This week is the best example of the fact Wests Tigers coaches are fighting with both arms tied behind their back. When Benji came in Sheens said Benji was told that the club would not sign anyone he didn’t want for 2025. His first priority was to secure a better player in the halves with the much publicised pursuit of Munster, Moses, Pearce and even Johnson. Plan E was Josh Schuster which looks to have also failed (thank god). It’s in the news today that the club is even struggling with their plan F, Luke Brooks. You couldn’t make this stuff up. 😂
The man who shoots every coach down is Justin Pascoe, wish he would go close deals at Burger King or something.
I actually think Macca & Lee are the big issues here.
When Macca was here previously his recruitment sucked, if you annoyed him as a youngster you were punted despite how good you were, when he was at the Bulldogs they recruited even worse under his watch which is saying something.
Lee just has zero footy idea it's clear with his bursts that he is more focused on his profile than the actual club & has zero trust in those to do his job.
I'm hoping things to change over the next 6-12mths with Fulton leading the charge (he is a real recruitment operator) especially if results are changing. Hartigan was the real deal and was a scape goat of poor management here.
Regarding the recruit offers:
Munster was never coming, he was never leaving Storm.
Moses was never coming given how bad Brooks (his best mate) was copping it & how bad we started
Pearce was never coming mid season, why leave France & success to come last in Sydney
Johnson was never going to pack his family up again for 2yrs & then go back home again after COVID
Schuster was never a discussion, Manly weren't letting him go this year anyway.
Brooks, Sheens loves but reality is he has been absolutely hammered so why stay and be unhappy without clear support plan around him? His family LOVES the club and he is a Wests Tigers through and through but without support and with Api having a MO for 25 why stay.
It's interesting that our most high profile half in our clubs history who takes over the coaching reigns will struggle to have any halves on the books for 24 let alone 25 (who knows what happens to AD also).