No doubt Benji carries emotional weight for some people, but our history shows that even getting rid of him isn’t making us finals bound. People are just sick and tired of changing coaches and still not making finals. And the same will occur should Benji be moved on we aren’t making finals under a new coach.
Season 2027 Head Coach
- Thread starter Odessa
- Start date
happy_tiger
Well-known member
Benji Should still be doing his apprenticeship but he wouldn't have taken the job if he was having to follow the hard road
HBG won't sack him because they don't want to have to fork out the cash to pay him out or look like the idiots they are for upgrading his contract for an unproven coach with a poor win loss ratio
So we are screwed royally ....yet again
HBG won't sack him because they don't want to have to fork out the cash to pay him out or look like the idiots they are for upgrading his contract for an unproven coach with a poor win loss ratio
So we are screwed royally ....yet again
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Oh no T, you want to give our coach the flick, seems you're not the only one, a lot of the forum are sharpening their knives.
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
Let's hope Benji has a look into a mirror to reflect where he has gone this year----backwards----and does something about it.
EG. Take some opposing advice onboard, NOT as CRITISISM but ADVICE.
Different points of view, take it onboard. It just may help win games?
As always if you surround yourself with "yes men/women" you have a monumental stuff up because people are either too scared to tell you the truth or as deluded as you are.You only have to look at the shambles of a government in the USA to realise that.
Tiger Stripes
Well-known member
In theory Latu and Andrews sounds great.
But Benji is beholding to Doueihi staying in the halves.
Benji should do an Albo trick and "Change His Position"
IE. start rehearsing the Latu-Andrews combo this year!
Doueihi plays where he is told and Luai KOE.
TheEnz
Well-known member
Lets compare Benji's performance to other coaches that are still considered rookies in first grade i.e. Ciraldo, Foran, Ryles, Fitzy and Hannay. Of the lot he is probably the second most inexperienced behind Foran and of the lot I could probably say that Ciraldo is coaching a club that was in a similar position to us when they both took the reins. Some may Argue That Fitzy is no longer a rookie...if so just remove him yourselves.
(Claude AI)
If we only count each coach's record at the club they are currently coaching (as of the 2026 NRL season), the comparison changes significantly:
Ranked by win percentage:
Craig Fitzgibbon has the strongest body of work when balancing win rate and sample size. Maintaining a 63% win rate across 125 games is elite by modern NRL standards and has kept Cronulla consistently in finals contention.
Kieran Foran currently has the highest win percentage, but it comes from a very small sample of only 14 games. If maintained over multiple seasons, it would place him among the competition's top coaches.
Cameron Ciraldo's record requires context. His first season at Canterbury involved a major rebuild, but the Bulldogs have steadily improved under his leadership. A near-50% record across almost 100 games suggests sustained progress from a low starting point.
Benji Marshall inherited a struggling Wests Tigers organisation and has faced the challenge of rebuilding one of the competition's weakest-performing clubs. His win rate remains low, but his record should be assessed alongside the significant roster and cultural changes undertaken during his tenure.
Josh Hannay's first season at the Titans has been difficult, reflected in a 30% win rate. The sample size is still relatively small, and the long-term assessment of his coaching ability will depend on whether Gold Coast can improve over the next few seasons.
Adding payroll, roster quality and inherited club position changes the picture considerably because win percentage alone doesn't capture the difficulty of the job each coach took on.
Improvement from the Season Before Arrival
Assessment
(Claude AI)
If we only count each coach's record at the club they are currently coaching (as of the 2026 NRL season), the comparison changes significantly:
| Coach | Current Club | Games | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Fitzgibbon | Cronulla Sharks | 125 | 79 | 46 | 63.2% |
| Kieran Foran | Manly Sea Eagles | 14 | 9 | 5 | 64.3% |
| Cameron Ciraldo | Canterbury Bulldogs | 95 | 47 | 48 | 49.5% |
| Josh Hannay | Gold Coast Titans | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30.0% |
| Benji Marshall | Wests Tigers | 68 | 22 | 46 | 32.4% |
- Kieran Foran (Manly) – 64.3%
- Craig Fitzgibbon (Cronulla) – 63.2%
- Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs) – 49.5%
- Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers) – 32.4%
- Josh Hannay (Titans) – 30.0%
Craig Fitzgibbon has the strongest body of work when balancing win rate and sample size. Maintaining a 63% win rate across 125 games is elite by modern NRL standards and has kept Cronulla consistently in finals contention.
Kieran Foran currently has the highest win percentage, but it comes from a very small sample of only 14 games. If maintained over multiple seasons, it would place him among the competition's top coaches.
Cameron Ciraldo's record requires context. His first season at Canterbury involved a major rebuild, but the Bulldogs have steadily improved under his leadership. A near-50% record across almost 100 games suggests sustained progress from a low starting point.
Benji Marshall inherited a struggling Wests Tigers organisation and has faced the challenge of rebuilding one of the competition's weakest-performing clubs. His win rate remains low, but his record should be assessed alongside the significant roster and cultural changes undertaken during his tenure.
Josh Hannay's first season at the Titans has been difficult, reflected in a 30% win rate. The sample size is still relatively small, and the long-term assessment of his coaching ability will depend on whether Gold Coast can improve over the next few seasons.
Adding payroll, roster quality and inherited club position changes the picture considerably because win percentage alone doesn't capture the difficulty of the job each coach took on.
| Coach | Club | Win % | Club Position When Arriving | Roster Strength on Arrival | Relative Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Fitzgibbon | Sharks | 63.2% | Finals-calibre club (9th in 2021) | Top-8 roster with elite spine players | Strong improvement |
| Cameron Ciraldo | Bulldogs | 49.5% | Bottom-four club (15th in 2022) | Weak roster undergoing rebuild | Significant over-performance |
| Benji Marshall | Tigers | 32.4% | Wooden-spoon club (17th in 2023) | Bottom-tier roster initially | Moderate improvement |
| Josh Hannay | Titans | 30.0% | Bottom-four club | Talented but inconsistent roster | Slight under-performance |
| Kieran Foran | Sea Eagles | 64.3% | Finals-contending club | Established top-eight roster | Too early to assess |
Improvement from the Season Before Arrival
| Coach | Season Before Arrival | Club Finish Before Arrival | Best Finish Under Coach | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciraldo | Bulldogs | 15th | Finals contender | Major improvement |
| Fitzgibbon | Sharks | 9th | Top-four contender | Significant improvement |
| Marshall | Tigers | 17th | Lower-mid table | Moderate improvement |
| Hannay | Titans | Bottom four | Similar position | Limited improvement |
| Foran | Sea Eagles | Finals contender | Ongoing | Incomplete sample |
Assessment
- Cameron Ciraldo
- Although his raw win percentage trails Fitzgibbon, he inherited the toughest situation.
- Canterbury were coming off years of instability and poor recruitment.
- Turning a bottom-two side into a competitive finals team is arguably the largest coaching achievement among this group.
- Craig Fitzgibbon
- The most accomplished coach based on sustained performance.
- Has produced elite results over a large sample size.
- However, he inherited a substantially stronger roster than Ciraldo or Marshall.
- Benji Marshall
- The win percentage looks poor, but context matters.
- He inherited a club that had collected multiple wooden spoons and struggled to attract elite talent.
- Improvement has been slower than Bulldogs under Ciraldo but the starting point was similarly difficult.
- Kieran Foran
- Excellent early results.
- Too few games to determine whether the performance is sustainable.
- Benefits from inheriting a roster containing established representative-level talent.
- Josh Hannay
- Has inherited a roster many analysts consider capable of finishing higher than it has.
- Results to date suggest under-performance relative to roster quality.
- Needs more time, but currently ranks last on adjusted performance.
- Cameron Ciraldo
- Craig Fitzgibbon
- Benji Marshall
- Kieran Foran (insufficient sample)
- Josh Hannay
- Craig Fitzgibbon
- Kieran Foran (small sample)
- Cameron Ciraldo
- Benji Marshall
- Josh Hannay
Most here suggesting we are unlikely to win again this year
Benji and the team wont be thinking this way its just how it is at NRL level even when it seems like its 10000/1 odds against you...professional sportsman always go into games thinking they can win
The argument is:
Do we drop or move Luai, Douehi... (very rarely happens) and put in place the so called future in the halves?
Likely ensuring no more wins and goingn into next season on an 11 game losing streak?
Or
Play who the coach believes will be best suited to get a win or possible two...our most senior guys...hoping to jag a dub and relieve a bit of pressure going into the off season.
Drinkwater, Nikorima, Koloamatangi etc etc are all moving on next year but havent been dropped.
What i would do is get those that are busted into surgery to be ready for next year but clubs...those that pay the players salary...have no say in this, if the players wanna delay needed surgery and play rep footy they do what they like.
Benji and the team wont be thinking this way its just how it is at NRL level even when it seems like its 10000/1 odds against you...professional sportsman always go into games thinking they can win
The argument is:
Do we drop or move Luai, Douehi... (very rarely happens) and put in place the so called future in the halves?
Likely ensuring no more wins and goingn into next season on an 11 game losing streak?
Or
Play who the coach believes will be best suited to get a win or possible two...our most senior guys...hoping to jag a dub and relieve a bit of pressure going into the off season.
Drinkwater, Nikorima, Koloamatangi etc etc are all moving on next year but havent been dropped.
What i would do is get those that are busted into surgery to be ready for next year but clubs...those that pay the players salary...have no say in this, if the players wanna delay needed surgery and play rep footy they do what they like.
TheEnz
Well-known member
All at teams that are still playing for a finals berth. I expect Benji will bring 1 or 2 up each week to first grade to give them a taste, and to be fair it looks like he has already started doing this with Javon Josese, Haywood, Sukuru, Roberts etc.. and i expect he will continue doing this in our remaining games. Not wholesale changes just players here and there. The upside is we go into 2027 with a large number of players that have an idea of what it will take to be successful in first grade and will hopefully rip in during the offseason and pre-season.
I did not say that RHS but I would like to see some green shoots very shortly.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Would his contract, or ego, welcome that? I always thought that part of his deal is total authority, in hiring and firing !
Can’t see that happening over him but assistants may well be a different matter. Bomber Morris already leaving for the Dragons in 27, now Hodgo and Heighno need to go as well. Then where do we go for assistants, I think it’s proven the old mates act not working so has to be someone able to deliver impartial, tough feedback.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Difference is with those 3 players mentioned, they are still putting in but the Gangsta is not ! Douehi, line ball !
Just systems mate . Often the systems are right but the guys are just making stupid decisions . Like Masi against the eels . The issue is too many guys next to each other who are confidence guys . I see growth from last year . Doesn’t mean it’s good . I never said it was good . But it’s not u7s, worst defence ever diabolical - despite the losses . I’m just not a prisoner of the moment . 2 years ago under easier rules we were getting 60 consistently put on us. It’s all relative mate . Like I said it’s nowhere near good enough , and I’m sure the usual pitch fork holders won’t read this post , but yea incrementally it is getting better .
We need to make large steps next year though . Too many guys who think it’s ok to make a couple of mistakes a game . We have to find a way to make these understand the goal is perfection . You’ll never achieve it . But that’s the goal .
Odessa
Well-known member
Jim Dymock I have heard off a few people an absolutely amazing coach but also heard off the same people absolutely a number 2 because he is lazy and late and needs someone to ride him he's your number 2
Jim Dymock also has an absolutely amazing property portfolio he spent every cent of his Super League checks buying property up around Newcastle way all those years ago
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
I am happy enough for Benji to have another shot in 27, though that choice of providing an extension for a few extra years was horrendous, and especially when likely made primarily to take the board debacle off the news cycle.
