Coach Benji 👑

EllisFan said:
The day after his client picked up an NRL debut at our club. For the long term success of the club, I’d seriously consider cutting ties with his players/ coaches / journo mates. Cancer.
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Bula had a different agent and AD managed himself the previous deal … both found their way to Moses whilst already at the club … what should the club do ,,just let them go? It’s a tough call ,,.it’s the players decision to pick their agent ..
 
Tiger_heart said:
Every single one of these coaches was handed a roster they didn't fully build, told to fix a "broken culture," and then terminated when quick fixes failed. When a school flunks every class, you eventually stop blaming the substitute teachers and look at the principal.

Appointing Benji Marshall was a romantic marketing strategy designed to appease sponsors and fans, rather than a decision based on modern, proven coaching credentials. He is simply the latest person trying to steer a ship that was structurally damaged long before he took the wheel.
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Marshall has been around for a while now. His fingerprints are all over the roster.

This year's team is almost entirely Benji and Richo signings. Except for the Fainu brothers - who were signed by Scott Fulton.

Bagging a club legend like Benji seems sacrosanct on the forum.

But, there comes a time where we all need to be a bit realistic and admit the guy hasn't performed and probably isn't likely to have a career as an NRL coach.
 
Papacito said:
Marshall has been around for a while now. His fingerprints are all over the roster.

This year's team is almost entirely Benji and Richo signings. Except for the Fainu brothers - who were signed by Scott Fulton.

Bagging a club legend like Benji seems sacrosanct on the forum.

But, there comes a time where we all need to be a bit realistic and admit the guy hasn't performed and probably isn't likely to have a career as an NRL coach.
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Are your boys gunna pay two coaches at once is my question …
 
Tired Tiger said:
Benji Marshall has total control at the Tigers. The club thinks that needs to change

Danny Weidler
Sport columnist
July 26, 2026 — 5:00am




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Benji Marshall’s contract gives him more power than almost any other coach in the NRL, but that is about to be challenged as the Wests Tigers realise he can no longer be surrounded by “yes men” after a tumultuous week for the club that could result in the loss of another quality half.

Regular halfback Adam Doueihi stood up to Marshall on Thursday, calling him out on issues at the club and standing down from Saturday’s clash against the Raiders after Marshall had moved him to lock – a stance for which Doueihi was called selfish in the meeting.



Rift: Benji Marshall and Adam DoueihiGetty/Monique Westermann
Doueihi’s agent, Isaac Moses, has now organised peace talks between Marshall and Doueihi with a view to keeping his client at the club. Moses only found out about the fallout between coach and player after the event – and while he backs his player’s opinions, he has made it clear to Doueihi that he felt he should have played.

Moses will put his own issues with Marshall to one side to find a solution. The aim is to bring the pair together so Doueihi can play in the Tigers’ next game, against Parramatta next Sunday.

The “selfish” accusation is hard to argue with, but Doueihi’s behaviour this year suggests he is anything but. For Doueihi, the positional change was a culmination of issues that had been irking him before he made his snap decision.

The most obvious is that star five-eighth Jarome Luai is leaving the club for the Eels next season, then the PNG Chiefs in 2028, and the idea of Doueihi mentoring and combining with rookie half Javon Andrews has been discussed.



Benji Marshall has been at the heart of another tumultuous week in Tiger Town.Kate Geraghty
Doueihi’s selection at lock didn’t lend itself to that. So no matter how you spin it, Luai’s exit is having an impact on the club.

Doueihi has busted his backside to support Marshall and create a team culture. From putting on team meals to being the one who brought the players together for coffees. He paid for his own flight to support the team at Magic Round when he was out injured. He is also currently playing through a shoulder injury.

Doueihi should have sensed something was up with his selection going into the Raiders game when Marshall showed little interest in his judiciary appearance on Tuesday night. He didn’t get a phone call from his coach after beating a careless high tackle charge.

The initial thought is that the situation is not beyond repair, but the Tigers have lost two marquee halves in Lachlan Galvin and Luai in the last 13 months.



Lachie Galvin had his issues with Marshall during his time at the Tigers.Renee Nowytarger
Galvin had a dossier of complaints about Marshall – the contents of which have been hidden away. Luai was told to move on after signing with PNG to accommodate the next wave of talent.

So the Tigers are facing the loss of three top halves at a time when playmakers have never been more in demand.

It can also be revealed that Marshall’s agent, Matt Desira, not only brokered a great deal for his client, but timed it to perfection. The contract was struck when the club was in the midst of a boardroom crisis and effectively hands all power over the team to Marshall.

Related Article

AnalysisNRL 2026
The inside story of why Adam Doueihi refused to play for Wests Tigers
The coach, a 2005 premiership winner and club legend, has the final say over everything at the club, from his assistant coach down to the gear stewards. And if he is sacked or asked to accept changes to his deal, he is entitled to be paid out in full.

The latest drama could actually be the making of Marshall as a coach as it is going to bring change.

Marshall was untouchable as a player, on and off the field. His status as a generational great meant any shortcomings were glossed over. But being a champion player doesn’t automatically translate into being a great head coach and leader of men.

There is a growing feeling at the Tigers that Marshall needs outside help. One of his biggest issues is that he doesn’t have enough people challenging him. There is already discussion that one of his main men, John Morris, is heading to the Dragons. That has been denied. But Marshall will be offered assistance in the off season.

The club could do worse than consider if Shane Flanagan would join as a senior assistant. It’s something Flanagan is open to. Whether Marshall would accept it is another thing. He has the legal right to tell the club to shove it.

The view that there have been double standards at the club has also been relayed to me. Some players are allowed to get out of training with too much ease, while bad habits like vaping have been ignored.
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Danny doing Moses work with this one. Must be mates with Flanagan too - trying get him another job. Not much else is in this dribble. Except to state what we all know on here that the coaching needs improving at the club.
 
Tucker said:
This is somewhat correct, but not entirely.
Marshall and Sheens joined midway 2022 and spent the rest of that year working on the roster and strategy whilst poor old Noddy dealt with a shit sandwich and copped the first spoon. All decisions were made by Marshal. They then took over for the 2023 season and all roster commitments and decisions continued to be lead by Benji until Sheens was forced out and Benji took over full time before that season ended. He has been head coach ever since.

Point being, Benji has been building and altering the roster for over 4 years now. He has been here for 4 full pre seasons. He is not a member of the coaching group you described above. He has been afforded every chance to succeed….mentored by a very experienced coach and guided by a very experienced CEO. This team is his. He built it and had it working for a few months. He has to work out what is going wrong, and fast.
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It's a very good Tucker post! There are a lot of things that are happening in 2026 that couldn't be forecast in 2022. Perth AND PNG.

I feel like the situation with our club is really complex. I don't feel like its the Pascoe era when ridiculous decisions were being made non stop -- it's probbably the most turbulent player contract era since super league.. so its really hard to build the narrative the club needs to feel successful in 2026. We were doing amazing until the economic reality of the player market jumped on us and Luai signed a new contract.

But yes, @Tucker you are absolutely correct. He needs to figure it all out, and fast.
 
liltiger said:
Agree. I honestly cant see them punting him. It would be ironic though if they had to fork out $4 million to pay him out plus another million odd a season for a real coach and in some way put pressure on HBG that they finally decided to sell the joint.
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Image @Demps posted suggested Hodgo is contracted til 2030 also...dunno what hed be on but theres another fair whack
Add in Heighno.and whoever else...its adding up
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
Wahs are in the downhill now as fully expected.

@Buttface time to jump of the Wahs bandwagon mate most overhyped team in the comp. Dont think they will win a semi finals game this year.

Ben Gardiner would be a good coach for us, not his fault he is an assistant at that club.
He has been ab assistant at penrith and coaches samoa
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You been trying to ride the Wahs into the ground all season, they been defying you all season to. I reckon at the end of season night speech Webster is gunna thank the Jedi master for jinxing us into the playoffs to old BF, yes I still secretly love the Tigers and lurk on the forum. 😎
 
TIGERS said:
It's a very good Tucker post! There are a lot of things that are happening in 2026 that couldn't be forecast in 2022. Perth AND PNG.

I feel like the situation with our club is really complex. I don't feel like its the Pascoe era when ridiculous decisions were being made non stop -- it's probbably the most turbulent player contract era since super league.. so its really hard to build the narrative the club needs to feel successful in 2026. We were doing amazing until the economic reality of the player market jumped on us and Luai signed a new contract.

But yes, @Tucker you are absolutely correct. He needs to figure it all out, and fast.
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You can’t forecast the future accurately and that is not my point.
People are creating narratives of “poor Benji can only do so much with what he has got”.
To me that’s not a competent assessment. The coaches before him could use that excuse…Madge brought some good players here that he was not able to work with for instance. Others inherited a mess and then were moved on or left before they could have worthwhile input.
His tenure has been arguably a lot easier than theirs with worse results.
 
tigeress said:
I would like to ask the question that you mention last in your post- what happened at this club after R9 this season, it's like a switch was switched off ?????
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Coincidentally round 9 was the start of May. And the start of May is when the hilarious/braindead stupid/every workplace is different so don't judge (choose one) May brothers 'prank' occurred and Luai chose to leave. I'd suggest there's a link between both of those.

It is also when our injuries to our stars occurred. That also played a part. The team's management of all of these issues could have been better. We've never been the same.
 
Papacito said:
Marshall has been around for a while now. His fingerprints are all over the roster.

This year's team is almost entirely Benji and Richo signings. Except for the Fainu brothers - who were signed by Scott Fulton.

Bagging a club legend like Benji seems sacrosanct on the forum.

But, there comes a time where we all need to be a bit realistic and admit the guy hasn't performed and probably isn't likely to have a career as an NRL coach.
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No one is disputing this is his roster but when you look at our roster it is obviously piss poor. We recruited Luai who turned out to be a dud, can't blame Benji for trying there. KPP was on fire but sadly injury stuffed his season, Turuva is a good winger but poor centre, but we have no options, the Fainus are all good but Samuela missed a huge chunk of the season. The May brothers, Taylan has missed most of the season again nothing a coach can do there. The rest are barely KOE bar Api, look at it objectively who would be playing finals with a roster of Pole, Seyfarth, Twal, Herbert, Tino, Makasini, Madden, Toa, sadly we bank all our eggs on Juniors who aren't ready but we have zero depth as has been seen with Mason, Herbert etc. Sadly this club is as appealing as Norfolk Island as a destination and only misfits and has beens can be attracted, no coach will turn that around sadly.
 
rihannafan1 said:
Coincidentally round 9 was the start of May. And the start of May is when the hilarious/braindead stupid/every workplace is different so don't judge (choose one) May brothers 'prank' occurred and Luai chose to leave. I'd suggest there's a link between both of those.

It is also when our injuries to our stars occurred. That also played a part. The team's management of all of these issues could have been better. We've never been the same.
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Yes, these guys were very vocal about changing the culture and creating a mentality to fight the system and bring success to the club and then outed themselves as being all hot air. Added to the very unfair injury toll and some dumb suspensions from repeat offenders and it all just collapsed because the foundations weren’t real.
 
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