Coach Benji 👑

[Milky]

We have had troops back for a few weeks. Our fortunes have not changed. Who’s missing now besides KPP and Taylan? They are the reason why we are still conceding 40 and 50? No. We’re just falling off the pace like we always do.

100% agree

AND the club is responsible for our lack of depth and development. Every year is a new excuse, club drama, injuries etc.

Why are other clubs not going through this for 15 years straight??

We have taken multiple steps backwards this year

I wish I was as optimistic as anyone who believes we are going to go from getting thrashed one season to the top 8 the following season

 

[hank37w]

Potter got such a raw deal when he was here. He had us on track for finals in 2014 until Farah decided to tank the season by mouthing off to Tallis. Payten was also actively trying to whiteant him as well.

Potter would be a great assistant but Benji’s bruised ego would never allow it after Potter was the one to bench him and break up the original boys club.

Geez, the poor guy copped so much crap off that scum bag Grant Mayer as well. 😡

 

[Milky]

That’s a fair POV.

Personally none of those guys came back in form, probably still buster, and the sides confidence had been crushed by that point.

As I said, if we don’t find the form again, it’s a moot point, cos Benj is running out of time.

Man, what form?

Sorry but our run in the first 8 weeks was based on defeating understrength teams. We could not even beat a baby Broncos team at Campbelltown

We were all to joyous to see the truth at the time

 

[EllisFan]

100% agree

AND the club is responsible for our lack of depth and development. Every year is a new excuse, club drama, injuries etc.

Why are other clubs not going through this for 15 years straight??

We have taken multiple steps backwards this year

I wish I was as optimistic as anyone who believes we are going to go from getting thrashed one season to the top 8 the following season

Mate, I tipped us to miss the eight and with a soft run home, we might even climb a few spots.

Our goal now should be more wins than last year and better than 13th.

If that happens it’s another year under Benji where we have signs of improvement.

I’d love us to go from the shithouse to the penthouse but it’s a bit unrealistic.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

That’s a fair POV.

Personally none of those guys came back in form, probably still buster, and the sides confidence had been crushed by that point.

As I said, if we don’t find the form again, it’s a moot point, cos Benj is running out of time.

The hard truth is we were fully fit at the start of the season. As a result, winning a few games gave a lot of supporters a false sense of security. It’s a different competition after round 10. Besides the Panthers, most of the good teams were just warming up. Roosters, Sharks etc. The Knights are also finding that out too.

 

[EllisFan]

The hard truth is we were fully fit at the start of the season. As a result, winning a few games gave a lot of supporters a false sense of security. It’s a different competition after round 10. Besides the Panthers, most of the good teams were just warming up. Roosters, Sharks etc. The Knights are also finding that out too.

100%. Pair that with injuries at FB, two 2RF, best centre, HB and form lock forward.

Of course we were going to buckle.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

100%. Pair that with injuries at FB, two 2RF, best centre, HB and form lock forward.

Of course we were going to buckle.

Yep. But then they come back, and magically the results didn’t change. Because we were taking advantage of sides still finding their feet.

 

[twentyforty]

But we do need help ! This season shows us that the "Benji" experiment isn't working, he needs a mentor, Ben Gardiner would have been great but of course he's now elsewhere, is there anyone else apart from Shane Flanagan, I suppose no one would want to come to WT's.

It was working at the start of the season. After round 8 we had 5 wins with the only 2 losses being by margins of 1 and 4 points.
Is it possible that the door pointing speech worked only for a short time? I know we had injuries and our depth is short on, but we collapsed.
It’s often said that players need to earn the right to play attacking football. Is it the same with coaches? Did our coach go off too early and scare the crap out of the players without earning the right?

 

[Milky]

Mate, I tipped us to miss the eight and with a soft run home, we might even climb a few spots.

Our goal now should be more wins than last year and better than 13th.

If that happens it’s another year under Benji where we have signs of improvement.

I’d love us to go from the shithouse to the penthouse but it’s a bit unrealistic.

I posted elsewhere that this is our worst season ever and I stand by that position no matter how it ends

We have lost by 30+ points 7 times, equal worst in our history with a number of games left to beat that record

 

[EllisFan]

I posted elsewhere that this is our worst season ever and I stand by that position no matter how it ends

We have lost by 30+ points 7 times, equal worst in our history with a number of games left to beat that record

A team in the top 8 just lost by 70 mate. Welcome to PVL’s NRL.

 

[innsaneink]

The early wins were by no means the finished product...they were not what id call convincing.despite a couple.of large scores...there was always still a lot to work on but i thought as the season progressed that would come
The injuries hit.
Luai did his thing.
Lack of depth exposed.
Standards obviously began to slip.

But yes the business end of the comp...post Origin...is where we always fall down, good teams.time their run for rhe back end.of the season to be peaking august september

 

[twentyforty]

The hard truth is we were fully fit at the start of the season. As a result, winning a few games gave a lot of supporters a false sense of security. It’s a different competition after round 10. Besides the Panthers, most of the good teams were just warming up. Roosters, Sharks etc. The Knights are also finding that out too.

What were we doing while other teams were developing their game?
One thing Benji needs to stop doing is taking responsibility for every loss.
The players are listening and will believe that stuff. Then what follows is a loss of confidence in the coach.

 

[EllisFan]

What were we doing while other teams were developing their game?
One thing Benji needs to stop doing is taking responsibility for every loss.
The players are listening and will believe that stuff. Then what follows is a loss of confidence in the coach.

We were masquerading as an NRL side with guys like Geyer, Hope & Murray. If you listen to Richo’s earlier interviews our depth was a known issue.

 

[kiwitiger]

We were masquerading as an NRL side with guys like Geyer, Hope & Murray. If you listen to Richo’s earlier interviews our depth was a known issue.

2 of the guys named were probably signed because they were managed by his son

 

[EllisFan]

2 of the guys named were probably signed because they were managed by his son

Yep. He talked about building a competitive reserve grade side which I might add, has improved.

But when they are your best back ups you’re still on struggle street.

 

[twentyforty]

We were masquerading as an NRL side with guys like Geyer, Hope & Murray. If you listen to Richo’s earlier interviews our depth was a known issue.

OK, we don’t have 30 NRL players and priced according to their true value, but it’s still a team sport. The entire organisation is riddled with people ill qualified for their jobs, so it follows that our top 30 is mirrored in that regard.
But what sets the players apart is their job, they are physically supporting each other in a contact sport, where the word teamwork takes on a whole new meaning.

 

[EllisFan]

OK, we don’t have 30 NRL players and priced according to their true value, but it’s still a team sport. The entire organisation is riddled with people ill qualified for their jobs, so it follows that our top 30 is mirrored in that regard.
But what sets the players apart is their job, they are physically supporting each other in a contact sport, where the word teamwork takes on a whole new meaning.

The defining moment of Richo’s time here for me, was when he gave a group of reserves a gob full for carrying on at spoon bowl.

I agree we need some more experience like that, around the coach. Seems he’s pretty stretched in his role and head coaching should be his top priority.

Benji is clearly good cop with the playing group, wearing the losses on his chin, who is playing bad cop?

 

[TheEnz]

That’s a fair POV.

Personally none of those guys came back in form, probably still buster, and the sides confidence had been crushed by that point.

As I said, if we don’t find the form again, it’s a moot point, cos Benj is running out of time.

i think the problem is these guys that came back are carrying injuries that will likely need operations in the off season. The only one that has come back unhindered is Samuela and he looks to have picked up where he left off.

 

[twentyforty]

The defining moment of Richo’s time here for me, was when he gave a group of reserves a gob full for carrying on at spoon bowl.

I agree we need some more experience like that, around the coach. Seems he’s pretty stretched in his role and head coaching should be his top priority.

Benji is clearly good cop with the playing group, wearing the losses on his chin, who is playing bad cop?

Yeh, I’m just saying, Benji continually says after a loss “that’s on me” or similar when he should not be singling himself out because it’s a team game wether players are sitting on the bench or coaches are on the sideline. Surely the players have input in the post game recap.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Yep. But then they come back, and magically the results didn’t change. Because we were taking advantage of sides still finding their feet.

Two Words - Royce Hunt. We missed his impact off the bench more than any other injured player. No one made as much forward progress (Thanks Rex) as Royce early on. Our bench has never recovered - this "weak's" rabble is appalling.