Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[yeti]

What do you think of Benji's chances of making it as a coach he seems smart enough been around football for a while spent time with Bennet, last year was poor but you could blame that on the cattle.

I actually think he is going to be OK. He's a quick learner by all reports. Another year under his belt and I think he'll actually be pretty good. This year will be still be a steep learning curve, but he'll have learnt a lot from last year - particularly the last round!

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I actually think he is going to be OK. He's a quick learner by all reports. Another year under his belt and I think he'll actually be pretty good. This year will be still be a steep learning curve, but he'll have learnt a lot from last year - particularly the last round!

Especially when rumors were that Richo was pissed flogged in the last round and making it harder for him to recruit during the off season.

 

[hank37w]

The consequences of just going out and having fun.

 

[426Tlgerland]

I think Benji will be ok , he now has enough players with experience like
Luai , Appi , Hunt , Bird , Klemmer , Turuva , to guide us around the park to his plan , then you add players like May , Pole , Bulla , Galvin , Olam , Sam F , all very capable players , Seyfarth , Skelton , Staines , We going to go ok , first couple may be wobbly but once they settle , sky’s the limit
We go top 8 this year , kill me if you like but top 8.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

The consequences of just going out and having fun.

Bet that was a lesson learnt.

 

[hank37w]

If he is actually a fast learner.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I think Benji will be ok , he now has enough players with experience like
Luai , Appi , Hunt , Bird , Klemmer , Turuva , to guide us around the park to his plan , then you add players like May , Pole , Bulla , Galvin , Olam , Sam F , all very capable players , Seyfarth , Skelton , Staines , We going to go ok , first couple may be wobbly but once they settle , sky’s the limit
We go top 8 this year , kill me if you like but top 8.

Hope your right mate.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

I don't think there is cap space for a backrower of any quality now as well as the obvious problem of no one known to be available (not that I don't think we should be making enquiries about other clubs depth guys).
Even for 2026 there is probably only the space for one big name recruit once potential upgrades are factored in and still few available before shaking trees.

We still have a lot of cap space taken up by dead wood. A few contracts the end this year won't be renewed.

 

[rugbygoated]

eems like AD has been put into the side simply because he can goal kick, with Api missing round 1. Not a first grader, and a terrible centre at that. Benji stuffing up already with a good team

 

[rugbygoated]

Wonder if one of the get out clauses in Luai's contract are related to if Benji is coach he was a big reason for him coming here if that's the case Benji is probably safe.

honestly think it's the main reason Benji is getting off light in the media too. Benji is safe for 2025 regardless if we get the spoon again. He's untouchable and it's clear he can't coach. Will be shown this year when we have great recruits but fall well short of an acceptable standard again

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I’ll get swarmed if I give an honest answer 😅

Let’s just say it’s now or never for him. He has the squad and there should be no excuses. With Richo claiming that anything below a top 10 finish is a failure, it will be interesting to see the fallout from that if the coach doesn’t deliver.

If below 10th is a failure who gives Benji his marching orders?
If its Richo and annoints a new coach, Richo becomes the New Whipping Boy if the new coach is a failure. Disharmony. 🤪
Richo would not like that at all.
Having opened this scenario for comments to keep me entertained a bit longer before the first trial--------I think Benji will prevail. 😁

 

[Tiger Stripes]

seems like AD has been put into the side simply because he can goal kick, with Api missing round 1. Not a first grader, and a terrible centre at that. Benji stuffing up already with a good team

Put in by WHO?

 

[Spartan117]

I think Benji will be ok , he now has enough players with experience like
Luai , Appi , Hunt , Bird , Klemmer , Turuva , to guide us around the park to his plan , then you add players like May , Pole , Bulla , Galvin , Olam , Sam F , all very capable players , Seyfarth , Skelton , Staines , We going to go ok , first couple may be wobbly but once they settle , sky’s the limit
We go top 8 this year , kill me if you like but top 8.

Benji was a key figure in recruitment for Jerome, May , Tito etc.

He deserves the 3rd year with the right staff around him.

I'm in for the medium to long term with Coach Benji

 

[magpies forever]

eems like AD has been put into the side simply because he can goal kick, with Api missing round 1. Not a first grader, and a terrible centre at that. Benji stuffing up already with a good team

I wouldn't say so much stuffing up as exposing a glaring hole in recruitment / playing roster- something we have said with a few people here- goal kicking is very thin on.

 

[Magpies1969]

Besides Api and AD who can goal kick at WT and be considered a NRL player.

 

[magpies forever]

Besides Api and AD who can goal kick at WT and be considered a NRL player.

I've heard Luai kicked ok in junior ranks but along with Api I wouldn't want to burden Luai or Api with main kicking role alongside all their other responsibilities.

 

[Canadian Club]

Besides Api and AD who can goal kick at WT and be considered a NRL player.

Da Silva and eventually Makasini

 

[Modman]

Sometimes I wonder if some of these players such as Dylan Brown are really playing to win premierships or just for the money as common sense should tell them if they are being overpaid it means their club will struggle to build a decent team around them.
Similar theory with Galvin, yes we want to keep him and pay him well to stay, but if he seriously expects to be paid close to a million dollars per season too soon, it will mean we do not have the available cap space to build a strong team around him.
This is exactly what Tedesco, Moses and Woods failed to understand when they all departed.
Hopefully Galvin is loyal enough and smart enough to accept a little bit less over the next few seasons while we have Luai on our books with an escalating long term contract to ensure he is getting the marquee money once Luai’s contract expires.
When I say accepting less, it would still likely be up around 800k per season for the next 3-4 seasons.

mate sounds like the right thing to do as Wests tigers fans but what would you do if you were offered a couple of extra thousand a year and quite possibly a chance of winning a grand final. Fingers crossed here too, but if he was my young bloke my priorty would be to earn as much money as you can while you can. Hes only an serious injury away from earning nothing. I think we will do what we have to to keep him. Imagine the headlines if we lose Galvin after we lost our other top juniors like teddy and moses

 

[hammertime]

Benji was a key figure in recruitment for Jerome, May , Tito etc.

He deserves the 3rd year with the right staff around him.

I'm in for the medium to long term with Coach Benji

100%. Our best team in over a decade is largely due to his ability to sell the club when we've been declining.

That in itself is an achievement that warrants some accolades.

Not sure where we would be right now if we didn't have that.

 

[Odessa]

eems like AD has been put into the side simply because he can goal kick, with Api missing round 1. Not a first grader, and a terrible centre at that. Benji stuffing up already with a good team

Rommey will be first choice kicker