Chammas Article

[weststigers]

This is not just about the coach though … sack him you are also sacking the two best players … hey it sucks but that’s the sort of situations this club tends to find itself in

I think this is real, or at least a big risk.

The only answer is to have an assistant that can move into head coach from the existing coaching staff that the guys respect.

If we were to change coach, would we be happy with John Morris considering the coaches that are available?

Brad Arthur is not the answer and change for change sake is not the answer either.

I still believe,, to be fair, he has only had 1 year with half a team and disruption with Galvin and Da Silva. I think he's entitled to next year before making a call, but IF the decision is made, it's important we are sure that it will make a difference.

If you compare Benjis results with the premiership winner Maguire, he is doing better, so there's no guarantee a change of coach does anything for us. We've been down this road before. Even Ivan couldn't get us there. I'm not so sure the coach is our problem, although I can accept it may form a percentage of the problem.

 

[batboy]

There’s about 3 that immediately spring to mind, this is a false narrative created by Buzz lightyear and his mates.

The 2 we lost recently are unproven prospects.

I was being sarcastic,
3 spring immediately to mind? You're doing better than me....

 

[BAGNF05]

I was being sarcastic,
3 spring immediately to mind? You're doing better than me....

2 fullbacks and one choker.

 

[ROZELLE.O.G]

Last year he's favouring the kids this year he's favouring the senior players... which one is it?

Benji needs the experience as a coach and its coming in time. The club could help him out by putting in a Brad Arthur or Jason Demitriou as an assistant coach.

I think its the issue with putting in a inexperienced coach as a head coach. Its coming along in time we need to block out the noise and hope the improvement starts equalling wins.

Also these journos love the traffic we give them when we are interacting with their click bait stories, we make the f?!?!?!!'s money when we start responding and commenting to stories.

 

[innsaneink]

Pole liking this post? To be fair he likes alot of posts.. but I can't figure out why he'd like this one?

Probably made a bet with team mates to see if he could get mentioned on 360

 

[Lukic]

We've committed to Benji at this point.

If sacking Benji meant losing Koroisau and getting Luai's contract off the books, but keeping Galvin and Da Silva (and forming a spine of Latu, Galvin and Da Silva to go forward) then you consider it.

If sacking Benji means we've lost our current and future spine, it would be disastrous.

 

[Harvey]

Unlike this club, punching bags don’t set themselves up for a hiding

I would go further than that Suzie we have morphed into a heavy punching bag. 😫

i

 

[Harvey]

We've committed to Benji at this point.

If sacking Benji meant losing Koroisau and getting Luai's contract off the books, but keeping Galvin and Da Silva (and forming a spine of Latu, Galvin and Da Silva to go forward) then you consider it.

If sacking Benji means we've lost our current and future spine, it would be disastrous.

Benji is going to get sacked anyway, so we will then have no stars & no juniors

 

[BZN]

Hi BZN,

Not sure if you're having a shot at me or not 🤔 I'm not sure how my job versus yours (and I agree you have huge responsibilities as a bus driver) adds to the conversation. But just so you know, I haven't always been a teacher. I've had many jobs: from cleaner to small business owner & partner to Relieving Principal, and just about everything in between except for hospitality and factory work. And I treat everyone with respect and courtesy, and that only changes depending on how I am treated in return. (In my current position, I'd rather hang out with the support staff than the DEL, based on how I've been treated.)

As for my thoughts on how to fix WT, you wouldn't agree (based on the previous communications we've had). Obviously, as I previously stated, I have no pre-Wests Tigers affiliation.

Therefore, *I* would like to see Wests Tigers named teams in all NRL affiliated competitions. Juniors should keep the WM and BT names, but they come through KOE, etc, as Wests Tigers. The goal for players in our draw area should be to play for Wests Tigers and to see a clearly identified pathway, not WM for some, WT for others, etc.

A lot of people talk about how well the panthers manage their juniors. It's a direct pathway. I was born and lived for 44 years in the Lower Blue Mountains and Penrith areas. Every kid, whether they play for LBM, St Marys, Windsor, etc, KNOWS their pathway to playing for the NRL. And that they'll be a Panther if they make it. And everyone who supports them in the NRL will support them as a Panther.

This is the 26th season of Wests Tigers. It's the 26th season without Balmain or Magpies. As someone who has been a Wests Tigers Fan for 24 of those seasons, I truly believe it's time to turn off the life support and let them pass with dignity, instead of keeping thrm hooked up to life support.

Just my humble opinion, @BZN, and you asked 😊

UTT

Most definitely NOT having a go at you, and I feel sad 🥹that you feel so negatively about me [but then you're with 99% of posters on here... as I speak from a WESTS MAGPIES POV] that you feel I, may be having a go at you.

With me saying you are a schoolteacher..."that was intended to be a compliment" meaning you should have a lot more intelligence than a bloke that just drives a bus... so I'm sure your ideas will be good/intelligent ones and worth listening to.

GTMM/WT

 

[BZN]

You're deluded. I have no care for Western Suburbs Magpies OR Balmain Tigers. Neither was ever *my* team. MY team is WESTS TIGERS, end of. And if Balmain passed many winters ago, then the Magpies should join them. 🙄
I'm all for Wests Tigers Reserve Grade as Wests Tigers, obviously.

Calling @Bus 2 Terrigal 'deluded' is not only unfair--it's dismissive of reality and it feels like a rhetorical sledge aimed a silencing rather than engaging.

This forum is named after the Wests Tigers; a joint venture built on the shoulders of 2 proud clubs.

One of those clubs--Western Suburbs Magpies--holds 90% ownership and still runs junior programs, NSW Cup, and community initiatives. Yet somehow, most posts here read like the ghost of Balmain is moderating the forum.

B2T made a reasonable point...representation matters. Culture matters. The club's long-standing underperformance isn't just about logos or nostalgia--it's about identity being sidelined and Magpies fans treated like they should quietly fade away.

If advocating for respect, balance and heritage is 'deluded' then maybe the definition needs a rethink!!!

 

[Suzie-Q]

Most definitely NOT having a go at you, and I feel sad 🥹that you feel so negatively about me [but then you're with 99% of posters on here... as I speak from a WESTS MAGPIES POV] that you feel I, may be having a go at you.

With me saying you are a schoolteacher..."that was intended to be a compliment" meaning you should have a lot more intelligence than a bloke that just drives a bus... so I'm sure your ideas will be good/intelligent ones and worth listening to.

GTMM/WT

I apologise for misinterpreting your post. Teachers are very often labelled in a derogatory fashion, and I just wanted clarification.

You are so wrong with your 99% Balmain assumption, BZN. Truly. If anything, I find this forum is more heavily weighted towards WM, but hopefully, more and more fans are only concerned with Wests Tigers.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Benji needs the experience as a coach and its coming in time. The club could help him out by putting in a Brad Arthur or Jason Demitriou as an assistant coach.

I think its the issue with putting in a inexperienced coach as a head coach. Its coming along in time we need to block out the noise and hope the improvement starts equalling wins.

Also these journos love the traffic we give them when we are interacting with their click bait stories, we make the f?!?!?!!'s money when we start responding and commenting to stories.

I doubt Benji would accept a former head coach as his assistant.

 

[mtd#2]

Calling @Bus 2 Terrigal 'deluded' is not only unfair--it's dismissive of reality and it feels like a rhetorical sledge aimed a silencing rather than engaging.

This forum is named after the Wests Tigers; a joint venture built on the shoulders of 2 proud clubs.

One of those clubs--Western Suburbs Magpies--holds 90% ownership and still runs junior programs, NSW Cup, and community initiatives. Yet somehow, most posts here read like the ghost of Balmain is moderating the forum.

B2T made a reasonable point...representation matters. Culture matters. The club's long-standing underperformance isn't just about logos or nostalgia--it's about identity being sidelined and Magpies fans treated like they should quietly fade away.

If advocating for respect, balance and heritage is 'deluded' then maybe the definition needs a rethink!!!

BZN, I say this with all due respect as I can see how much the Wests Magpies mean to you... but most people don't care what happened last year, let alone 25 or 50 years ago. Its just the reality of the world we live in... Its all about the shiny new toy which is the Wests tigers

From what I have seen, I don't think the MAJORITY on here care about the Magpies or Balmain, let alone dismiss the supporters of those clubs in the junior grades - because generally speaking, they don't care.. You're probably focusing on the opinions of a select few Balmain heads, because again, most people don't care about the past, they just want success for the Wests Tigers for the future. For note, I grew up with the Balmain Tigers throughout the 90s (sounds like you might be older than me) but if someone was to say that they are merging Maggie's and Balmain as a whole, I'd be very happy.

I work in the tech industry and I see mergers and acquisitions all the time... The businesses that succeed are the ones that move forward under the new brand and umbrella... The ones that try and hold onto the past end up just 'existing'... They don't succeed and are always fighting to survive - because they don't move forward into the future. They are too caught up in the "this isn't exactly a 50/50 split and there isn't enough representation from business A'. When they should infact be using that time working on strategic plans as one business to move forward into the future.

Legacy clubs like Balmain and Magpies have their place in history. But the fact we are 20 years post the JV and there's still talk of us vs them should really tell you everything you need to know..

Its my opinion that the Magpies and Balmain need to fully amalgamate under the Wests Tigers umbrella to stop simply surviving, so we can focus on thriving. I know it might feel like a stab to the heart as a loyal traditional fan but it's what needs to happen for the betterment of the Wests Tigers...

 

[rozelle_rudy]

We’ll see how the next one goes - Makasini .., supposedly the best junior to come through the club since Tedesco … what could go wrong. ..

Makasini makes his KOE cup debut for Magpies this round, against Raiders. Unfortunately, the game is on at the same time as WT v Roosters.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

BZN, I say this with all due respect as I can see how much the Wests Magpies mean to you... but most people don't care what happened last year, let alone 25 or 50 years ago. Its just the reality of the world we live in... Its all about the shiny new toy which is the Wests tigers

From what I have seen, I don't think the MAJORITY on here care about the Magpies or Balmain, let alone dismiss the supporters of those clubs in the junior grades - because generally speaking, they don't care.. You're probably focusing on the opinions of a select few Balmain heads, because again, most people don't care about the past, they just want success for the Wests Tigers for the future. For note, I grew up with the Balmain Tigers throughout the 90s (sounds like you might be older than me) but if someone was to say that they are merging Maggie's and Balmain as a whole, I'd be very happy.

I work in the tech industry and I see mergers and acquisitions all the time... The businesses that succeed are the ones that move forward under the new brand and umbrella... The ones that try and hold onto the past end up just 'existing'... They don't succeed and are always fighting to survive - because they don't move forward into the future. They are too caught up in the "this isn't exactly a 50/50 split and there isn't enough representation from business A'. When they should infact be using that time working on strategic plans as one business to move forward into the future.

Legacy clubs like Balmain and Magpies have their place in history. But the fact we are 20 years post the JV and there's still talk of us vs them should really tell you everything you need to know..

Its my opinion that the Magpies and Balmain need to fully amalgamate under the Wests Tigers umbrella to stop simply surviving, so we can focus on thriving. I know it might feel like a stab to the heart as a loyal traditional fan but it's what needs to happen for the betterment of the Wests Tigers...

This is false. It's an outdated view. There is no current friction between the two joint venture clubs. Mainly because Balmain has long ceased to exist in reality. It has no money, no leagues club, little say in the running of WT, who, in reality, is wholly owned by Holman Barnes Group, aka Wests Ashfield.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

I would argue that Jason Taylor will hold that boobie prize for ever, his D head decisions were far worse than any of Benji's.

Yet Taylor had us at 9th. He had a 60% win record, far better than Benji or Maguire.
This 'conventional wisdom' among Tigers fans is wrong, just like opinions of Adam Blair.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Our 17 is short of 4 quality players in addition to our chronic lack of depth. These shortcomings in our roster cannot be addressed overnight. Luai, Turuva, May, Bird etc are excellent signings and hopefully there will be further additions to KPP and May for 2026. The club has also moved on a number of players to free up roster spots for new signings, so Richardson is doing his best. Luai and Marshall no doubt have influence within the NRL and many of our signings occurred because of them.

I wouldn't say Bird is an excellent signing. Disappointing. And Royce Hunt, like Bud Sullivan, signed by Benji on good money but dropped midway through their first season.
There have been some excellent signings, and some head-scratchers.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Yet Taylor had us at 9th. He had a 60% win record, far better than Benji or Maguire.
This 'conventional wisdom' among Tigers fans is wrong, just like opinions of Adam Blair.

The comparison wasn't about results but the destruction he caused during his tenure, he made more of a mess of our roster than anyone see below.

Yes, can't disagree with that but from destruction caused Taylor managed to piss of Robbie, lost JAC, Paseka and started the rot of 3 of the big 4.

That caused more pain to supporters than anything Benji has produced so far.

 

[gregjm87]

Yes I watched and I definitely want Api and Luia to stay. I just don't think you can say for sure they'll leave if Benji is sacked.

I'm not advocating sacking Marshall but I don't get why the assumption is they would leave if Marshall was sacked. Api signed to play for Madge, a coach he had worked with previously. When Madge was sacked he said he was disappointed but will honour his contract. Why would he have a different stance now?
Luai there is more of an argument given Marshall was the one who recruited him. Though I think Luai is more loyal to his $1.2mil than to Marshall and I am far from convinced he would get that anywhere else in Sydney. Additionally we are led to believe he was active in recruiting the likes of May and Turuva to the club. Not sure he is the type that would turn his back on them after getting them here.
Finally, they may both like Benji. Who's to say they won't similarly like the next bloke?

 

[king_sirro]

I'm not advocating sacking Marshall but I don't get why the assumption is they would leave if Marshall was sacked. Api signed to play for Madge, a coach he had worked with previously. When Madge was sacked he said he was disappointed but will honour his contract. Why would he have a different stance now?
Luai there is more of an argument given Marshall was the one who recruited him. Though I think Luai is more loyal to his $1.2mil than to Marshall and I am far from convinced he would get that anywhere else in Sydney. Additionally we are led to believe he was active in recruiting the likes of May and Turuva to the club. Not sure he is the type that would turn his back on them after getting them here.
Finally, they may both like Benji. Who's to say they won't similarly like the next bloke?

I agree. Luai isnt getting close to that money elsewhere. Maybe if he wants to move to Perth.