Benji has only had 1. And it was an ordinary lineup which got smashed by injury and suspension. Ivan had some decent experience and quality that season.
Trying to look at this objectively. Where was Ivan's experience and quality compared to last year?
Starting front rowers of Packer and Matulino, wouldnt be to incomparable Klemmer and Utoikamanu. Api played a lot more games in 24 than Farrah did in 18. Backrow, Bateman would be at a similar stage in his career to Lawrence whilst Fainu is better quality but less experienced than Rochow and Chee Kam. Eiso and Taylor shared the lock role which is admittedly better than anything that was there in 24 but reality its still only a fringe first grader and an honest toiler.
Id say Ivan had a clear advantage in the halves of Brooks and Marshall over Galvin and Sezer, but still, Cleary was without his 1st choice in Reynolds most that year.
Naiqama is comparable to Olam whilst Marsters was great that year but done nothing before or since and would be somewhat comparable to Naden.
Corey Thompson is probably the pick of the wingers but he only really established himself that season, Staines would have had a better resume taken prior to each season starting. Nofoaluma was playing good footy then, but Marshall couldnt motivate him and whilst the 24 was a revolving door of average wingers its matched by Watene-Zelezniak managing 12 games in 2018.
FB in 18 started out with Lolohea, a little bit of Thompson before finishing with Mbye. More experienced than Bula but any better?? not so sure.
The bench in both years was Twal and some fringe first graders.
Might give a slight edge to the 2018 side over 24 but nothing significant. Both sides had an injury/suspension interrupted outside backs and spine though in 18 it was mostly fullback and hooker with a little bit at 6 whereas it was pretty much the 6, 7 in 2024.