Tigers Deep Dive of the Week

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

EllisFan said:

Nice read mate. Well put.

Still think we’ve got quite a bit of work to do in the deep red zone, we are really struggling to create in that zone with our tries largely coming from long range.

It’s obviously more difficult for all sides in that part of the field but the key I think is to try and unlock your wingers with a bit of space. We have great backrowers now so it’s all set up to use them as the bait to draw in defenders.

For me the key could well be Madden, but I’ll stop beating that drum for now.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

I think you are on the money - much more difficult in the red zone because of the line being closer and teams tend to be more focussed in defence in that area. This is also why the short dropout is now back in vogue - because it is easier to defend in that zone. What I haven't seen from us so far, which I think would be very efftive int he red zone, with our style of play, is a coming back agaisnt the grain to score/compress the defence and then attack wide with no setup play.

Click to expand...

Vicious said:

In my opinion good quality red zone attack comes from not only the first receiver style of 13 playing straight and providing time and pace for the halves to play, but also heavily relies on your fullback sweeping into the right spaces at high speed to create the extra man or defensive doubt and also heavily relies on the edge players being the second rowers and centres running hard lines at high speed.
We are now much better placed with our second rowers both being genuine attacking threats and they are running hard lines at speed quite often, now we just need that combined with both centres doing the same.
It’s nothing too complicated, just needing these key players all in sync and running onto the ball at high speed, not afraid of the heavy defensive contact.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

Thanks for you concern about me wasting my life AHX, but if you don't mind I'll do me and I'm happy for you to do you.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

Given we aren't running with a ball playing 13 our options are a little limited, but we can create width by playing the halves on heither side of the ruck and also sweeping plays along with the options I oulined earlier.

Click to expand...

AmericanHistoryX said:

Yeh. You guys do all the stat's . Unpaid. Nothing for it. Waste of life really. But I do want to go deep - real deep. Is that beautiful young woman still in the coaching box?

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

Thanks for you concern about me wasting my life AHX, but if you don't mind I'll do me and I'm happy for you to do you.

Click to expand...

AmericanHistoryX said:

Again. Is the blonde girl in the box? Get a grip man. Real question

Click to expand...

AmericanHistoryX said:

Again. Is the blonde girl in the box? Get a grip man. Real question

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

Jolls said:

2026 Deep Dive 3. Wests Tigers attack appears uncoordinated and lacks modern shape. Is this the case or is organised chaos the way to break down structure? What the Tigers Are Actually Building​

I’ll be honest—I’ve been sitting on the fence with Benji Marshall…Until now.

Not because I thought he couldn’t coach, but because I wasn’t sure if what we were seeing was the start of something… or just flashes of instinct without a system behind it. There’s been enough over the last couple of years to show he gets footy. You don’t accidentally produce the kind of attacking moments we’ve seen. But equally, it hasn’t clicked consistently—and that’s what’s kept a lot of us (me included) cautious.

That said, I’ve also been banging on for a while now about something that keeps getting dismissed…

This team was never being built around traditional shape. It’s being built around putting options in the right place, at the right time, for playmakers to make decisions. Not robots running to cones. And if you’re still watching us expecting to see Melbourne-style block shapes every second set… you’re going to keep thinking we’re “unstructured.”

The Game Has Changed… But Not Everyone Watching It Has

Here’s where I think a few people are getting left behind.

The benchmark for “good attack” has been set by teams like the Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters. Highly structured. Highly repeatable. Everyone knows their role down to the centimetre.

And it works. Of course it works.

But here’s the bit that doesn’t get talked about enough…Defensive systems are now built to handle that exact style. Slide, number up, trust your inside man, make your decision early.

So if everyone is running structure…What breaks structure?

“They’ve Got No Shape”… Or You’re Looking for the Wrong Thing?

Let’s call it out properly.

The take that “the Tigers have no shape” gets thrown around like it’s a fact.

But what people really mean is:

“I don’t recognise what they’re doing.”

Because yeah—if your definition of shape is:

• Sweep plays out the back
• Block runners every second set
• Halves glued to one side

Then no… we don’t look like that.

Instead you’re seeing:

• Players popping up both sides
• Offloads that don’t look pre-called
• Halves roaming
• Support players arriving late or from weird angles

And it feels messy, uncoached and random.

Except it’s not.

This Isn’t Chaos. It’s Controlled Pressure on the Defence

What we’re actually building is a system based on cues, not choreography. And there’s a big difference.

We’re not asking players to remember: “Run Shape B on tackle 4”

We’re asking them to recognise:

• When the ruck is quick
• When the markers are split
• When the line is staggered
• When defenders are retreating

And then attack that moment. That’s why it looks like chaos.

Because the moment changes every set; but, the method doesn’t.

And Here’s the Bit Many People Are Missing… It Only Works Because Our Defence Has Improved

You don’t get to play this way if your defence is rubbish. Simple as that.

Quietly—and it has been quiet because it’s not sexy—we’re now holding teams to around 17 points a game. That’s a massive shift.

It means:

• We’re in the arm wrestle longer
• We’re getting more ball in better areas
• We’re not constantly trying to attack from our own end

And that’s when this style comes alive.

Because organised chaos doesn’t work when you’re gassed and defending your line.

It works when the opposition is the one under fatigue… trying to reset… trying to get their line straight…and we don’t let them.

Watch for the Triggers, Not the Shape

If you want to understand what we’re doing, stop watching where players line up. Start watching what triggers the play.

You’ll see it pretty quickly:

A fast play-the-ball and suddenly we’re into the line before the markers are set.
An offload and there are bodies pushing through the middle, not standing flat-footed.
A staggered defensive line and we don’t shift for the sake of it—we go through it.

That’s not random. That’s trained.

Look at the Players We’ve Brought In… It’s Not a Coincidence

You don’t accidentally assemble a roster like this.

Apisai Koroisau doesn’t play robotic footy—he hunts moments around the ruck better than almost anyone.

Jarome Luai isn’t a clipboard half—he thrives when things are broken and defenders are guessing.

Terrell May lives off second phase—late footwork, offloads, getting his hands free.

And then you’ve got guys like Latu Fainu coming through who look completely comfortable playing eyes-up footy.

That’s not a mix…that’s a blueprint.

“Yeah But It Looks Clunky”… Of Course It Does

This is the part where people need to be a bit honest. This style is harder; Much harder.

Structure is safe—you know where everyone is supposed to be.

This?

• Requires trust
• Requires instinct
• Requires players seeing the same picture at the same time

When it’s slightly off, it looks terrible.

Support isn’t there → dropped ball.
Offload forced → turnover.
Wrong read → wasted set.

And straight away it’s:

“See? No structure.” No—it’s just not executed well yet.

There’s Also a Bit More Going On Under the Bonnet The improvement in this team isn’t just tactical.

There’s two big drivers:

First—Benji’s man management. Players look like they actually want the ball. They’re backing themselves. That matters in a system like this.

Second—pressure for spots. There’s genuine competition now. You don’t perform, you don’t play.

Now yeah—we’re still carrying some baggage from Tim Sheens handing out Top 30 spots to juniors who weren’t ready. But let’s be fair—that may have been part of building a base when we had nothing. We’re past that now. Spots are getting earned. And trust me - Jock Madden doesn't think he is here to play second fiddle - Benji has challenged him to take AD's position! Twal knows that AD could potentially be displaced and his postion is under pressure - see where it is leading? Bunty - Seyfarth and so on down the line.

We’re Not There Yet… But You Can See It Coming

This isn’t a finished product; but, it’s not aimless either.

As we keep recruiting the right types of players—and more importantly, as combinations build—you’ll see this sharpen up.

The passes stick. The support arrives earlier. The decisions get quicker.

And suddenly what looked like chaos… now is being described as pressure. Constant, relentless pressure.

The Bit That Should Actually Get You Excited

This is bigger than just first grade. If you listened to Logan Brookes on the Wests Tigers Faithful Poddy you would know that this is now through all of the grades.

When we align this across the club—pathways, juniors, NSW Cup—all playing the same style…You’re not teaching it at NRL level.

You’re producing it.

Players come in already understanding:

• Where to be
• What to look for
• How to react

And here’s the kicker…

When the culture shifts—and it already has—you don’t have to overpay juniors to stay.

They’ll want to stay.

Because the system suits them. The club develops them. The identity is clear.

That’s how clubs build sustained success. And yeah… I’ll say it lightly…

That’s how dynasties start.

Laugh if you want—but have a think about it.

So back to Benji Marshall.

I’m off the fence. He’s shown enough now—for me—to say he’s not just an NRL-level coach…he’s thinking about the game differently; maybe even ahead of where a lot of others are.

We saw glimpses of what this looks like when it clicked against the Cowboys. We saw patience and belief in the system against Souths and we showed, even when severely depleted, it worked against the Warriors; who we scoring 40 points a game up until Friday.

Not perfect.

But enough to go: “Alright… there it is.”

So strap in.

Because if this keeps building, it’s going to be a seriously fun ride. And seriously…FFS—stop wishing we played like the Storm or the Roosters.

Understand what we’re actually trying to do. Because Benji Ball; that’s not us catching up.

That's us getting there first.

Click to expand...

upthetigers said:

There is women on this forum have some respect.

And who are you to tell people they're wasting their life posting on this forum. It's clearly a passion of his.

It's a footy forum he's discussing footy, not off topic crap you always go on about.

Click to expand...

AmericanHistoryX said:

Thanks Jolls. You seem to be rock hopping. Putting more into the boys than your own family. Please correct me if i am off topic. Be glad you not the father of my kids. The father of West's Tigers kids

Click to expand...

AmericanHistoryX said:

Brother. I'm not the one living off sponsored kids. You are. If you spent half your time on your own kids - you would be on topic and way in line with reality.

Click to expand...