I don't disagree with the assessment of our 2024 performance; but, we are assessing it against the NRL ladder. Based on comments from Richo and the approach taken by Benji I'm not sure that the NRL ladder was a real metric.
What if we look at it from a different perspective.
New board takes over and does a strategic review. The strategic goal is to become a top 4 club greater focus on the south-western corridor. Benji has already been earmarked as the coach - Richo acknowledges this and the planning begins.
Without knowledge of the inner circle at Wests Tigers I can only make assumptions based on what we have seen and heard this year. Benji did not make selections on putting the best ro most experienced team on the paddock. Despite Naden's brain farts there were plenty of times he should have plyed in front of some of our other options. AD clearly wasn't up to playing centre but was given enough rope to hang himself, did so and was "put on ice". We played kids when we could have selected more experienced players. This all points to a decision to play the long game. Benji and Richo have both spoken about the plan and sticking to it. So what was the plan?
The intent is clear - to beome a top 4 Club. This is a cross department requirement so each are will have a plan to support this intent. If we focus on the football department, based on what we saw and heard in season 2024 we can make some good assumptions:
1. It is a multi year plan.
2. We plan to dig ourselves out of the hole on the back of our large nursery.
3. The 2024 start state was dictated by others - although Benji would have played a role.
So from this I expect that the plan in support of the intent to become a Top 4 Club is something like:
Purpose: Develop a systematic "Wests Tigers" approach to the development of teams, in all grades, that compete for a premiership every year.
We know that it is a multi year approach so I expect that the method sounds something like: This will be achieved through a three phase? approach with a supporting action.
- Supporting action - Set the conditions for success (2024).
- Establish a pathway (roadmap) to the NRL for each and every junior in the pathways system. Done
- Assess the entire playing and coaching roster, with a focus on youth, to identify strengths to be supported and exploited and weaknesses to be mitigated (provide depth or are shifted on).
- Phase 1 - Set the foundation (2024-2025)
- Recruit quality players to mitigate identified weaknesses at NRL/NRLW level
- Address clear deficiencies in depth
- Institute a systems approach to recruitment, development and management of players and staff.
- Develop a mix of youth and experience as the foundation for growth from 2025.
- Phase 2 - Growth
- Continued focus on the development, nutruring and mentorship of juniors in the pathways systems. Clear, documented milestones are monitored and pathways amended/terminated as required.
- NRL/NRLW teams have enough depth to adequately manage injuries and suspensions while fielding competitive teams in all grades.
- Phase 3 - Exploit success
- Mature NRL/NRLW teams compete for premiership.
- Exploit sucess of pathways program through the introduction of quality juniors into the system at low cost allowing $ to be spend on upgrading performing senior player and the introduction of high performing player from other systems to address player/coaching shortfalls.
Now this is a heap of assumptions and a stab in the dark at what the plan may look like - but if we relook at our 2024 performace based on this type of plan the achievement may even be a low pass. If the reports are correct:
- The pathways to the NRL/NRLW have been developed for every player in the system
- The playing and coaching rosters have been assessed and key deficiencies identified.
- Luai, Taruva, Skelton, Hunt and Bird address key deficiences. We are still short of a competitive roster for 2025 but the off season hasn't arrived yet.
- ICE and Stef moved on - freeing up cap space
- Sezer's option not taken up freeing up top 30 positions (more to follow I expect)
- Galvin, The Fianus, TDS, LL, Mason, Jorgenson have been identified as the foundation for the club going forward.
- A new assistant coach to be appointed.
- Despite winning the spoon for a third time - there is a significant difference in 24 to 22 and 23. The 2024 roster and selections were development focussed as opposed to focussed on ladder position. There appears to be a plan and for the first time in Tigers history we appear to be putting a plan into action with the intent of seeing it through.
So should we be happy with the 2024 result? Shit no, as Tucker's analysis of the 2024 stats show we were shit in many areas. Should we consider the season a failure? I guess it depends on what you are measuring. If you measure the intangibles I think 2024 was a big step in the right direction. Will we win a premiership in 2025? I doubt it but I think we just may be taking the first tangible steps to becomming a Top 4 club.