Pressure Mounts on Marshall to make his call

[hobbo1]

Reports that another team meeting turned into all the players claiming they are walking on eggshells because they were scared whether they would get dropped on one bad performance

Show me a player who only has had one bad performance this year

Even Lucy has had probably 2 ..maybe 3 .....

All the players parents / caregivers were present as well ?


Hope the barber was there - he certainly isn't earning his money. NMNB ( No More Nuffie Barbers)

Mbye is the barber ?

 

[Aubanon]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

 

[hobbo1]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

Pascoe gave Ivan the cheque book and he’s still here ...

 

[Harvey]

Benji may be done but Reynolds is like a ball and chain - end of contract can't come quick enough.

I'm probably dreaming but I continue to hope there is a chance of a super league team picking reynolds up.

Maybe someone can set up a profile and catfish him, telling him they are waiting for him in the north of England.

 

[JC99]

Why have all three of our club legends caused issues at our club? Farah with coaches, Lawrence at the end of last season and now Benji. I don’t see Aubusson making an issue out of his end at the club and he’s a lot younger than our fellas.

 

[Aubanon]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

Pascoe gave Ivan the cheque book and he’s still here ...

And I think once the COE is done, the club will move him on.

 

[hobbo1]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

Pascoe gave Ivan the cheque book and he’s still here ...

And I think once the COE is done, the club will move him on.

Should’ve been moved on last year

 

[Aubanon]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

Pascoe gave Ivan the cheque book and he’s still here ...

And I think once the COE is done, the club will move him on.

Should’ve been moved on last year

Cant shoot your fall guy in the middle of taking the fall.

 

[Harvey]

Was always going to end badly if Benji wanted to play on and the club did not accommodate him.

The attitude and sense of entitlement shown by him, Robbie Farah and to a lesser extent Lawrence shows why the club is currently where it is now.

5 coaches gone, most suggested as the problem and the cockroaches constantly survive the nuclear fallout.

 

[tony soprano]

Benji must really need the money

 

[Harvey]

I think we should re-sign him. Offer him Lawrence's current minimum contract. Control the narrative, we cannot afford Benji's demands.

I look forward to years of him an Braith together on fox sharing stories of Gatorade and wraps.

 

[Lauren]

The club had given Benji the opportunity to 'Go out on his terms' - with the expectation that Benji saves face and retires.

Benji has just made this into a circus... The club will stick solid with Madge.

My advice to all us fans, buckle in as its gonna get rough. BUT we need to trust Madge and the process.

What professional organisation allows this sort of thing to continue to happen though? We've had ample opportunity to do it properly but now it's playing out poorly in the media.

In 2 or 5 years time if we're still failing to recruit players, do we blame the players for it?
It's all to do with the operational ability of the Wests Tigers management and administrators.

They're not allowing it to continue. They've politely said we're moving on. Any drama is caused by Benji's ego.

I understand that Benji and his management may be the cause of the influx of articles but am questioning why this club still has this same problem.
Aubusson's retirement announcement was only last week and was nothing like this.

Sure he's not part of the team's future yet why are we celebrating how we(the club) mishandled or failed to control things - the narrative.
Like I said previously this also plays into how others perceive us and the club has a way of bringing further embarrassment to us.

I'm prepared to judge the club under Madge and Hartigan in 2 years time.

Any criticism at our current predicament should really consider the hand Ivan played in it.

You've totally misread my question though.
Said this earlier but Madge and Hartigan's goals are the only indication for me that we are making some strategic planning within the club, so agree with you ?.
But Madge and Hartigan - and their recruitment process - does not help the current portrayal of the club in the media and they're also not responsible for the media & marketing etc.,
Ivan very well may have debilitated the infrastructures and operations of our club and deserves to get the blame for it.
But the concern that I keep emphasising is
what parents will allow their sons to come to a club (as recruits) when our club still show's some type of inability to control something? (I.e. player unrest or the constant negative narrative in the media).

I don't want to see this club as a victim to bitter players, IC, the media or whoever else.
I just want to know we're in competent hands so I'm simply saying a professionally run organisation should not have this exact problem - and it's not the first time.

 

[tigerap]

Benji Marshall has pledged to fight for his career at another NRL club after the Wests Tigers informed his management they would not have a spot for him in 2021.

It comes as several of the club’s players raised trust and communication issues with coach Michael Maguire during a crisis meeting on Monday, with concerns growing over the coach’s rapport with the playing group.

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Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
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2:55

Sterlo urges Tigers to 'persevere' with Brooks
Peter Sterling says Luke Brooks is the man to lead the Tigers into a new era.

Marshall’s manager began calling rival NRL clubs on Monday night, offering the five-eighth’s services for next year following a two-hour meeting with Tigers officials during the afternoon.

Marshall confronted Maguire at the club’s Concord headquarters yesterday morning in a 90-minute showdown over his future. The 35-year-old, who wants to play again next season, was disappointed to learn he wasn’t part of the club’s 2021 plans after reading a Herald article on Monday morning.

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Maguire had agreed to reconsider, but by the afternoon the club’s position was made clear in a meeting between Marshall’s manager Matt Desira, Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe and head of football Adam Hartigan.

Marshall is scheduled to meet with club powerbrokers on Tuesday to discuss the matter in person. While the Tigers believe Marshall still has plenty to offer, the club’s salary cap predicament has left them with next to no choice but to bring down the curtain on his second coming at the joint venture.

Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer.
Not done yet: Marshall believes he still has much to offer. CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS

The Tigers have close to $1.6 million tied up in halves Josh Reynolds (off contract at the end of 2021) and Luke Brooks (2023), while they also have Adam Doueihi, Moses Mbye, Billy Walters and young gun Jock Madden, who can all play in the halves, on their books. They have been trying to offload Reynolds for two seasons without success.

The Tigers, who are chasing Josh Addo-Carr and Penrith rookie Charlie Staines, believe Marshall’s $300,000 salary is better spent bolstering their back line or forward pack. The Tigers still have $1m to spend in their salary cap next season with five roster spots to fill.

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The Wests Tigers are set to inform Benji Marshall there is no room for him in 2021.
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Marshall’s career is now at a crossroads, with the veteran playmaker intent on continuing beyond his 18th season in the NRL. Manly, Newcastle and Canterbury appear the most logical options.

Marshall may yet have a change of heart once the emotion subsides. He is expected to be given a farewell tour over the final rounds before the last match of the regular season against Parramatta.

Marshall started the year well but was controversially dropped by Maguire after round four despite sitting in second position on the Dally M Medal leaderboard. He returned in round nine but the Tigers have struggled since then.

Michael Chammas

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-confirm-marshall-won-t-be-at-club-in-2021-as-benji-plans-to-play-on-20200831-p55r38.html

Wow this is escalating pretty quickly. Not sure what Benji thinks he can offer another club. I said before if that article was a little push by tigers to give benji the hint, then it’s going to get ugly and I think it is. I hope he isn’t the instigator behind this meeting complaining about the coach. Any player not happy with being made accountable should be shown the door. Sick of this under achieving overpaid roster we have.

This sounds ugly....gee I hope Bunji is not behind this eggshells story.....

 

[Harvey]

My prediction: The chairman will get involved, we will re-sign Benji and become even more of a laughing stock,

 

[TYGA]

Benji not being extended sends the clearest message to all underperforming players with a year or two to go. There is no prospect of being resigned. It has to be done.

We have to back the coach for once. Madge has to be supported. Player power must end at our club it’s killed ya for years.

 

[watersider]

I think we should have given Marshall a contract as a squad player next year. He's still valuable as a cheap squad member and would play well when given a run due to injuries or poor form of other players. I don't know if he'd accept that.

Where this situation sucks is that Benji goes out on a whimper. Real dud season where nothing is achieved. I think his motivation for playing is to finish better. Unfortunately, not everyone gets that, and even fewer players get that at the Tigers. And I don't like how the club has handled this. I don't think you shame your greatest player publicly just to quell a few rumours. Poor form by our amateur club and just another example of the way we blunder and stutter our way through things. Been a shocking season, starting with our humiliating failure to land Latrell Mitchell through to our late season misery and now disrespecting of Benji. For the record, the club is entitled not to resign Benji, and I get that, but they should have handled the media around it better. I take all this back if this news has come from Benji.

 

[hodgo]

Why have all three of our club legends caused issues at our club? Farah with coaches, Lawrence at the end of last season and now Benji. I don’t see Aubusson making an issue out of his end at the club and he’s a lot younger than our fellas.

totally agree

 

[hsvjones]

I'm Glad this has come out as we need a clean out big time. These so called experience players we have are just not good enough and the proof is in the results over the last 9 years.

We lack the true winning culture leaders that know how to set standards on and off the field.. E.g. Wade Graham, Boyd Cordiner, Bromwich, etc.. Our Leaders are weak and this has been shown over the last few years. When was the last time an experience player in this team challenged / questioned the refs over bad decisions ??? Doesn't happen as we are a walk over and the other clubs and refs know it.

I've said it before and I will say again - How many of our so called experienced players would be playing in the top 17 under a Belly, Robinson, Bennett etc.. ???? That's right NONE..

I'm just glad Madge has the Balls to make these calls as we really don't want these current players turning all these talented youth players we have signed into sooks and been happy with just playing 26 rounds a year with no finals.

It's hard to hear the truth and that's why they are crying... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

If Benji plays on for another club I will be beyond disappointed with him. He is supposed to be the heart of the team, he has a career sorted after football, yet he is putting himself before the club. Thanks for 05 and some highlights in 10/11, but this has really hurt my opinion of him.

 

[Lauren]

I think we should have given Marshall a contract as a squad player next year. He's still valuable as a cheap squad member and would play well when given a run due to injuries or poor form of other players. I don't know if he'd accept that.

Where this situation sucks is that Benji goes out on a whimper. Real dud season where nothing is achieved. I think his motivation for playing is to finish better. Unfortunately, not everyone gets that, and even fewer players get that at the Tigers. And I don't like how the club has handled this. I don't think you shame your greatest player publicly just to quell a few rumours. Poor form by our amateur club and just another example of the way we blunder and stutter our way through things. Been a shocking season, starting with our humiliating failure to land Latrell Mitchell through to our late season misery and now disrespecting of Benji. For the record, the club is entitled not to resign Benji, and I get that, but **they should have handled the media around it better.** I take all this back if this news has come from Benji.

Feel the same way and agree it's not like we need to see any more disappointment this year.