Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tim Sheens]

Iam all for giving kids like this a second chance. Maybe we can find a job for him in the football department

Yeah, if paroled Manase will have served his time and been adjudged to be deserving of release at the time. I see no reason why he cannot play on that basis, as we all know that there are likely a good few current players that will have also committed crimes and lucky not to have been imprisoned for them.

 

[liltiger]

You appear to have some pre-conceived idea of Benji not being able to coach, or not having served enough apprenticeship, or that he will never be able to become a better coach. Called it after 1.5 seasons, that Benji cannot and will not ever "be able to coach to save his life".

That's all fine as an opinion, but it has nothing to do with how the club handled Madge, which is the original point I responded to.

But I also think to be a fair comparison you need to give Benji some 3.5 seasons just like Madge got, before you can properly judge if he can coach. Unlike Madge who took on a roster that was on the cusp of finals footy for several seasons (and then got worse results every year after he took over), Benji has taken on the 2x wooden spoon team.

The last thing I will say is - I don't think club is likely to punt Benji any time soon, I think they are doubling-down on him as the coach. So it becomes a very WORN argument, which you are allowed to make week after week if you choose, but a very worn down tired argument to keep saying "Benji can't coach" when the club is probably going to keep him until at least deep into 2026.

Sheens, Potter, Taylor, Madge, Kimmorley, Sheens, Benji can't coach. Benji drives me up the wall with some of his decisions, but let's be real, there are here 6 coaches not including Webster and Payton the club didn't give a go to, that all have diffrent styles, philosophies and approaches to coaching. The one constant is the club. What's more reasonable, that all these coaches with vastly diffrent ways of seeing and approaching the game are all the problem, or that the problem is the one constant, that being the club. You sack Benji for who? Then what? Start again so in 2 years he can't coach either and we sack them aswell. Plus we've then put up with 2 spoons for nothing. Reason we did that was to start a proper rebuild from scratch. I'm as down and pissed off as anyone, but at some stage we just need to let a coach see out a contract. If we keep sacking coaches because they can't coach, the only person likely to take a job will be a div 9 coach from woop woop.

 

[Batmans Parents]

Bula to Knights Ponga to Tigers, first time a Moses shenanigan works in our favour.

Sure, just like Spencer Leniu was a lock to come here, eh?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Another week, no news of any potential signings for us in 2026.
We must be satisfied with what we already have ?
We seem to be leaving if quite late to fill all of our currently open top 30 roster positions.

I don’t for a second think nothing is happening.

There is hardly anything on the open market to get excited about right now outside of Papa really.

Coaching merry go round season is about to start which will see opportunities arise as new coaches will need to shred players plus clauses triggered.

 

[kiwitiger]

Ponga allegedly has engaged an NZ rugby agency to explore options despite still being contracted to the Knights for a further 2 years. One reason given is that he doesn't want to waste his best years at a club which may not win a premiership. Do you believe the two expansion teams looking for a big name signing will allow this to occur?

Will play rugby in Japan is the rumour for 2 years/maybe a bit in NZ as well.

 

[clontarfkid]

Sheens, Potter, Taylor, Madge, Kimmorley, Sheens, Benji can't coach. Benji drives me up the wall with some of his decisions, but let's be real, there are here 6 coaches not including Webster and Payton the club didn't give a go to, that all have diffrent styles, philosophies and approaches to coaching. The one constant is the club. What's more reasonable, that all these coaches with vastly diffrent ways of seeing and approaching the game are all the problem, or that the problem is the one constant, that being the club. You sack Benji for who? Then what? Start again so in 2 years he can't coach either and we sack them aswell. Plus we've then put up with 2 spoons for nothing. Reason we did that was to start a proper rebuild from scratch. I'm as down and pissed off as anyone, but at some stage we just need to let a coach see out a contract. If we keep sacking coaches because they can't coach, the only person likely to take a job will be a div 9 coach from woop woop.

weve had an horrific assortment of head coaches for over a decade now,none of whom have achieved anything subsequently as head coach after they keft WTs
Its our appointments that is the issue,the most recent being the most amateurish and most bizarre of them all (thats being kind)....at Grappa restuarant ....and with a 5 year deal.
Who does that??
Jury remains out on Madge at Broncos,and you conveniently omitted Cleary who in his own words "overachieved"getting us to 9th.We want overachievers
Unfortunately he jumped off the bus
And Taylor and Potter are valuable assistants...but thats their ceiling
But apart from Cleary,we havent had a decent coach for yonks...and that is the key issue
Its not the club DNA or "culture"or anything like that.its .just piss poor administration
Benjis abundant shortcomings are transparent,and Id punt him in a heartbeat,but only if we can be assured we have someone capable to replace him

 

[Ecto-1]

I called AD to lock weeks ago but got told it won’t happen 🤣

 

[cqtiger]

I’m not coach Benji’s biggest fan but I’ll judge him when our top 30 roster is properly sorted. Someone said that we currently have 3 top 30 players and 1 or 2 development players running around in Ron Massey cup.

These are players signed by previous management and coaches.

Richo said last year he would build a team with players Benji wanted so this year he brought in Luai, Turuva, Bird, Hunt, Skelton and the 2 May brothers.

I hope Richo can sign a few more top (or solid) players for next year which will at least give us some decent depth not like last year or this year.

Whatever anyone thinks about Galvin and Da Silva they have pretty much scuppered our season. We were doing great until Galvin really pushed to get out followed by his best mate TDS.

I heard the playing group were really off side with Galvin even before the sh*t hit the fan and TDS was sulking when his mate left. So people saying we should have made them see out this year are asking for more heartache and disruption.

If Benji can’t improve us next year with a full roster and without entitled juniors causing angst then I might join the Benji can’t coach brigade

 

[TonyTiger]

Sheens, Potter, Taylor, Madge, Kimmorley, Sheens, Benji can't coach. Benji drives me up the wall with some of his decisions, but let's be real, there are here 6 coaches not including Webster and Payton the club didn't give a go to, that all have diffrent styles, philosophies and approaches to coaching. The one constant is the club. What's more reasonable, that all these coaches with vastly diffrent ways of seeing and approaching the game are all the problem, or that the problem is the one constant, that being the club. You sack Benji for who? Then what? Start again so in 2 years he can't coach either and we sack them aswell. Plus we've then put up with 2 spoons for nothing. Reason we did that was to start a proper rebuild from scratch. I'm as down and pissed off as anyone, but at some stage we just need to let a coach see out a contract. If we keep sacking coaches because they can't coach, the only person likely to take a job will be a div 9 coach from woop woop.

Potter the best (& wasn’t afraid of putting Robbie in his place either)

 

[TSP]

Appreciate the scoop, but I could have told you that at about 4pm on Sunday.

*2pm.

 

[Wildcat777]

Ah Benji's 2025 win rate is 37.5%.

Madge's win rate in 2019 was 35%, in 2021 33% and in his final half-season 2022 was 25%.

So Madge's "success rate" is only superior to Benji if you include Madge's first season (45.83%) and Benji's debut season (25%). But Benji 2025 currently had Madge covered in all years but the first one.

Don't need to spell it out, but I will: we boned Madge because his win rate kept dropping every year. Benji's is currently going up, in fact we already know he can't do worse than last year.

Not so hard to fathom.

Wow….great winning stats considering the cattle he has. Just being honest. Though I have never coached a day in my life, give me the reins at Melbourne last fees years and I would getter a better win rate, easy. Actually means nothing. 2 years ago WT could have all the coaches and the rest none, and still be battling for wooden spoon. It’s previously obvious. In saying that. Where ever we finish in 2025, we will finish 26 at least 4 places higher. Also fairly obvious once we can get closer to fielding 13 NRL players in a game.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Sheens, Potter, Taylor, Madge, Kimmorley, Sheens, Benji can't coach. Benji drives me up the wall with some of his decisions, but let's be real, there are here 6 coaches not including Webster and Payton the club didn't give a go to, that all have diffrent styles, philosophies and approaches to coaching. The one constant is the club. What's more reasonable, that all these coaches with vastly diffrent ways of seeing and approaching the game are all the problem, or that the problem is the one constant, that being the club. You sack Benji for who? Then what? Start again so in 2 years he can't coach either and we sack them aswell. Plus we've then put up with 2 spoons for nothing. Reason we did that was to start a proper rebuild from scratch. I'm as down and pissed off as anyone, but at some stage we just need to let a coach see out a contract. If we keep sacking coaches because they can't coach, the only person likely to take a job will be a div 9 coach from woop woop.

I rang the Woop Woop Div 9 Coach for his viewpoint. Here's his simple approach, but because it's from Woop Woop, you have to do it twice.

 

[Telltails]

weve had an horrific assortment of head coaches for over a decade now,none of whom have achieved anything subsequently as head coach after they keft WTs
Its our appointments that is the issue,the most recent being the most amateurish and most bizarre of them all (thats being kind)....at Grappa restuarant ....and with a 5 year deal.
Who does that??
Jury remains out on Madge at Broncos,and you conveniently omitted Cleary who in his own words "overachieved"getting us to 9th.We want overachievers
Unfortunately he jumped off the bus
And Taylor and Potter are valuable assistants...but thats their ceiling
But apart from Cleary,we havent had a decent coach for yonks...and that is the key issue
Its not the club DNA or "culture"or anything like that.its .just piss poor administration
Benjis abundant shortcomings are transparent,and Id punt him in a heartbeat,but only if we can be assured we have someone capable to replace him

Sheens Maguire and Cleary are hardly considered horrific coaches, but what they have in common is not being able to effectively turn this club around from a bottom dweller and when you look at the apparent disparity in the resources that are afforded the team compared to other clubs, it is none too surprising.

 

[TSP]

I’m not coach Benji’s biggest fan but I’ll judge him when our top 30 roster is properly sorted. Someone said that we currently have 3 top 30 players and 1 or 2 development players running around in Ron Massey cup.

These are players signed by previous management and coaches.

Richo said last year he would build a team with players Benji wanted so this year he brought in Luai, Turuva, Bird, Hunt, Skelton and the 2 May brothers.

I hope Richo can sign a few more top (or solid) players for next year which will at least give us some decent depth not like last year or this year.

Whatever anyone thinks about Galvin and Da Silva they have pretty much scuppered our season. We were doing great until Galvin really pushed to get out followed by his best mate TDS.

I heard the playing group were really off side with Galvin even before the sh*t hit the fan and TDS was sulking when his mate left. So people saying we should have made them see out this year are asking for more heartache and disruption.

If Benji can’t improve us next year with a full roster and without entitled juniors causing angst then I might join the Benji can’t coach brigade

No point waiting…

weve had an horrific assortment of head coaches for over a decade now,none of whom have achieved anything subsequently as head coach after they keft WTs
Its our appointments that is the issue,the most recent being the most amateurish and most bizarre of them all (thats being kind)....at Grappa restuarant ....and with a 5 year deal.
Who does that??
Jury remains out on Madge at Broncos,and you conveniently omitted Cleary who in his own words "overachieved"getting us to 9th.We want overachievers
Unfortunately he jumped off the bus
And Taylor and Potter are valuable assistants...but thats their ceiling
But apart from Cleary,we havent had a decent coach for yonks...and that is the key issue
Its not the club DNA or "culture"or anything like that.its .just piss poor administration
Benjis abundant shortcomings are transparent,and Id punt him in a heartbeat,but only if we can be assured we have someone capable to replace him

You’ve nailed it.

People have a tendency to forget who brought the coaches in at first instance.

Richo has tied himself to Benji which I think was unnecessary and unwise.

Not just his evident lack of coaching ability, but professionally, he’s supposed to be his boss, not his mate.

Richo needs to do a lot better.

I hate to say it but this regime is beginning to remind me of the last dumpster fire.

Hopefully Taylan can do his bit to save the crockery.

 

[BBTF]

Sheens Maguire and Cleary are hardly considered horrific coaches, but what they have in common is not being able to effectively turn this club around from a bottom dweller and when you look at the apparent disparity in the resources that are afforded the team compared to other clubs, it is none too surprising.

Clearys roster management at our club was the worst of any coach in the history of the NRL. Packer, Mbye, Reynolds, Matulino were all signed to 4 year contracts for $700k - 1Mill. He realised he had messed up and bailed ASAP. He did however get an atrocious squad to 9th (probably the worst squad we have ever had).

If Cleary came in now I am confident we would be decent within a few years.

 

[clontarfkid]

No point waiting…

You’ve nailed it.

People have a tendency to forget who brought the coaches in at first instance.

Richo has tied himself to Benji which I think was an unnecessary and unwise.

The beginning of the end was about a dozen or so years ago when the game passed Sheens by and no-one saw it...then we had Fiasco and the Hat running the show not soon after
Completely incompetent
We now have a really good CEO,and publicly he has to support Benji...until the inevitable

 

[clontarfkid]

Clearys roster management at our club was the worst of any coach in the history of the NRL. Packer, Mbye, Reynolds, Matulino were all signed to 4 year contracts for $700k - 1Mill. He realised he had messed up and bailed ASAP. He did however get an atrocious squad to 9th (probably the worst squad we have ever had).

If Cleary came in now I am confident we would be decent within a few years.

They were desperate times,and he made short term decisions which had long term consequences...and he knew he wldnt be around to manage them.
Disappointing
But nobody doubts his coaching credentials!!

 

[cqtiger]

No point waiting…

You’ve nailed it.

People have a tendency to forget who brought the coaches in at first instance.

Richo has tied himself to Benji which I think was unnecessary and unwise.

Not just his evident lack of coaching ability, but professionally, he’s supposed to be his boss, not his mate.

Richo needs to do a lot better.

I hate to say it but this regime is beginning to remind me of the last dumpster fire.

Hopefully Taylan can do his bit to save the crockery.

You sound as miserable as that Rob Bachara fella on the Wests Life podcast.

 

[clontarfkid]

Sheens Maguire and Cleary are hardly considered horrific coaches, but what they have in common is not being able to effectively turn this club around from a bottom dweller and when you look at the apparent disparity in the resources that are afforded the team compared to other clubs, it is none too surprising.

Cleary is in a different category to septegarian Sheens and myopic Madge..and got a truly ordinary roster into 9th at the time
Bellamy cld do even better with our current roster
But thats my point..a succession of crap coaches who cldnt realise the potential from our roster,which whilst not top drawer,is certainly not terrible and never has been
Our coaches cant improve players,nor develop cohesion and teamwork,nor design tactics for opposition weaknesses

 

[clontarfkid]

You sound as miserable as that Rob Bachara fella on the Wests Life podcast.

Dunno who that fella is,but after 3 spoons and no lite at tunnel end..were all pretty miserable tbh
We all deserve better