Benji 2025 and Beyond

[Tiger Stripes]

I’m still not 💯 convinced about Benji’s coaching, but today has proven he can get our players up for a very important game which is a step in the right direction.

I want Benji to succeed as much as any WT supporter.
But what has crossed my mind...........Is it Benji's contract year? Or is it his assistants contract year? Extract the finger year?
What ever it is, listening to the assistants, taking some advice on board or Benji maturing as a coach?
It certainly worked against the Bulldogs. Should win the bye.
Hope the game plans and team morale continue for the remainder of the year?

 

[tig_prmz]

I want Benji to succeed as much as any WT supporter.
But what has crossed my mind...........Is it Benji's contract year? Or is it his assistants contract year? Extract the finger year?
What ever it is, listening to the assistants, taking some advice on board or Benji maturing as a coach?
It certainly worked against the Bulldogs. Should win the bye.
Hope the game plans and team morale continue for the remainder of the year?

I think Benji genuinely cares. It has nothing to do with contract year. His heart is in this Club for sure, but whether he has the skills to back it up is the question.

In terms of Benji for yesterday's game, I liked the passion we showed. I doubt the players within the Club have as much hatred towards Galvin like fans do . They went in and genuinely smiled with him and hugged him and spoke to him.

The passion they showed was for the fans and maybe for their coach who was insulted when Galvin walked out. I've never seen us play passionately when playing FOR something. I thank the team for doing what they did yesterday. It's definitely not sustainable, nor is it ever going to happen again.

The Panthers could go on to win another premiership this year but the happiness this win gave Tigers fans won't be the same as any other win for any other fan group this season.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

First I’ve ever heard that a coach is only performing cos it’s a contract year. Did not know that was even a thing.

 

[upthetigers]

If we finish the season on the same points as Dragons I will be happy with that. Experts were predicting us to finish 14th so finishing 12th or better is progress. A rebuild takes time.

 

[BAGNF05]

Just about every team that wins does so arguably on the back of a forward pass or two. Its fair to acknowledge that you need them to go you're way occasionally.

Would have been harsh to call the Bula one. They rarely pull that style up as everyone is moving too quickly.

I’m still not convinced Luai didn’t pop it backwards and fade away. Optical illusion 😉

 

[BAGNF05]

If we finish the season on the same points as Dragons I will be happy with that. Experts were predicting us to finish 14th so finishing 12th or better is progress. A rebuild takes time.

I’ve still got 10 wins as par for the season. If bowl cut didn’t drop it over the line v Souffs we’d be in the running for 8th.

3 out of four games remaining are very winnable and the Raiders could rest blokes.

 

[mtd#2]

Just worried this leaves us vulnerable for a square up in future games.

Enjoy the moment.
We might go on to own this rivalry and beat them the next 10 games..

 

[mtd#2]

Tino is exactly the sort of player they need to take them to the next level … personally I have not seen or heard anything to even connect him to the club as yet …

If I was a player that could literally go anywhere I please …am I joining the Tigers after just spending the last few years at the Titans ? 🤔

There will be a few players in the game who saw that win yesterday and will think to themselves they wouldnt mind being a part of that...

The culture and brotherhood is there..

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Bellend]

Where we are currently is where we should be with the team in its current set up. But next season there needs to be a kicking coach employed and skills development program rolled out that will develop al players in the West Tigers set up. Need a new attacking coach and Koe cup coach asap.

 

[TIGERS]

Our effort against the Bulldogs, easily Benji's best matchday effort as a coach. I'd say he's been really good on most aspects of being a first grade coach - except on match day management of the team. He has shanked a lot of big moments from a coaching perspective imo, (Spoonbowl last year and first match of this season are the big ones for me...) The jury is still out. We are a better side than where we are on the table.

Credit where it's due, I'd say this game against the Bulldogs, probably the first time I saw Benji, as a coach, outfoxing his opponent and understanding his own squad enough to give our club the best chance possible to win the game. Switching Skelton to the other side, bringing back Naden against his former club, putting AD in the halves at the last minute. Api had a blinder after renewing with the club. A week after getting a lesson from the Panthers, and up against a top 4 side and you know who. It was a very good effort.

We've been terrible after both of our bye's this season. That's been another huge let down for me as far as Benji's coaching goes. Let's see how the team comes out after this one...

 

[TIGERS]

Rd 1 v Newcastle
Rd 4 v Warriors
Rd 11 v Souths
Rd 14 v Penrith
Rd 16 v Canberra
All close losses and all games where we were arguably better than the opposition, yet didn’t have the game IQ nor the polish to close out the wins. Better coaching converts more than half of those.
I would also suggest that even though we won:
Rd 9 v Dragons
Rd 18 v Roosters
Rd 20 v Titans
They were poorly played wins that a better coached side would have easily secured given the opposition and the way the games went. If we won even 3 of that first set and then won really well in the 3 from the second set, we’d be talking about finals right now.

I agree that most of those games went begging. Maybe the Warriors is a bit harsh, their pack outfought us at Campbelltown. We were very unlucky against Souths too. Also credit to you for also acknowledging the games we won that we played poorly and putting them in the mix too.

You're correct that better coaching converts some of those wins. But hey, Brad Arthur needed 3 full seasons to get Parra into the top 8, and then dropped right out again the following year. Ricky Stuart was finished when he went to Canberra, it took him multiple seasons too. Cleary needed three full regular seasons at Penrith to get them into the top 4 (2014) and then they dropped out of the top 8 the year after that...

Even with experienced coaches, it takes time. Benji is largely on track in comparison to the coaches I've already mentioned and also what Ciraldo has accomplished so far at the Bulldogs. Also- look how the best coach in history goes at Souths without his hithero abundance of rep players. Squint and it looks a little bit like Sheens in 2023.

 

[Tiger Woods]

Benjis brotherhood boys ❤️