Let's Help Benji

[pHyR3]

Lotta anti-Benji threads and talk on the forum and while I can defenitely see where you guys are coming from and agree with a lot of it, but the fact is he's with us till the end of the season at the very least and 2017 at the worst. So let's try to see how he can recapture some of his 2009-12 form that had him scoring tries left right and centre. Was watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlf3f2Cewg which surmises his 2012 season and noticed that VERY few tries were from him taking on the line or long/high kicks. 90%+ were from short balls to forwards and short chips/grubbers to backs.

However, I have seen almost NONE of that this year, all i've seen is him kicking high and trying to force an error by placing pressure through the kick chase or else bombs in the air when only Reddy and Teddy can even catch one. Now, I don't even know if Benji even wants to be helped because a lot of his actions and reactions suggest there are serious tensions within the club surrounding him and perhaps motivation too. But if he does, he needs to start using his forwards like BMM, Ava and Pettybourne through the short ball within their 20 as well as short kicks to the backs who aren't too bad. I'm sure simona, teddy, utai and koro can get there quickly to score of a sharp grubber.

Something that surprised me in that video was the lack of tries from outside their 40 or 30\. So many of them were made EXACTLY where we are struggling this year. Sitting outside their ingoal with no idea how to get in with the ball. Granted, defence has improved dramatically this year in the NRL. Something like 4-5 less missed tackles that last which was a couple less than before.

Thoughts on how to help benji?

 

[Fade_To_Black]

I will help him pack his bags.

 

[pHyR3]

:laughing: too bad we'd still be paying him 600k for the next few years, maybe 800k if he has actually signed that extension.

 

[innsaneink]

I offered lots of advice last night

 

[Eye_Of_Da_Tiger]

Benji has help himself. He talks the talk when he should be walking the walk. I think a lot of the negativity that surrounds Benji is fueled by the talks of paying him big bucks.Higher pay brings higher expectations and at a time his form is to be kind not his best ,hence all the negativity.

 

[supercoach]

Lets help him???? find a new cub maybe a good place to start, or introduce him to Fletcher,the reserve grade coach,or get him a personal trainer/sprint trainer and physiologist all rolled up in one person, or have him barred from all media roles to he actually puts three good games together.

Just a few things that come to mind

 

[pHyR3]

okay fine whatever, we'll just pay him the better part of a million dollars for how ever many years we have him signed while he plays reserve grade. :unamused:

 

[Tiger_heart]

just like he is helping the team, ehy? 😕

 

[system]

Find a Japanese Rugby club for him and lock in the deal so he and his scumbag manager can stop trotting out that tired old chestnut at contract time to raise his value

 

[tigerkaz]

I'll be sad to see Benji leave but I will get over it just like I did Beau, Chris, Fifita, Gibbs, John Morris, Mitch Brown,T'eo, plus many'many more.

 

[1974semifinal]

He is a media star..and now his Mrs is "calling the game" on MMM next Friday night..its all about being on TV ..he might not want to play footy..except for the $$$$.

 

[system]

Jesus. That is truly pathetic.

Move this embarassing circus on to be somebody elses problem

 

[pattyferg]

watched and loved the video phyre, i agree with everyone about benji this year. He has been terrible. But in my honest opinion he is probably the man for the job once he gets out of the hole he is in and to be fair he is injured and has stated that he basically has no feeling or tight/pain in his toe might seem like nothing but it shows when he limps around.

He is going to stay a tiger i feel cannot say the same for Blair.

What the tigers need is a lot of things but what i see is our halves are probably the worst in the comp just a few points just for conversation, correct me if im wrong:

A different game approach/plan: where they either tell sironen(or whoever is the half) to man up and take the reigns and start improving his kicking game, possibly going back to the old Prince style of benji being the second receiver and not playing that left and right style and even fitting in a passing game to Woods as we all know he is able to.
Building some set plays: the run around is the only play ive seen that we play. what i see needs to happen is Benji and Teddy need to eat sleep drink clean with each other, get into benjis that he needs to run at the line and have ted sweeping or running the inside ball at all times. The amount of tries i can see with that combo is crazy but they seem to never connect with each other (from my perspective)

these points should help benjis game improve.

*been lurking on the phone app for years now and had to make an account to get involved seeing as we are going so bad and this is my first post :slight_smile:🙂🙂*

 

[system]

You make a fair point.

If he cannot be a playmaker who controls a game he deserves not even half of his current salary. In 2013 Fulton & Woods have been more effective playmakers

 

[kh_canada]

Not to be cynical, but what can any of us do to help Benji? He doesn't listen to half the players on his team let alone a forum of fans.

 

[Winnipeg]

I almost sent him a sooky message on twitter about how his form is making me depressed

That might have shamed him into action

 

[Westie]

i don't know too much about players contracts and how the following suggestion could work but any way this is my thought thought.

Performance based contract or at risk package, my package at work consists of a salary portion but it also contains a certain percentage that I am entitled to if I meet my performance hurdles & budgets etc.

In my lat salary negotiation my employer provided me with a higher bonus percentage rather than increasing my salary.
My targets are realistic and if I give an honest days work the majority of the time I will meet my targets.
This ensures that I dont fart ass around and I given an incentive to put in 100%.

Lets offer him a new contract but will reduce his base salary but increase his overall package with a higher bonus.
Could this work :bulb: :bulb:

 

[stevetiger]

If he cannot be a playmaker who controls a game he deserves not even half of his current salary. In 2013 Fulton & Woods have been more effective playmakers

To me he has to be our playmaker. If he can't cut it he has to go. We definitely shouldn't be upgrading his contract simply because he isn't performing.

He has been great for us but we have been great for him. It is a professional sport and sometimes players need to be moved on. I think it is now prove your worth or go time.

 

[mtd]

stop talking, start walking.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

At his best when he plays with depth and is mobile when receiving the ball.