Pressure Mounts on Marshall to make his call

[cochise]

if Marshall goes around again I'll be seriously considering my membership status. what's the point of injecting money into a club that would send a clear message that it's happy to be mediocre for yet another year?

That is the aim of most on here, apparently expecting finals next year is ridiculous.

You can expect finals all you want but realistically it most likely won’t happen if you look at the bigger picture. My expectations are finals every year however I know right now that’s not gonna happen and it’ll take time for that to happen. I certainly wouldn’t wager my membership on it

So unless we sign a better half might as well play Benji lol. Now I actually want Benji to retire, but if we are not even expecting to be in the top 50% teams then why does it matter either way what Benji does?

As I've said we need a half, prop, fullback and winger to be a stronger team. We should be looking at upgrading those as they become available over the next 2 years. By November I would be aggressively targeting those players for 2022, right now we should be trying to see what we can shake lose in those positions for 21.

We may as we play madden or another young unproven half they can’t do any worse. Would much rather use Benjis spot to develop someone than to keep him around. I agree with you on who we need to target and I hope the club signs the right guys

Madden is not ready, one of the best comments I have heard about Grant is about him getting time to develop in QLD cup and that is why he was able to step straight into 1st grade and star. Too many young players are rushed into 1st grade to early and it stifles their development, especially being put into a team that is going to be losing more games than in wins. Ultimately I think that was one of the issues for Brooks' development.

You don’t know until you try. Grant was gonna kill it no matter what and learning of the best hooker ever certainly helped. We can’t afford Benji another year that’s for sure we need to look to the future

I don't want Benji to be our half next year either as I'm not willing to accept our aim is anything less than playing finals football.

 

[cochise]

I did just check Jock Maddens age and he will be 21 at the start of next year so I would be expecting him to progress into the team sometime next year, maybe even in the start.

 

[balmain boy]

Luckily this is an article from the Telecrap so it can be totally ignored.

However if Benji is even given the option to choose if he plays on it highlights massive, MASSIVE issues at the club. By all means keep him around as a halves coach or ambassador etc, but under no circumstances should any coach or executive at the club be even considering letting him play again next season. Letting him play this weekend is already insulting enough. Don't give him the option, give him an off-field contract offer and that's it. That's not being disrespectful, it's being professional.

The best thing for our club would be to lose by 70 points this weekend, Benji missing 15 tackles, be coming 12th and subsequently cut ties with all off contract players.

We need a clean slate, and we desperately need leadership at the club. Benji has always had a massive ego. He's not a team player. He's not a leader. Even at his best he could only get us to the finals in 3/14 years, which is in itself pathetic and reason to move him on.

It is obvious to every footy fan with half a brain that benji is already well passed it. He cannot play at an NRL level anymore. No club would be remotely interested in having him start for them next season. Nearly all clubs would pass on him as a backup half who's expected to play 90% of the season in CC and perhaps play 1-2 games when injuries hit. Is that really how Benji wants to go out?

 

[Guest]

Madge says there is no time frame for Benji to make a decision in regards to next year.

He's allowing a great player the time to make his decision. Excellent player management from Maguire.

What if he decides to play on?

May God have mercy on us all:man-facepalming:

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I'm happy for Benji to stay one year. I dont have more confidence in putting our other guys to become full time half, Walters, and what not?, and we can't afford a half on more money than Benji either, we have bigger weaknesses IMO. Hopefully 2022 we can assemble a team to make the finals ?

Yeah depending on what our plans are for the halves moving forward. If our plan is a young player coming thru or a signing for 2022 then let Benji play next year. Most people on here have written off next year so what difference does it make?

Benji getting a new contract with us is not just accepting mediocrity it is actively planning for it

That is exactly what most people on here are doing, next year has already been written off by the majority.

Well we aren’t going to be any stronger. We are treading water until Reynolds and Packer are off the books which will free up 1.5 million give or take.

 

[Newtown]

Madge says there is no time frame for Benji to make a decision in regards to next year.

He's allowing a great player the time to make his decision. Excellent player management from Maguire.

Maybe Madge wants Benji to go out on his accord at the end of this year without embarrassingly being pushed out. Com on Benj do the right thing.

 

[cochise]

I'm happy for Benji to stay one year. I dont have more confidence in putting our other guys to become full time half, Walters, and what not?, and we can't afford a half on more money than Benji either, we have bigger weaknesses IMO. Hopefully 2022 we can assemble a team to make the finals ?

Yeah depending on what our plans are for the halves moving forward. If our plan is a young player coming thru or a signing for 2022 then let Benji play next year. Most people on here have written off next year so what difference does it make?

Benji getting a new contract with us is not just accepting mediocrity it is actively planning for it

That is exactly what most people on here are doing, next year has already been written off by the majority.


Well we aren’t going to be any stronger. We are treading water until Reynolds and Packer are off the books which will free up 1.5 million give or take.

Yeah, so might as well save money and play Benji lol

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Luckily this is an article from the Telecrap so it can be totally ignored.

However if Benji is even given the option to choose if he plays on it highlights massive, MASSIVE issues at the club. By all means keep him around as a halves coach or ambassador etc, but under no circumstances should any coach or executive at the club be even considering letting him play again next season. Letting him play this weekend is already insulting enough. Don't give him the option, give him an off-field contract offer and that's it. That's not being disrespectful, it's being professional.

The best thing for our club would be to lose by 70 points this weekend, Benji missing 15 tackles, be coming 12th and subsequently cut ties with all off contract players.

We need a clean slate, and we desperately need leadership at the club. Benji has always had a massive ego. He's not a team player. He's not a leader. Even at his best he could only get us to the finals in 3/14 years, which is in itself pathetic and reason to move him on.

It is obvious to every footy fan with half a brain that benji is already well passed it. He cannot play at an NRL level anymore. No club would be remotely interested in having him start for them next season. Nearly all clubs would pass on him as a backup half who's expected to play 90% of the season in CC and perhaps play 1-2 games when injuries hit. Is that really how Benji wants to go out?

That's pretty harsh BB. I will always remember Marshall as a great for WTs and NZ. Every kid wanted a Marshall step and he was guided by one of the great tacticians, Tim Sheens in a golden era for the WTs. I hope he stays at WTs as a coach and mentor especially for the young Maori and NZ players at the Club. He's articulate and a much nicer human being than many of the tossers who litter commentary teams.

 

[851]

Madge says there is no time frame for Benji to make a decision in regards to next year.

He's allowing a great player the time to make his decision. Excellent player management from Maguire.

Maybe Madge wants Benji to go out on his accord at the end of this year without embarrassingly being pushed out. Com on Benj do the right thing.

He should have already done that, Rowdy did, Rowdy is 4 years younger and in better form, he would have played again if offered a deal, but he did the right thing by the club, he is a true club man, and a one club man at that

 

[earl]

I'm happy for Benji to stay one year. I dont have more confidence in putting our other guys to become full time half, Walters, and what not?, and we can't afford a half on more money than Benji either, we have bigger weaknesses IMO. Hopefully 2022 we can assemble a team to make the finals ?

Yeah depending on what our plans are for the halves moving forward. If our plan is a young player coming thru or a signing for 2022 then let Benji play next year. Most people on here have written off next year so what difference does it make?

Benji getting a new contract with us is not just accepting mediocrity it is actively planning for it

That is exactly what most people on here are doing, next year has already been written off by the majority.


Well we aren’t going to be any stronger. We are treading water until Reynolds and Packer are off the books which will free up 1.5 million give or take.

This is the issue isn't it. Let's replace Benji's 200k odd (I don't know the exact number but it'd be lowish) with someone but it ain't going to be Adam Reynolds.

It should be clear for an off contract player if we can get better at the same cost we should and that includes Benji. It's just we aren't going to have a tonne of money in the tank for a while.

If we can go to market now and get a gun player we can do it if Marshall stays or goes.

 

[TrueTiger]

For the benefit of the team,Benji should just say that this is his final season and work with the club next year in an off field role.. he is still a club legend that can raise revenue in a capacity where as he is not on the field...
In my honest opinion the team lets Benji do what he thinks is right during games,but we all have witnessed that it isnt true with his poor defense and plays at times...
I have said it before that he stifles Brooks game and stifles the teams games at times as well with poor calls and reads...he is best to call it quits while he can go out with his head raised high...if he plays another season it could be a very big low...

 

[Strider]

Can the people that desperately want him gone tell me your proposed better half option? Not having a go wondering if there is something I'm missing. Way I figure we have Walters who is fairly old and played a couple of games, a few players with some potential but unproven to be a starting 6 (and not super exciting) or Adam D but then we'd need a fullback and Adam was the best player last week for me. 2022 when we lose some big dollar players we can shop for stars. Thots? Cheers

 

[TrueTiger]

Can the people that desperately want him gone tell me your proposed better half option? Not having a go wondering if there is something I'm missing. Way I figure we have Walters who is fairly old and played a couple of games, a few players with some potential but unproven to be a starting 6 (and not super exciting) or Adam D but then we'd need a fullback and Adam was the best player last week for me. 2022 when we lose some big dollar players we can shop for stars. Thots? Cheers

Jay I really think that Benji has been in the NRL long enough...he has made his mark and the game is getting to fast for him....as far as halves combinations go,Brooks and Benji dont work...its time Madge tried something different,but I will say when JRey played alongside Brooks the team looked so much more competative ...I dont know the answer but maybe Madge does for next year..

 

[Strider]

Can the people that desperately want him gone tell me your proposed better half option? Not having a go wondering if there is something I'm missing. Way I figure we have Walters who is fairly old and played a couple of games, a few players with some potential but unproven to be a starting 6 (and not super exciting) or Adam D but then we'd need a fullback and Adam was the best player last week for me. 2022 when we lose some big dollar players we can shop for stars. Thots? Cheers

Jay I really think that Benji has been in the NRL long enough...he has made his mark and the game is getting to fast for him....as far as halves combinations go,Brooks and Benji dont work...its time Madge tried something different,but I will say when JRey played alongside Brooks the team looked so much more competative ...I dont know the answer but maybe Madge does for next year..

That's fair enough. Hope he does too ?

 

[supercoach]

Tigers are being nice. Benji will retire. If we are smart Benji is an ideal halves coach and Chris Lawrence in some form of mentoring or strength and conditioning role.

Benji is the last bloke you want as a half coach. He played off the cuff and from day one till now he was never a half who could run a team. Don’t get me wrong, amazing player who could do things that nobody else could do, but sadly could not organise a chook raffle

 

[balmain boy]

Luckily this is an article from the Telecrap so it can be totally ignored.

However if Benji is even given the option to choose if he plays on it highlights massive, MASSIVE issues at the club. By all means keep him around as a halves coach or ambassador etc, but under no circumstances should any coach or executive at the club be even considering letting him play again next season. Letting him play this weekend is already insulting enough. Don't give him the option, give him an off-field contract offer and that's it. That's not being disrespectful, it's being professional.

The best thing for our club would be to lose by 70 points this weekend, Benji missing 15 tackles, be coming 12th and subsequently cut ties with all off contract players.

We need a clean slate, and we desperately need leadership at the club. Benji has always had a massive ego. He's not a team player. He's not a leader. Even at his best he could only get us to the finals in 3/14 years, which is in itself pathetic and reason to move him on.

It is obvious to every footy fan with half a brain that benji is already well passed it. He cannot play at an NRL level anymore. No club would be remotely interested in having him start for them next season. Nearly all clubs would pass on him as a backup half who's expected to play 90% of the season in CC and perhaps play 1-2 games when injuries hit. Is that really how Benji wants to go out?

That's pretty harsh BB. I will always remember Marshall as a great for WTs and NZ. Every kid wanted a Marshall step and he was guided by one of the great tacticians, Tim Sheens in a golden era for the WTs. I hope he stays at WTs as a coach and mentor especially for the young Maori and NZ players at the Club. He's articulate and a much nicer human being than many of the tossers who litter commentary teams.

It's not harsh. It's reality. We suck. We need changes. Keeping underperforming players won't help us improve.

I said we should keep him around in an off field capacity. This would be 100% the right call, the only call.

Some say we won't get any better than him for 200k. That's rubbish. Use his roster spot, and 200k and add an extra 100k and throw 300k at Burton and see what happens. He's getting less than 100k now on a development contract 700k over a 2 year deal could get it done. And gives him the cahnce to impress without being locked into a long term ,low value contract. Every year clubs find guys that can do a good job in the halves who are on small contracts. We don't, because we don't look.

 

[balmain boy]

Tigers are being nice. Benji will retire. If we are smart Benji is an ideal halves coach and Chris Lawrence in some form of mentoring or strength and conditioning role.

Benji is the last bloke you want as a half coach. He played off the cuff and from day one till now he was never a half who could run a team. Don’t get me wrong, amazing player who could do things that nobody else could do, but sadly could not organise a chook raffle

Skills coach maybe? Torpedo bombs, flick passes etc. Drop into training once or twice a month.

he may even be a good coach, plenty of good coaches who were crap players, and likewise plenty of good players that can't coach. Just because someone can/can't execute themselves on a field doesn't qualify their ability to teach others what to look for and do.

 

[Newtown]

I'm happy for Benji to stay one year. I dont have more confidence in putting our other guys to become full time half, Walters, and what not?, and we can't afford a half on more money than Benji either, we have bigger weaknesses IMO. Hopefully 2022 we can assemble a team to make the finals ?

Yeah depending on what our plans are for the halves moving forward. If our plan is a young player coming thru or a signing for 2022 then let Benji play next year. Most people on here have written off next year so what difference does it make?

Benji getting a new contract with us is not just accepting mediocrity it is actively planning for it

That is exactly what most people on here are doing, next year has already been written off by the majority.


Well we aren’t going to be any stronger. We are treading water until Reynolds and Packer are off the books which will free up 1.5 million give or take.

This is the issue isn't it. Let's replace Benji's 200k odd (I don't know the exact number but it'd be lowish) with someone but it ain't going to be Adam Reynolds.

It should be clear for an off contract player if we can get better at the same cost we should and that includes Benji. It's just we aren't going to have a tonne of money in the tank for a while.

If we can go to market now and get a gun player we can do it if Marshall stays or goes.

What happens if Wests Tigers are one cap space short and have just enough money to sign a top player but can't because Benji has taken that cap space and a $200k Cap payment as well.

 

[851]

Tigers are being nice. Benji will retire. If we are smart Benji is an ideal halves coach and Chris Lawrence in some form of mentoring or strength and conditioning role.

Benji is the last bloke you want as a half coach. He played off the cuff and from day one till now he was never a half who could run a team. Don’t get me wrong, amazing player who could do things that nobody else could do, but sadly could not organise a chook raffle

Skills coach maybe? Torpedo bombs, flick passes etc. Drop into training once or twice a month.

he may even be a good coach, plenty of good coaches who were crap players, and likewise plenty of good players that can't coach. Just because someone can/can't execute themselves on a field doesn't qualify their ability to teach others what to look for and do.

Trent Robinson and Bellamy were no stars, but they can coach, Wally and Pearce were good players, but bog ordinary coaches, you may be on to something with Benji, he might know what he is supposed to do, but just doesn't do it.

 

[cochise]

Tigers are being nice. Benji will retire. If we are smart Benji is an ideal halves coach and Chris Lawrence in some form of mentoring or strength and conditioning role.

Benji is the last bloke you want as a half coach. He played off the cuff and from day one till now he was never a half who could run a team. Don’t get me wrong, amazing player who could do things that nobody else could do, but sadly could not organise a chook raffle

Skills coach maybe? Torpedo bombs, flick passes etc. Drop into training once or twice a month.

he may even be a good coach, plenty of good coaches who were crap players, and likewise plenty of good players that can't coach. Just because someone can/can't execute themselves on a field doesn't qualify their ability to teach others what to look for and do.

Trent Robinson and Bellamy were no stars, but they can coach, Wally and Pearce were good players, but bog ordinary coaches, you may be on to something with Benji, he might know what he is supposed to do, but just doesn't do it.

When I have seen him discussing the game on television he does seem to do a good job of breaking down plays.