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
