Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[yeti]

Those objecting the loudest were the ones doing it.
Very funny.
Fans of this club just erase their memories as soon as a season finishes.

Can't blame anyone for erasing their memories at the end of each off season - it's the only way to survive this club! LOL! Let's hope that's all about to change.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

bit like being on here ,you mean ?

Mate I can't believe the niggle that happens on here at times what was that old Kamahl quote, why are people so unkind, you see the amount of forum guest's vs the amount online members they won't join the forum scared of being crucified if they post something wrong.

 

[Tucker]

Disagree with you. Being a negative Nancy every single post you call supporting the club 🙄

Calling out incompetence and demanding change is supporting the club. The push for excellence can come across as negative at times…that’s because we are commenting on things that we don’t think are being done right. Just blindly stating that season 25 is different is not a convincing argument given the amount of data we have to work from. I actually do not consider being a lemming that gets drunk on the club cool aid as being supportive.
Whilst I have no doubt our attack will be better this year, it’s our defence and how the coaching staff perform that will determine how we go.

 

[Buttface]

Don.t you mean poke them out with a blunt stick.

I use plastic forks. Sometimes the ends will snap off and are difficult to pull out, ensuring you never read it again.

 

[Tucker]

You should know a lot can change over an off season, so why not be optimistic?

I’m on record stating that we’ll push for the 8 this year…might fall short, but will be in with a punchers chance during the final rounds.
That is not being negative.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I use plastic forks. Sometimes the ends will snap off and are difficult to pull out, ensuring you never read it again.

Oh ooh wonder how close they are with bionic eyes technology only thing that will help you now.

 

[TrueTiger]

Calling out incompetence and demanding change is supporting the club. The push for excellence can come across as negative at times…that’s because we are commenting on things that we don’t think are being done right. Just blindly stating that season 25 is different is not a convincing argument given the amount of data we have to work from. I actually do not consider being a lemming that gets drunk on the club cool aid as being supportive.
Whilst I have no doubt our attack will be better this year, it’s our defence and how the coaching staff perform that will determine how we go.

I agree with much of what you say Tuck,the only thing I can say is that a lot of the niggle and condescending comments toward forum members is that they have a far differing opinion or view how the team should play or recruitment should be done..
My personal take is that we are all different as human beings and our personallities differ,this is what makes us who we are...
On the other hand we can still remain respectful with whatever topic is discussed and have the dignity to respect others with differing views ..
I must say I have had plenty of critics on this forum.but I really dont care because I also have many good hearted and intelligent people on here that make this forum a very unique and great place to be...cheers mate...

 

[SeanT]

There’s no excuse. Getting the spoon in 24 was a disaster that should have his papers marked.
He’s going to need a very good start to keep his job. I hope he can do it because I like him. Having said that, we can’t keep him on as coach if the results are poor, just because of who he is.

There were alot of young players brought up. But yeah tactically he wasn't up to it.

12 rounds in and we will know.

 

[mtd#2]

There’s no excuse. Getting the spoon in 24 was a disaster that should have his papers marked.
He’s going to need a very good start to keep his job. I hope he can do it because I like him. Having said that, we can’t keep him on as coach if the results are poor, just because of who he is.

If we were talking about the Melbourne Storm, there'd be no excuses.

But this is the Wests Tigers, the team who took spoon honors for two consecutive seasons.

The response from the Wests Tigers was to announce a coach with 1 year experience as an Assistant Coach as their Head Coach for 2024.

Benji is the most under-qualified NRL coach in the last 20 years maybe more (** that's a guess, I just don't have time to verify).

For a professional club, there's no excuse for a poor decision like that. But the Wests Tigers have been far from professional for a long time. It starts with the JV and back office, in 2023 we were a shambles (and still have a lot to work out).

Anyone expecting anything from Benji last year was really dreaming, considering Tim Sheens and Madge Maguire had both failed the previous 2 seasons.

The excuse is Benji was raw. He didn't have the squad he wanted. He didn't have the chance to sign any players he wanted. There's plenty of excuses for him.

Season 2025 there isn't an excuse. He's got the coaching staff he wants and the players he wants. So if there's no improvement, then I think his time as an NRL Coach (for now) is done.

 

[Betterdays22]

Reckon if you took a pole the vast majority of people would have very realistic expectations for the year, despite the argy bargy

 

[TrueTiger]

If we were talking about the Melbourne Storm, there'd be no excuses.

But this is the Wests Tigers, the team who took spoon honors for two consecutive seasons.

The response from the Wests Tigers was to announce a coach with 1 year experience as an Assistant Coach as their Head Coach for 2024.

Benji is the most under-qualified NRL coach in the last 20 years maybe more (** that's a guess, I just don't have time to verify).

For a professional club, there's no excuse for a poor decision like that. But the Wests Tigers have been far from professional for a long time. It starts with the JV and back office, in 2023 we were a shambles (and still have a lot to work out).

Anyone expecting anything from Benji last year was really dreaming, considering Tim Sheens and Madge Maguire had both failed the previous 2 seasons.

The excuse is Benji was raw. He didn't have the squad he wanted. He didn't have the chance to sign any players he wanted. There's plenty of excuses for him.

Season 2025 there isn't an excuse. He's got the coaching staff he wants and the players he wants. So if there's no improvement, then I think his time as an NRL Coach (for now) is done.

Well mate my opinion is that by having Sheens back after sueing the club,having Robbie involved and then electing Benji as head coach only reveals to me how strong the boys club was...I hope Benji does do a fine job of coaching,but Richo will be watching carefully...

 

[twentyforty]

i often wonder ,if we never made a play for Nathan, would Penrith of made a play for Ivan. Things may have been different .

Yes Merlot, it seem to force stakeholders into making decisions. Ivan continually said it’s hard coaching against your son. If Jett progresses into 1st grade at Warriors it could be decision time again?😜
I think Pascoe was forced into going after Nathan because of Ivan’s constant whining about missing out on some quality time with Nathan?

 

[tigermate]

Hang on have we won two spoons or three?

It felt like 3 to me lol.

 

[twentyforty]

If we were talking about the Melbourne Storm, there'd be no excuses.

But this is the Wests Tigers, the team who took spoon honors for two consecutive seasons.

The response from the Wests Tigers was to announce a coach with 1 year experience as an Assistant Coach as their Head Coach for 2024.

Benji is the most under-qualified NRL coach in the last 20 years maybe more (** that's a guess, I just don't have time to verify).

For a professional club, there's no excuse for a poor decision like that. But the Wests Tigers have been far from professional for a long time. It starts with the JV and back office, in 2023 we were a shambles (and still have a lot to work out).

Anyone expecting anything from Benji last year was really dreaming, considering Tim Sheens and Madge Maguire had both failed the previous 2 seasons.

The excuse is Benji was raw. He didn't have the squad he wanted. He didn't have the chance to sign any players he wanted. There's plenty of excuses for him.

Season 2025 there isn't an excuse. He's got the coaching staff he wants and the players he wants. So if there's no improvement, then I think his time as an NRL Coach (for now) is done.

I don’t think you can justifiably compare Sheens results with anything. He was literally under pressure from day one. Benji had a full season in 24 without the support of a mentor and the team, let in a record number of points, not seen since Terry Lamb days.

 

[Tucker]

The excuse is Benji was raw. He didn't have the squad he wanted. He didn't have the chance to sign any players he wanted. There's plenty of excuses for him.

Yes he is raw, that’s why I wanted him to have a new mentor.
The squad was largely approved by him. He has been at the club since mid 2022 in a planning capacity. All recruitment decisions were supposed to be his.
Those are not excuses.
He wanted this, he needs to man up and take charge or he will be without a job by June.
He seems to have made some steps towards this which is encouraging…can’t wait to see how he has evolved.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Reckon if you took a pole the vast majority of people would have very realistic expectations for the year, despite the argy bargy

Why not approach every season with hope ends up being a long season from the beginning if you don't.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I’m on record stating that we’ll push for the 8 this year…might fall short, but will be in with a punchers chance during the final rounds.
That is not being negative.

x2

 

[Betterdays22]

Why not approach every season with hope ends up being a long season from the beginning if you don't.

have to have hope, but it should be realistic or you set yourself up for disappointment.

Can argue whether Benji is the next wayne bennett or absolutely clueless till we are blue in the face. At the moment it doesn't really matter does it? People just arguing whether the glass is half full or half empty. Both can be true.

He is our coach for at least the next 6 months so may as well be glass half full.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

have to have hope, but it should be realistic or you set yourself up for disappointment.

Can argue whether Benji is the next wayne bennett or absolutely clueless till we are blue in the face. At the moment it doesn't really matter does it? People just arguing whether the glass is half full or half empty. Both can be true.

He is our coach for at least the next 6 months so may as well be glass half full.

With all the positive events of the recent months no reason not to have a feeling of optimism.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

maybe? Ivan coached us for 43 games, long enough to get a clear look at how the back office operated. I’m not saying that was anywhere near his main reason for leaving, but it would have been in the mix.
If Ivan had stayed and we played finals a couple of times there’s no guarantee we would be in a better position than we are now.
He didn’t have the team scoring a lot of points and he also would have had to handle the injury toll he left Maguire.

After listening to his audiobook i’d say the back office was definitely a factor or it would’ve become one. He spoke on his time at WT’s saying he couldn’t see himself there long term because the club never felt aligned, there were factions at board level (Wests vs Balmain) & that the reserve grade team wasn’t even named the Wests Tigers. Also didn’t like the fact we had more than one home ground.