Benji 2025 and Beyond

[Merlot]

The hardest thing with Benjis coaching career is the same as his playing career....dont get sucked in by the lows or the highs. I'm guilty of both, I would have signed him to two extensions and sacked him 3 times....that's why im happy just being a fan.

I think the trend is up which is good but I still believe we need a proper attack coach, not just shuffle through another old boy. We also need to see intensity stay consistently high. I'll remind everyone we have had a few 2 game streaks in recent years and then go to water.

to me its a bit Sheensian - bed down the team,year 1..Perfect what the team is good at naturally, this team its their defense ,next year i expect to see better ,defensively, 27 we start to pile on the points ,

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

2005: 20 Years On - Part 3

In Rounds 13 to 18, Wests Tigers faced a defining stretch of their 2005 season. A lean run left them languishing outside the top eight, but over the next month they would produce a string of stirring performances that signalled they were becoming genuine contenders.

www.weststigers.com.au

 

[happy_tiger]

I still think the next 3 weeks will be the difference between an acceptable season and a successful
Said at the start of season if we finished in the Top 10 Benji deserved the coach of the year award
Ricky's amazing season with Canberra has put that idea away .....but Top 10 is an overachievement in my opinion .....I thought 13th was around par

 

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

 

[innsaneink]

The hardest thing with Benjis coaching career is the same as his playing career....dont get sucked in by the lows or the highs. I'm guilty of both, I would have signed him to two extensions and sacked him 3 times....that's why im happy just being a fan.

I think the trend is up which is good but I still believe we need a proper attack coach, not just shuffle through another old boy. We also need to see intensity stay consistently high. I'll remind everyone we have had a few 2 game streaks in recent years and then go to water.

Here is something for you @Jolls when you go see Meilekamp...or the FRG/ Behind the roar media mob.

Can we get an insight into.what the coaching staff have done collectively and individually to improve themselves for the team?

 

[Halbrowne61]

Here is something for you @Jolls when you go see Meilekamp...or the FRG/ Behind the roar media mob.

Can we get an insight into.what the coaching staff have done collectively and individually to improve themselves for the team?

Excellent question ? Who’s coaching the coaches ?

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Here is something for you @Jolls when you go see Meilekamp...or the FRG/ Behind the roar media mob.

Can we get an insight into.what the coaching staff have done collectively and individually to improve themselves for the team?

Benji strikes me as someone smart enough to considering himself not the finished product and would look for ways to improve himself as a coach.

He said himself that he talks to Bennett frequently so that's encouraging and I wouldn't be surprised if he reads a lot of famous coach's bio's from all types of sports as well as NRL for a broader perspective.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Benji strikes me as someone smart enough to considering himself not the finished product and would look for ways to improve himself as a coach.

He said himself that he talks to Bennett frequently so that's encouraging and I wouldn't be surprised if he reads a lot of famous coach's bio's from all types of sports as well as NRL for a broader perspective.

Bennett is a great man manager and I think he has advised Benji that it is a key aspect of the job. He seems to have developed in that area.
I think Benjis problem area is tactical coaching, especially defence and breaking down an oppositions defence in the red zone.
Why, coz Benji was never a great defender in the classical sense and I don’t think he ever had a game plan in his brain.
He was spontaneous and, as such, seems to have problems in coaching us to get over the line. Most of our good tries have tended to be spontaneous as well which indicates some of that has rubbed off on the current players.
When you watch the best times with possession in the 20 there is a sense of inevitability that they will score. Not so with us and on occasions last season, we had repeated sets where we never even looked to have shape or plans to execute.
You don’t make finals unless you have a great defensive platform and playmakers who can the job done when the opportunities present themselves.
IMO he still has a long way to go but he was smart enough to get a healthy contract extension with just a few runs on the board.
Lets see what happens in 26 but I am more than happy to be proven wrong.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Bennett is a great man manager and I think he has advised Benji that it is a key aspect of the job. He seems to have developed in that area.
I think Benjis problem area is tactical coaching, especially defence and breaking down an oppositions defence in the red zone.
Why, coz Benji was never a great defender in the classical sense and I don’t think he ever had a game plan in his brain.
He was spontaneous and, as such, seems to have problems in coaching us to get over the line. Most of our good tries have tended to be spontaneous as well which indicates some of that has rubbed off on the current players.
When you watch the best times with possession in the 20 there is a sense of inevitability that they will score. Not so with us and on occasions last season, we had repeated sets where we never even looked to have shape or plans to execute.
You don’t make finals unless you have a great defensive platform and playmakers who can the job done when the opportunities present themselves.
IMO he still has a long way to go but he was smart enough to get a healthy contract extension with just a few runs on the board.
Lets see what happens in 26 but I am more than happy to be proven wrong.

If he's reading and watching video from last season to try and educate himself he should realise where his shortcomings are and act.

Maybe what Tuck has suggested in the past if Benji's smart and recognises what he can't provide well he should make changes to the coaching team for optimum effect.

Let's see if there's improvement at the start of the season, he might come back a better coach.

 

[innsaneink]

I dont think he did anything to get the extension....just being there was enough

 

[TIGERS]

The hardest thing with Benjis coaching career is the same as his playing career....dont get sucked in by the lows or the highs. I'm guilty of both, I would have signed him to two extensions and sacked him 3 times....that's why im happy just being a fan.

I think the trend is up which is good but I still believe we need a proper attack coach, not just shuffle through another old boy. We also need to see intensity stay consistently high. I'll remind everyone we have had a few 2 game streaks in recent years and then go to water.

What's a proper attack coach? You mean the position or the individual??

 

[TIGERS]

It's not like there is a big textbook in a library somewhere that tells you how it's done. He's a grown man, not a schoolboy.

Look at all the experienced coaches that have done well under Wayne Bennett that totally failed as first grade coaches. (or assistant coaches in general) There are tonnes of them. I'm sure they're are all quite academically correct in terms of creating and implementing a football program. Meetings, training, tactics and so on, but being the main decision maker and interacting with players AS that person, instead of being the guy just carrying out decisions are totally different things.

You have final say on almost all of the main decisions so therefore/obviously you need to operate with people that you can trust. (Personally and their expertise) John Morris has coached successful seasons as an NRL head coach and is a very well credentialed and experienced assistant coach as well. Same with Brett Hodgson who has worked under Eddie Jones and coached Hull. I don't think its a boys club situation at all.

So I really think this 'Benji needs help' carry on is a load of nonsense. I mean, every coach inherently needs help, and Benji has setup what he thinks he needs to be successful. Besides, he got to shadow Tim Sheens for a season, and was mentoring younger players under Wayne Bennett as a veteran utility player at the Broncos and Souths. That'll do me. Let's get on with it.

 

[hank37w]

Not so sure about your assessment of Brett Hodgson's coaching credentials.

Personally I don't think he has done too well and I'm not real sure about your Boy's club comments either but you're entitled to your opinion.

 

[innsaneink]

J- Mo would get a pass. Just.
Hodgo has largely failed at coaching.
Some fresh ideas wouldnt go astray

 

[tig_prmz]

Bennett is a great man manager and I think he has advised Benji that it is a key aspect of the job. He seems to have developed in that area.
I think Benjis problem area is tactical coaching, especially defence and breaking down an oppositions defence in the red zone.
Why, coz Benji was never a great defender in the classical sense and I don’t think he ever had a game plan in his brain.
He was spontaneous and, as such, seems to have problems in coaching us to get over the line. Most of our good tries have tended to be spontaneous as well which indicates some of that has rubbed off on the current players.
When you watch the best times with possession in the 20 there is a sense of inevitability that they will score. Not so with us and on occasions last season, we had repeated sets where we never even looked to have shape or plans to execute.
You don’t make finals unless you have a great defensive platform and playmakers who can the job done when the opportunities present themselves.
IMO he still has a long way to go but he was smart enough to get a healthy contract extension with just a few runs on the board.
Lets see what happens in 26 but I am more than happy to be proven wrong.

There's a "science" to coaching.

As a head coach, I feel it's important for Benji to do courses of sports psychology, sports science, nutrition etc.

He obviously doesn't need a PhD in all that but we employ all these people and they're answerable to the head coach.

Let's say through his years of experience, he knows how to deal with players, knowing what motivates them, do they need part practice vs whole practice etc. but he still needs to upskill to hold the support staff accountable.

That's what coaches like Ryles, Cirro, Holbrook etc have done. They've gone to USA, shadowed NFL teams, Ryles has shadowed the British Lions etc to learn more.

I go back to what Innk said, what has Benji or our coaching staff done to upskill themselves?

The biggest barrier to all this is $$ which our club doesn't have. I truly feel that guys like Benji, Heighno etc wouldn't have a job in the NRL if it weren't for Tigers so I hope they can even spend their own $$ to upskill.

They keep saying they're doing this for the love of Tigers. Maybe they put their money where their mouth is? I know it's unlikely to happen, but there's hope I guess..

 

[innsaneink]

Thats what crossed my mind when i posted....
Ive read of guys like belly..robbo cleary going and.visiting world.class outfits in the NFL, EPL etc.
These guys are ALWAYS looking to improve, never resting on their laurels... not saying ours dont but it would be interesting to hear what theyve done

 

[Vicious]

Thats what crossed my mind when i posted....
Ive read of guys like belly..robbo cleary going and.visiting world.class outfits in the NFL, EPL etc.
These guys are ALWAYS looking to improve, never resting on their laurels... not saying ours dont but it would be interesting to hear what theyve done

Robbo is an imbecile, it hasn’t helped him.
All he does is whinge about the poor refereeing which makes his players believe they have done nothing wrong, when they lose it’s always the referees fault.
It’s a bad attitude and plays a part in why the Roosters find it so hard to win finals games in recent times.
You don’t need to go to the USA or the UK to become competent in the latest training methods, sports psychology and sports science these days.
It’s quite obvious from what we see and what we read that Benji has struggled with the man management side of things, but it’s also quite obvious he is improving rapidly in this area.
2026 will be a career defining season for Benji despite him being contracted for a few more years as he now has stability with a roster he has largely put together himself, with players he trusts, so there are no more excuses.

 

[hank37w]

J- Mo would get a pass. Just.
Hodgo has largely failed at coaching.
Some fresh ideas wouldnt go astray

You'd have to say that Heighno fits quite well into that Boy's Club category.

Still can't be sure who it is that takes responsibility for our defence and who takes responsibility for being clueless in the oppositions red zone.

Heighno would be in charge of falling on loose balls and those types of things I would imagine. 🤣

 

[Vicious]

You'd have to say that Heighno fits quite well into that Boy's Club category.

Still can't be sure who it is that takes responsibility for our defence and who takes responsibility for being clueless in the oppositions red zone.

Heighno would be in charge of falling on loose balls and those types of things I would imagine. 🤣

In 2025 John Morris was our defensive coach wasn’t he ?
By about round 20 our attack at least started looking like it had purpose, was that by luck or good coaching ?

 

[old_man_tiger]

What's a proper attack coach? You mean the position or the individual??

A person with credentials as a proven NRL assistant in charge of an effective attack.
I.e. not just an ex tigers player