Coach Benji 👑

[Lestronge]

I have only heard rumours about Morris and if I have it right Hodgos contract ends this season. If both are gone it could be a good kick start to 2027.

One thing I’ve heard , which improbably shouldn’t repeat is he’s a massive dickhead . Not well liked by many in the shire . But as most things are , that’s probably very relative to who’s doing the talking . Just a little anecdote I’d heard .

 

[Lestronge]

What I expect will happen is the club will re-structure the roles of Craig Sandercock, Tyrone McCarthy & Shane Sultana as well as bring in ONE experienced, proven assistant coach. Not sure how the first 3 we evolve but some thoughts ...

Sandercock, I don't think they'll remove him from NRLW head coach but may give him an expanded role like as Senior Coaching Director, to help develop our coaches (Assistants, Cup & Flegg) to free up Benji to focus on fewer areas (NRL, recruitment).

McCarthy, not sure as he's recently been appointed as Pathways Coaching Director (+ pt Cup coach) and this is where he has a lot of experience. I do like his attacking structures in Cup so an Assistant Coach role not out of the realms of possibility.

Sultana, has the best record of any coach in our club the past 2 seasons except Sandercock. After this 2nd season in Flegg, I'd like him to be promoted to NSW Cup coach.

@jrtiger have you heard anything on coaches for junior reps next season?

Yep . Sandercock is an interesting one . When he was here first time , he was the poster child for Madge just picking his mates . Then Madge had to move him on .
Now 4 years in he’s here again with the same narrative around the head coach .

 

[Jolls]

Luai announced he was leaving Penrith a year early ..they went on to win the premiership… why such a difference ?I don’t see the “logic” in that comparison

Yes The coach aint much chop … seems to have the same gameplan every week … and the attacking style is way too conservative for the players we have to win games consistently

Having said that … we need the players to have desire and aggression to compete hard on every play … might sound a cliche … but it’s what has been missing these past three months … it won’t matter who is coaching the team if you don’t have that

I'm not in the four walls so I can only make reasoned assumptions based on what I can see. Benji and the team talk about culture and mateship. Leadershio and support of each other. First 8 weeks we have line speed, defensive resolve and can attack. A couple of injuries, as does every club, and Luai makes the announcement.

Then we drop off a cliff - line speed down, Luai is starved of ball, AD starts phoning it in, May Snr gets softer week after week, AD tears his party dress and has a cry in the corner for a weekend, AD is reinstated as the first choice half and has the defensive resolve of a marshmallow, Bula may be injured but starts phoning it in as well. We have no attack and no cohesion.

OK the attack wasn't great in the first 8 rounds or so but it was effective and we were scoring points. Then it drops off the cliff - Benji didn't change the game plan overnight; the boys have just chucked it in.

Sure Luai left the Riff early, but there wasn't Galvingate and Tiger for Life prior. I am having an educated guess that Luai has creatied a schism in the sheds and that has affected the team mentally. We are talking elite level sport and all of the sudden the extra effort becomes too hard and the support play drops off and the attack doesn't gel.

All I can say from the otuside is that something in the joint stinks and I don't think it is the coaching staff that are the major issue. If they could develop a successful plan that was being executed well it is clear that they have some idea of what it takes.

Could it be better? Sure, but I think laying the entire blame at their feet is off the mark.

 

[Tom Shines]

I'm not in the four walls so I can only make reasoned assumptions based on what I can see. Benji and the team talk about culture and mateship. Leadershio and support of each others

Yes ..like every team does …words are cheap though

Luai has been a disappointment…but he seems to still keep putting in when others have turned it up … I said elsewhere that a number of bigger names who re-signed AFTER the Luai announcement have been the biggest offenders inthe drop off… seems a contradiction in how they are feeling about it to me…

Look ..we are both on the outside so all we can do is speculate …I agree that something stinks …in “elite level sports “ teams just can’t repeatedly keep falling apart after things like Luai and Galvin and others decide to leave

The coaching staff deserve at least some of the blame as to how the season has gone down this year …i don’t know why they would be absolved

I don’t lay the entire blame with the players …but obviously it’s up to them to get the results on the field and ultimately change things around ..if things are gunna change

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I'm not in the four walls so I can only make reasoned assumptions based on what I can see. Benji and the team talk about culture and mateship. Leadershio and support of each other. First 8 weeks we have line speed, defensive resolve and can attack. A couple of injuries, as does every club, and Luai makes the announcement.

Then we drop off a cliff - line speed down, Luai is starved of ball, AD starts phoning it in, May Snr gets softer week after week, AD tears his party dress and has a cry in the corner for a weekend, AD is reinstated as the first choice half and has the defensive resolve of a marshmallow, Bula may be injured but starts phoning it in as well. We have no attack and no cohesion.

OK the attack wasn't great in the first 8 rounds or so but it was effective and we were scoring points. Then it drops off the cliff - Benji didn't change the game plan overnight; the boys have just chucked it in.

Sure Luai left the Riff early, but there wasn't Galvingate and Tiger for Life prior. I am having an educated guess that Luai has creatied a schism in the sheds and that has affected the team mentally. We are talking elite level sport and all of the sudden the extra effort becomes too hard and the support play drops off and the attack doesn't gel.

All I can say from the otuside is that something in the joint stinks and I don't think it is the coaching staff that are the major issue. If they could develop a successful plan that was being executed well it is clear that they have some idea of what it takes.

Could it be better? Sure, but I think laying the entire blame at their feet is off the mark.

Could it be Jolls that we have too many dumb players that can't take instructions from training to gameday, off with their dopey heads and on with a bunch of watermelons.

Also, what's with this fool Terrell running like a pussycat and then turning his back to the opposition, surely Benji hasn't instructed him to play this way, it's so stupid just run like a prop it's not that hard a position to play.

I can't completely point the finger at coaching either, how often has Benji pointed out in press conferences mirroring what we have thought on the forum straight after the game, some of the players must think they know better, Doueihi syndrome.

I never thought I'd say this but maybe Benji needs to give them a Madge almighty spray, one of those bulbous eyed veins popping out of the neck bulldog head ball tearers, usually works once a season.

 

[Jolls]

Yes ..like every team does …words are cheap though

Luai has been a disappointment…but he seems to still keep putting in when others have turned it up … I said elsewhere that a number of bigger names who re-signed AFTER the Luai announcement have been the biggest offenders inthe drop off… seems a contradiction in they are feeling about it to me

Look ..we are both on the outside so all we can do is speculate …I agree that something stinks …in “elite level sports “ teams just can’t repeatedly keep falling after things like Luai and Galvin and others deciding leave

The coaching staff deserve at least some of the blame as to how the season has gone down this year …i don’t know why they would be absolved

I don’t lay the entire blame with the players …but obviously it’s up to them to get the results on the field and ultimately change things around ..if things are gunna change

I 100% agree that the problem is a shared responsibility; but to be such a marked change isn't down to a tweak to the game plan or a couple of injuries. My aim in writing what I did originally was not to absolve them of the blame, in fact I started with it has been a failure. I was simply sick and tired of reading posts about Benji and the coaching staff are shit and can't coach and they are all nepo appointments.

I tried to step back and look at the whole picture and understand how we got to the poitn we did and why the Luai announcement appears to have has such an adverse affect on the playing group.

Overall the blame lies at the feet of the players and the coaching staff as they are the ones out there on the paddock. But I think the the root cause goes right back to Richo moving on as I think he probably had the nouse and character to address the issues as they arose as opposed to having to wall paper over cracks.

So yet again is comes down to a medium to long term plan being scuppered at the end of year one by an incompetent board. Had we sseen the plan through perhaps we wold be sitting at the bottom of the eight instead of fighting to stave off another next to last finish.

Thank you, yet again, HBG.

 

[Bellend]

Yep . Sandercock is an interesting one . When he was here first time , he was the poster child for Madge just picking his mates . Then Madge had to move him on .
Now 4 years in he’s here again with the same narrative around the head coach .

Like Sultana and would rather he be promoted to Koe cup.

 

[Tom Shines]

I 100% agree that the problem is a shared responsibility; but to be such a marked change isn't down to a tweak to the game plan or a couple of injuries. My aim in writing what I did originally was not to absolve them of the blame, in fact I starte

I’ve said there is plenty of blame to go around …. For what will go down in history as even one of our worst years which is a very high bar …

Benji at best is a work in progress…he needs more help

 

[Jolls]

Could it be Jolls that we have too many dumb players that can't take instructions from training to gameday, off with their dopey heads and on with a bunch of watermelons.

Also, what's with this fool Terrell running like a pussycat and then turning his back to the opposition, surely Benji hasn't instructed him to play this way, it's so stupid just run like a prop it's not that hard a position to play.

I can't completely point the finger at coaching either, how often has Benji pointed out in press conferences mirroring what we have thought on the forum straight after the game, some of the players must think they know better, Doueihi syndrome.

RHS,

It is regression from players like May and, my mate, AD that have me looking wider than the coaching staff. To me it was a clear as thenose on your face when Luai and his edge was completely starved of the ball on AD's return.

That's not happenstance - it is much deeper than that.

I'm going to take a stab at the Terrell deterioration though. He can see that the halves setup is simply not working and thinks that he has the skills to be a ball player so he is trying to help the team by doing what he can. In doing so he is making a simple game more complex and it is affecting his overall game as he is trying to play what he sees as opposed to denting the line and offloading post contact.

We will probably never know the real reason until a couple of these guys move on and leak it to their mates; but Benji and the coaching staff must be pulling theor hair out because I'm pretty sure the game plan isn't for the prop to start playing 5/8 mid game.

 

[Tom Shines]

RHS,

It is regression from players like May and, my mate, AD that have me looking wider than the coaching staff. To me it was a clear as thenose on your face when Luai and his edge was completely starved of the ball on AD's return.

Has May played too many minutes this year ?

 

[BeeCeen]

Thanks. Interesting, then who are the other 3? Crazy if it's Magpies, Tigers and that Central Coast soccer club. Surely thise 3 are delegated down the chain to minor CEO 's.

The Wests website has some details here:

Teams, Boards & Ownership - Western Suburbs Magpies

Information about our rugby league teams appearing in the NSW Knock-On Effect Cup and Ron Massey Cup, our relationship to the Wests Tigers, and our Ownership structure.

www.westsmagpies.com.au

On the composition of the boards it states:

Wests Tigers Board is made up of 9 Director Positions
- 4 x Directors from the Holman Barnes Group
- 1 x Director from the Wests Magpies RLFC
- 1 x Director from the Balmain Tigers RLFC
- 3 x Independent Directors

WSDRLFC (Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd)

WSDRLFC has 7 members on its board of directors.
- 4 x Directors appointed by Holman Barnes Group
- 3 x Directors directly elected in 3 year terms by eligible Wests Magpies FC members

The Holman Barnes Group has 9 members on its board of directors.

- 2 x Directors directly elected in 3 years terms by eligible Holman Barnes Group General members (off the floor)
- 2 x Directors appointed in 3 years terms by Holman Barnes Group Board
- 5 x Directors appointed in 3 year terms by the Current Group of 20 x Holman Barnes Group Debenture Holders

 

[Jolls]

Has May played too many minutes this year ?

In my opinion yes, but I don't think that explains his drop off in contact. I am more inlined to think he is carrying an injury that he is trying to protect by doing a bit of ball playing.

 

[Tom Shines]

In my opinion yes, but I don't think that explains his drop off in contact. I am more inlcned to think he is carrying an injury that he is trying to protect by doing a bit of ball playing.

The days of him being out there for more than 60 minutes in one game ( lot of times 70+) should be well and truly finished ,,.. two years in a row now that his form has deteriorated badly over the course of the season

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Has May played too many minutes this year ?

For me yes Tom, surely if the prop depth that I've been whinging about for ages and needs to be fixed was there, he should only be playing 60 minutes max a game for impact only.

 

[wstigers11]

For me yes Tom, surely if the prop depth that I've been whinging about for ages and needs to be fixed was there, he should only be playing 60 minutes max a game for impact only.

Yeah he was limited to this at the start of the year & his form was good & the bench made an impact

 

[wstigers11]

So yet again is comes down to a medium to long term plan being scuppered at the end of year one by an incompetent board. Had we sseen the plan through perhaps we wold be sitting at the bottom of the eight instead of fighting to stave off another next to last finish.

Thank you, yet again, HBG.

What they did was a travesty & is going to cost other people their jobs

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Yeah he was limited to this at the start of the year & his form was good & the bench made an impact

As soon as injuries hit the grunt from the bench has been woeful because of the lack of big, ugly battering rams.

How often have we seen the team sheet and moaned thinking we can't win with that bench impact, that never happens over at Cronulla, they always seem to have a surplus of big forwards.

 

[Tom Shines]

As soon as injuries hit the grunt from the bench has been woeful because of the lack of big, ugly battering rams.

How often have we seen the team sheet and moaned thinking we can't win with that bench impact, that never happens over at Cronulla, they always seem to have a surplus of big forwards.

Royce getting hurt made a big difference unfortunately…he is another one that is supposedly going to be elsewhere, but they definitely must have his replacement identified first…

I know he is 31 now … still think he might have one more year left

 

[magpies forever]

The Wests website has some details here:

Teams, Boards & Ownership - Western Suburbs Magpies

Information about our rugby league teams appearing in the NSW Knock-On Effect Cup and Ron Massey Cup, our relationship to the Wests Tigers, and our Ownership structure.

www.westsmagpies.com.au

On the composition of the boards it states:

Wests Tigers Board is made up of 9 Director Positions
- 4 x Directors from the Holman Barnes Group
- 1 x Director from the Wests Magpies RLFC
- 1 x Director from the Balmain Tigers RLFC
- 3 x Independent Directors

WSDRLFC (Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd)

WSDRLFC has 7 members on its board of directors.
- 4 x Directors appointed by Holman Barnes Group
- 3 x Directors directly elected in 3 year terms by eligible Wests Magpies FC members

The Holman Barnes Group has 9 members on its board of directors.

- 2 x Directors directly elected in 3 years terms by eligible Holman Barnes Group General members (off the floor)
- 2 x Directors appointed in 3 years terms by Holman Barnes Group Board
- 5 x Directors appointed in 3 year terms by the Current Group of 20 x Holman Barnes Group Debenture Holders

Damn the debenture hold on the Wests Ashfield and resulting WT & HBG. Really wish the gaming and licensing could have found something on them to cause the debenture system t be gone.

 

[jirskyr]

Id just like to know why it took the team until the 70th minute to really start playing tigers type of footy...

Have they had the creativity coached out of them to follow the penrith mould?

Its like somewhere along the way, we changed our style... too much... because the penrith style doesnt suit this team...

I hate this club, because the last 10 mins gave me hope we might actually score a few tries against the roosters 😂😂

I think we will score a few tries against the Roosters. Unfortunately I think they will score more than a few.