Coach Benji

I feel bad for Benji. Richo bent over backwards to make his job as easy as it could be. The next CEO may not have the capacity to be a shoulder for Benji to lean on.

And before you know it, he won't be able to sign players he wants, or choose his assistant coaches. Because that's how HBG work. Just look at the last 10 years - they treat our club like it's The Sims, wanting control over every important action happening. They also don't care and bare no brunt of consequences. We, the fans, are drinking the Wests Tigers Kool Aid long after HBG already pissed in it.
Well said legend.
 
I feel bad for Benji. Richo bent over backwards to make his job as easy as it could be. The next CEO may not have the capacity to be a shoulder for Benji to lean on.

And before you know it, he won't be able to sign players he wants, or choose his assistant coaches. Because that's how HBG work. Just look at the last 10 years - they treat our club like it's The Sims, wanting control over every important action happening. They also don't care and bare no brunt of consequences. We, the fans, are drinking the Wests Tigers Kool Aid long after HBG already pissed in it.
He knows Chinese philosophy though? Somewhere deep in a crisis lies opportunity. (Or some such thing)
 
No body tried to buy him. Dennis needed to save his ass. A cover up @ best. 15 wins in 2 years. Benji can't coach. Black n white
It wasnt that sim[ple...but extending an unproven coach was simply stupid
A gross over reaction
Were stuck with him for another 5 years
Popular with players ,particularly with families..but Not sure whether he can actually coach..
Horror show
 
He's not there yet, but I do have belief that Marshall will become a very good coach. He improved last year from the year before, and I see no reason to doubt that he will improve again this coming season. Time will tell of course, but the most difficult part of coaching - the relationship the coach has with his players - is already well and truly in his wheelhouse. I reckon the extension, although risky, will prove to be a master stroke.
 
He's not there yet, but I do have belief that Marshall will become a very good coach. He improved last year from the year before, and I see no reason to doubt that he will improve again this coming season. Time will tell of course, but the most difficult part of coaching - the relationship the coach has with his players - is already well and truly in his wheelhouse. I reckon the extension, although risky, will prove to be a master stroke.
Keep in mind, NO well credentialed coach would want to willingly take on the WT at the moment...Only desperadoes like Brad Arthur.....whom I don't rate at all!
 
He's not there yet, but I do have belief that Marshall will become a very good coach. He improved last year from the year before, and I see no reason to doubt that he will improve again this coming season. Time will tell of course, but the most difficult part of coaching - the relationship the coach has with his players - is already well and truly in his wheelhouse. I reckon the extension, although risky, will prove to be a master stroke.

There are alot better judges which all see Benji having a very big future in coaching & players believe in him.

Wouldn’t surprise me if Bula extension aligns to Benji’s length as well.
 
I have faith in him one way or another- I have heard him say numerous times that he understands the need for results and success and if he can’t deliver it he will be the first person to admit it and move on for the sake of the club. I believe he would do it as well - if we don’t see obvious and constructive improvement over the coming 2 seasons- l reckon he won’t need to be sacked.
In saying this, I don’t feel it will come to this as I think he will keep improving as a coach and will end up one of the best. The main issue for Benji won’t be his own abilities, it will be the quality of support from his assistants and the clubs management.
 
For Benji to keep his job beyond this season we have to perform consistently well, look like a team with a plan that the players are familiar and confident with in both attack and defence, have our fitness bring comparable to all.top 8 sides, and compete till the very end of the season for a finals spot.

That is the minimum requirements. Anything less and he needs to be sacked or demoted.
 
For Benji to keep his job beyond this season we have to perform consistently well, look like a team with a plan that the players are familiar and confident with in both attack and defence, have our fitness bring comparable to all.top 8 sides, and compete till the very end of the season for a finals spot.

That is the minimum requirements. Anything less and he needs to be sacked or demoted.

Ricky Stuart and Brad Arthur each had 4 full seasons before they got their latest/current teams into the finals for the first time, (and then Grand Finals afterwards). Benji is starting from a less well established position than either of those coaches has and he's still had less time than either of them.

The rubber should really be hitting the road this season. Let's not deny that. I think just earnestly counting wins and losses is a mugs game.

First of all we shouldn't be seeing a cautious approach like our first match last year against Newcastle. Too many experienced pros in our team now to start a season like that. That was a poor decision, and bad for our fans. I generally think that Benji's big weak spot as a coach is how he sets the team up on match day. He's seems like he'd make a fantastic GM of football, and can eat journalists for breakfast, but I don't think he's fully found his decision making mojo yet as a match day coach.

Want to see marked improvement from big recruits having their 2nd season. I think Luai is sailing somewhat under the radar a little bit and I like that. Also the decision to resign Api, that was a judgement call from our coach so I want to see him pinching tries and doing his thing successfully. "We need to win now" was the expression so a few more moments from Api like his masterclass against the Dolphins early last season... Not every game, but enough to show the decision was valid.

The third is the big one. And that's how we respond to a loss. We can't doom spiral into another 6+ game losing streak this season. Our players have played too many games together, has too much rep experience, grand finals winners. Lots of rookies who have played 50+ games now. The team and coach just have to be able to summon something to get it together and get a result. What's happening with our footy program, it should be enough by now to get us out of trouble. Even if we only win 3 in 9, I don't want 2 months without a win. no way.

Refs, injury, luck, -- I'm going to want to throw bricks at my TV at some stage of the season... but I don't want to feel the existential dread while Benji is questioning the commitment of his players in a post match interview after losing 16-28 to the titans on our 7th loss in a row
 
I just wrote a diatribe on this exact issue here. To sum it up - Benji has given them rope; it is now time to crack on with a wet sail of use the rope to hang the coach!
 

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