards for 2025, but with a ball playing lock (Bird) and two quality halves what we really require is for more from the likes of Seyfarth, Sione F and Twal and for one of Jorgenson or Miller to develop this off season to do OK in 25.
Benji isn't your everyday coach and he didn't serve a long apprenticeship. So what? The key is that he has the player’s and CEO’s support and his actions and words match the plan – rebuilding the club. What we need is experienced support staff to assist him implementing the systems.
I'm not overly concerned with the attack side of the house - you could see that develop over last year. The addition of Luai will make a big difference and take a load off Api/TDS. Our defensive system, on the other hand, has fluctuated between great and disgusting - depending on what week. So, they can do it.
Consistency is the key. That comes down to strength and conditioning. Who we get to support Benji will make a difference, but the step change will be built on the back of the improved roster and an offseason for our kids in the gym, to put on some beef, combined with a strong pre-season. For mine the key changes in the coaching staff need to be: an assistant from a well-developed system supported by off the ball specialists in strength, conditioning and wrestling.
For the first time in a decade, we aren't lurching from coach to coach as part of a shit show. The clowns have been replaced and Benji has the support of the players and Richo. As long as we improve in 2025 (and I think the evidence suggests that we will) I think Benji is safe. 2026 is probably the make or break for Benji as an NRL coach.
