Benji 2025 and Beyond

Tiger Stripes said:
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?
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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.
 
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.
 
Telltails said:
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.
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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 😉
 
upthetigers said:
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.
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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.
 
Tom Shines said:
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 ? 🤔
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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..
 
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.
 
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...
 
I still feel Benji has not improved the fundamentals of strength in the tackle and line speed, and so lots of questions about his effectiveness.

But.

One thing not mentioned much is our lack of injury toll. There's a bit of luck in all that obviously but so many seasons have been severely hampered by significant injuries and whatever prep we've done this year has at least meant we haven't been hugely disrupted that way.

I also think it's interesting that despite Flanagan's pedigree, the tigers seem much more able to recruit with Benji in charge. Yes there's been some duds and some players have wanted out but we've imported top talent this year and seem to be a more desirable destination these days.
 
watersider said:
I still feel Benji has not improved the fundamentals of strength in the tackle and line speed, and so lots of questions about his effectiveness.

But.

One thing not mentioned much is our lack of injury toll. There's a bit of luck in all that obviously but so many seasons have been severely hampered by significant injuries and whatever prep we've done this year has at least meant we haven't been hugely disrupted that way.

I also think it's interesting that despite Flanagan's pedigree, the tigers seem much more able to recruit with Benji in charge. Yes there's been some duds and some players have wanted out but we've imported top talent this year and seem to be a more desirable destination these days.
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You have to ask yourself if Flanno or anyone else of the dreggs of coaches available at the time could have improved the roster after all the spoons we landed, my gut feel is we would be a lot worse off talent wise and position on the table.

Really Richo and Benji have improved the roster out of sight from seasons ago and the recent 2RF inclusions are a sign they are working on the roster weakness constantly, now for the middle.

The latest game against the dogs gives us hope that Benji has it in him to make it as a coach, lets see with the finishing touches on the roster and another year of experience will do for him next season.
 
I think Benji has given us as a supporter base, a bit more hope in his coaching ability with the past few weeks, after many, including myself, giving up on him after that Penrith game. Hopefully, we can win at least 2 out of our next 3 to build on for pre-season. Though I think the pressure will still be on him next year, cause I believe it should make the 8 or get sacked, no excuses, we have the roster and we have been improving our depth for next year. I think next gear we break the top 8 drought
 
Stoked for Benji, the club and fans. We were at a points 6 weeks ago where this really could of gone either way. I was really unconvinced he had what it takes. We are far, far from the finished product and it has to be finals next year, but some signs for some sustainable, long term success are there.

His biggest strength as most here predicted seems to be his man management as shown by the effort and attitude of the side this year. Still issues with the attack that are pretty obvious. Richo has noted he is impressed by Benji's roster management too. He has taken some risks on that side of things that so far seem to have paid off.

Season is a satisfactory 6.5/10 so far. Could go to a 6 or a 7 depending on how the next few games go.
 
Recency bias has affected quite a few opinions.
Jury is still out for mine.
The aspects that people like about Benji are the reason I think he’s in the wrong role.
If he was the head of the football department, running recruitment and being the face of the club I’d be happier.
 
Tucker said:
Recency bias has affected quite a few opinions.
Jury is still out for mine.
The aspects that people like about Benji are the reason I think he’s in the wrong role.
If he was the head of the football department, running recruitment and being the face of the club I’d be happier.
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Definitely the jury is still out. Benji has built a base for us to be competitive. However he is a long way away from getting our attack firing. It will be interesting to see if he can put those final touches on the group. We look lost way too many times for my liking.....like so lost its hard to watch. I hope he pulls it off because there is a lot I like about his coaching, but I not confident he will get the attack flying and consistent.
 
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