Benji 2025 and Beyond

[Betterdays22]

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.

To be fair the final ladder position, objective numbers on defence and attack are what should guide the level of support for Benji, recent wins have improved those objective measures.

I don't think anyone is popping the champagne and wanting to sign him up for 10 years yet, but there are positive signs and progress in this last 1/3 of the season. The criticisms and praise Benji is getting here are both valid and have not just disappeared because of some good wins either.

I do think his strengths are something that can't be taught, while his weaknesses are absolutely something that he can develop with the right help.

 

[weststigerman]

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.

Jury is still out, but he’s made himself safe until mid next year.

It would have been difficult to move him on given his connection with Api and Luai. I’ve been skeptical and still am but Benji succeeding is the best outcome for the club.

 

[bigsiro]

Benji has improved our win rate by at least 50% in each of his two seasons as a head coach. Great to see his progress. Hopefully a couple more wins yet.

Absolutely.
With three rounds to go we already have the most wins in 6 seasons and have won more games than both of the two years combined preceding Benji’s appointment.

 

[Tigerwould]

Galvin left because he said Benji couldn't develop his game. His game has gone backwards under Ciraldo.
IMO Adam Doueihi, Sione Fainu's and Twal's game has gone to another level under Benji.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Galvin left because he said Benji couldn't develop his game. His game has gone backwards under Ciraldo.
IMO Adam Doueihi, Sione Fainu's and Twal's game has gone to another level under Benji.

It’s very very early days to say that re Galvin.

Ciraldo has him parked right side & focusing on structure which Galvin hasn’t had to do before. We will see if his career evolves over the next 2-3yrs.

 

[Betterdays22]

It’s very very early days to say that re Galvin.

Ciraldo has him parked right side & focusing on structure which Galvin hasn’t had to do before. We will see if his career evolves over the next 2-3yrs.

Yep. Think Ciraldo's system is pretty unique and takes time to bed down. Thats why its baffling he has thrown Galvin straight in. In saying that, I would expect it to click next year.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Yep. Think Ciraldo's system is pretty unique and takes time to bed down. Thats why its baffling he has thrown Galvin straight in. In saying that, I would expect it to click next year.

It’s like they knew they couldn’t win the comp and took a punt. Otherwise you shift things up for a full off season and start the season how you want to end it. They just didn’t shake the halves, hooker as well.

 

[jrtiger]

Galvin left because he said Benji couldn't develop his game. His game has gone backwards under Ciraldo.
IMO Adam Doueihi, Sione Fainu's and Twal's game has gone to another level under Benji.

you can add Bula, To'a, Koroisau, Samuela and Latu to that list as well.

 

[Betterdays22]

It’s like they knew they couldn’t win the comp and took a punt. Otherwise you shift things up for a full off season and start the season how you want to end it. They just didn’t shake the halves, hooker as well.

I just can't believe they would of conceded that they couldn't win this year.

Ciraldo must of thought that either a Galvin still learning the system offers more in attack than Sexton, or that they were probably safe enough to finish top 4 and were willing to sacrifice some games to hope that Galvin had figured it out by finals time.

 

[Westoz]

Galvin left because he said Benji couldn't develop his game. His game has gone backwards under Ciraldo.
IMO Adam Doueihi, Sione Fainu's and Twal's game has gone to another level under Benji.

Galvin hasn’t even been there for 10 games…

 

[Tigerwould]

Galvin hasn’t even been there for 10 games…

10 games is half a season. He did one harbour bridge pass that the commentators loved. The Bulldogs have gone backwards at a rate of knots since he got there.

 

[SwervinMervin]

I just can't believe they would of conceded that they couldn't win this year.

Ciraldo must of thought that either a Galvin still learning the system offers more in attack than Sexton, or that they were probably safe enough to finish top 4 and were willing to sacrifice some games to hope that Galvin had figured it out by finals time.

Any team that knows they’re finishing top 4 goes all in for the win that year, particularly when the comp is as wide open as this one. They thought Galvin would improve their chances of winning right now. It was and remains a gamble.

 

[SwervinMervin]

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.

Should have beaten Souths and first go against Warriors. Two relatively straightforward dropped balls over the line cost us in each. I can overlook May’s drop vs Warriors. He’s more than paid up for that every week. Less forgiving of Galvin’s. Hope he does it again in a critical moment in an elimination final. Or an intercept pass from one of those loopy harbour bridges he throws because he can only spiral pass on one side. That would be poetic and righteous.

 

[Vicious]

The jury is still well and truly out on whether or not Benji is our long term coaching answer or not, but he seems to be learning a lot about winning team selections.
He plays a big part on our player recruitment and retention and I’m far from convinced we have got that 💯 right for 2026 and beyond, but we are getting very close and recruiting players who look like they can add plenty of value.