why? they were picked to win the wooden spoon and only missed the 8 because they choked the last game.... Flanno turned them from Griffin wooden spoon faves to almost finals. thats huge.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
- Start date
BAGNF05
Well-known member
If you look at their history over the last 10 years they normally start strong (May premiers) then fade. Poor roster catches up with them.
WestsEffTheRest
Well-known member
They were in finals contention up until the last 2 rounds.
The-moP
Well-known member
I wouldn't be too worried about Benji's ability to coach .. it'll come to him just as it did when he played .. the first games he was very nervous and gun shy really .. but once he got more comfortable .. well we all know what happened .. 2005 .. !! Remember he an assistant coach in John Morris who was the head coach for the Gummies for 3 seasons. Benji at this stage is the motivator .. but what i like with Benji .. he has a hands on approach by getting out there on the paddock and showing the team how its done himself .. very much a .. "like this do that" .. approach .. !! You can see it in Galvin's play throughout last season. I'm excited to see how much Galvin can learn and how his play evolves over the coming season with Benji's help. Galvin will have a lot more room / space on the field now that we have Laui on the other side being marked by the defence. Bring on 2025 .. 20 years on from 2005 .. waahooo .. 🙂
The-moP
Well-known member
Just for everyone's info .. we have 2 Pre-season Challenge games:
Sunday 16 Feb 2025: Tigers vs Dogs - Jubilee Stadium 5:30pm
Friday 21 Feb 2025: Tigers vs Slimy Eels - Leichhardt Oval 8:00pm
Sunday 16 Feb 2025: Tigers vs Dogs - Jubilee Stadium 5:30pm
Friday 21 Feb 2025: Tigers vs Slimy Eels - Leichhardt Oval 8:00pm
BAGNF05
Well-known member
Crumbled in the big games when it got important. Same as usual. Yeah, they improved, the form of Sloan, Suli and Su’a was probably more important than coaching.
💯 I thought I was in the chooks forum ffs
Jolls
Well-known member
He may well have been - who knows where he was heading. However outdated he was he had the mind to be thinking outside the square. Whoever the next Jack Gibson is I doubt they come from a conventional coaching background. Perhaps someone like the Walker brothers or, touch wood, our own Benji!
Jolls
Well-known member
It could also be argued that a shit roster has cruelled a good coach - Ivan, Madge and Sheens all have runs on the board and the club was on the slide the entire time. You can also argue that Ivan did OK, Madge was hampered by Ivan's contracts and Sheens was past it. The other "influence" being the clown show running the joint.
I think that is fair to say that a good coach improves a team - regardless of the roster. The corollorary being that a good team will also be dragged down by a poor coach.
It is too early to jump to conclusions on our current coaching staff. I am giving them some leeway this year and give them a bare pass based on a poor roster and them trying to baseline the club.
There were some good signs despite the runs on the board being poor; and a couple of poor indicators as well. They have had their opportunity and have an improved roster and players that are keen to get into the crocodile roll. We are still a couple of key positions short but certainly improved on paper.
I'm looking forward to revisiting this at about round 10.
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Tucker
Well-known member
If you really believe that, I question your knowledge of this game.
Tucker
Well-known member
Yes you are right, lets talk about our three spoons in a row.
Whos got the vaso?
C’min Tucker stop sitting on the fence, you’re getting splinters.
What is your realistic expectation for Wests Tigers in 2025 ?
I still see plenty of holes in our roster, but even so I don’t think there is any risk that we improve dramatically as a team and can quite easily make the top 8 if a bit of luck goes our way in regards to injuries etc
Roosters will not make the top 8, Rabbitohs will not make the top 8, Eels will not make the top 8 and unlikely the Bulldogs will make the top 8.
Near certain we finish well ahead of the Roosters.
Tucker
Well-known member
Its a roster that should play finals, but likely wont because the coaching staff are shit.
upthetigers
Well-known member
Benji needs to step down if we don't
Said the same thing when asked about the reports the other week....
- Journos 'conveniently' forgot he played about half a dozen games in 18 months because of Injury!!
If anyone should be looking after themselves - It should be him.
Tucker
Well-known member
Not much you can do about bad luck, the human body breaks down.
Should these injuries become recurring and consistant, then you have a point.
That said, Latu is a kid and he has enormous potential. I wouldnt be talking in any way of shipping him on.
Dennisspicer1
Well-known member
And of course you know everything about this game.
So Answer this one then
Mr Knowitall,
If Benji would have had all the players Trent Robinson had in 2024 where would our team finished in the comp.
CAREFUL.
Ok let’s see how your opinion ages.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
All I know is under Benji, we were conceding 40-50 points every few weeks this year. I’m skeptical that that changes in 25.
You have every right to remain sceptical and Turuva is another woeful defender we have to put up with, but comparing 2024 to 2025 is like chalk and cheese.
It is half a new team and our emerging younger players should all be improved with the additional experience and with the benefit of some better and more experienced players to play alongside of.
