Benji 2025 and Beyond

TIGERS said:
This is a really good post.

Benji is clearly struggling with match day decisions. It's just guesswork, but I think he's being too logical and tactical as a coach, and maybe some of the bigger things are getting missed. I'm starting to seriously consider that Benji might be a brilliant GM of football, just not a head coach.

Today was never about who is playing 9 or 7 or whatever. Why shift things up the way we did missing so many key players? Keep it simple and make the game about effort, concentration and control.
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I agree , but the steps to nrl has been so steep guys who were dominating Cup have come up to look bog average . Luke and TDS case in point. And they’re not , but the game was on the line and Luke especially was overawed by the situation . He’s a gun . He’ll get there .
The issue is when Galvin left we should have gone knee deep for another half to sit right in behind . Illias was shopped to us last year , in hindsight I think he would have been great in this 1st drop spot . Look what AD did just being an experienced head moving into the halves . I see why the club went after Reynolds . Latu is the future no doubt , but he’s still developing especially around getting a footy team to where they need to be .
Anyways I just hope we keep Benji in some capacity . The balls to become head coach and back yourself at this mess of a club in its worst time in history , immense !
And he’s got all the key components of being a good nrl coach . It’s just I dunno , there’s something missing .
 
Tom Shines said:
Really ..what are they?
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Its hard to know too much from the outside, but for me the way he handles the media is impressive. When he talks about the philosophy and approach to each game it makes sense and seems to be on the money. He isnt the people pleaser I thought he might be and isnt afraid to get dirty. Players seem to respect him. I actually think his ideas and approach seem right. The problem is you learn over time all the little details that the top coaches install into a group culture, mindset, standard settings etc. The no stone unturned type stuff which I feel a rookie can't have a true grasp of. I would really like to find a way where Benji steps down as head coach but stays on with the club. I could see him being great with someone like Brad Arthur but it could only work if Benji swallowed his ego completely
 
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Lestronge said:
Anyways I just hope we keep Benji in some capacity . The balls to become head coach and back yourself at this mess of a club in its worst time in history , immense !
And he’s got all the key components of being a good nrl coach . It’s just I dunno , there’s something missing .
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Balls or a large ego/ arrogance to think he could do the job with zero experience?

As Dirty Harry used to say …”a good man always knows his limitations “…
 
king_sirro said:
It’s hard to know too much from the outside, but for me the way he handles the media is impressive. When he talks about the philosophy and approach to each game it makes sense and seems to be on the money. He isnt the people pleaser I thought he might be and isnt afraid to get dirty. Players seem to respect him. I actually think his ideas and approach seem right. The problem is you learn over time all the little details that the top coaches install into a group culture, mindset, standard settings etc. The no stone unturned type stuff which I feel a rookie can't have a true grasp of.
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From what we see he is obviously a good man manager and still seems to maintain great relationships with the players even when wins are few and far between ….

However, if we are being honest, He seems to struggle with game planning, selections and in game decisions particularly around the bench … unfortunately he has been running the joint a couple of years now and the improvements in this part of the job don’t seem to be coming as quickly as I would like …. If this part of the job doesn’t improve then eventually he is on borrowed time regardless of those other qualities you mention
 
boonboon said:
Personally I would keep Benji for 26 and 27. 2025 was meant to be his first year as head coach and the team has improved significantly as have many individuals, the key players in the squad want to play for Benji and replacing a head coach just starts all over again at this stage.

Since Richo joined the squad we have has improved markedly in 1 yr and will be better again next year not just in top liners but depth is obviously on the improve with players coming in and those more obviously on the way out.
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I agree with that because even though i did not feel that Benji was the right choice (Sheens seemed determined to get the job at all costs imho and Benji was the "sweetener" for after),i feel that changing coaches which what we always do when we want to put the blame on someone is a really bad idea.We need to show stability and continuity at the club and keeping Benji is the only realistic way we can do it BUT he needs very strong assistant coaches and unequivacle support from them.
 
tig_prmz said:
Other than Ciraldo, people were interested.

Flanno was available, maybe Hasler too.

Otherwise, there could have been other assistant coaches we could have taken a swing at.
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There are always people interested … even if it’s at the worst team, these blokes tend to have ego’s and think they can have success anywhere
 
BAGNF05 said:
Hasler and Flanno might be available again.
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Don’t be surprised if one of them might just end up being our next coach … bringing back an old ex premiership winning coach …. They did that with Sheenius only a couple of years back

then I guess we can throw Arthurs and Richo’s mate Willie Peters is in with a shout ..

Plenty of options
 
Benji appears to be a good man manager, I agree with most his bench and team selections are on the poor side. He needs to refresh his assistants and a great "game strategist" someone that is happy to be away from the spotlight. Whilst I hate the guy I think Jason Taylor has helped Ciraldo with game plans etc.
I just can't think of anyone
 
Tom Shines said:
Don’t be surprised if one of them might just end up being our next coach … bringing back an old ex premiership winning coach …. They did that with Sheenius only a couple of years back

then I guess we can throw Arthurs and Richo’s mate Willie Peters is in with a shout ..

Plenty of options
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Im a fan of giving Benji 2026 and if roster and ladder position don’t improve, then make the change. From afar he needs a better attack coach as an assistant.
 
BAGNF05 said:
Im a fan of giving Benji 2026 and if roster and ladder position don’t improve, then make the change.
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I’ll reserve judgment for now …last night better be the rock bottom for this season … they were well beaten by a pretty weak side with plenty of their own problems …if the wheels come off over the next few weeks …
 
Benji mentioned a few times he’s learning on the job.

Last night felt like Benji had no idea what he was doing and kept trying different combinations until something worked.

Most WT fans knew:
Moving Api to half was a bad idea given TDS spent the week meeting other clubs
AD was the obvious halves partner
Staines is a safer option than Laullili or Mason

Benji was unstructured and a risk taker as a player, this does not work in coaching.
 
Get Brad Arthur in as assistant coach and that way we have someone to take over when Benj is pushed out the door in 2026. He has lost me a little over the last month.
 
BAGNF05 said:
Roosters will probably score 40 on us.
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I hope that's all. Don't be surprised if it is a whole lot more after last night's effort. They played like uncoached A graders for the first 45minutes. I don't know after that, because I just could not stomach to watch any more.
 
If Payten becomes available, that’s who we should target to replace Benji.

Cowboys are going ordinary but he had them consistently playing finals and turned the Warriors around before that.

I guarantee you our attack won’t be the pass the parcel style we currently use.
 
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