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Benji is getting even worse

hutch

First Grade
Messages
6,810
Id like to see more from tedesco as the year progresses as well. He does the basics well, good under the high ball, returns well and backs up ok but he has a few things he needs to work on. I would like to see him develop as a link man in the backline, I'm yet to see any evidence of a passing game. He needs to use his wingers a bit more as well, but he is still very young and has a good head on his shoulders, he will be there for a while.
 

macnaz

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
8,486
I think he is slowly getting back his confidence after the knee reco to use his footwork and will get better by the week.
 

Matchball

Bench
Messages
2,971
After he was dropped to the bench there was an article where Benji was quoted and not once did he use Potter's name, it was only 'the coach'. Benji continues to suffer from a damaged ego and he seems unwilling to accept new ways and demands on him to change the way things were done before (ie under Sheens). This non acceptance of the new way is manifesting itself on the field- despite being given the privilege and responsibility of captain in Farah's absence- he seems unwilling to really put his heart into it and step up.

He should be fronted and face demands to either accept the new way an Potter or leave right now before the 30 June deadline. Our club deserves better what Benji is prepared to give at this time. It cannot go on.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...ens/story-fn2mcuj6-1226613871306#.UcJZdYpuvMI

He mentions the coach as Mick in a few paragraphs in this article.
The article makes me sick and shows what a petulant child Benji is and how is attached to Sheens.
 

Magpies Forever

Juniors
Messages
2,208
The sad thing with Benji is that he was a freakish talent in his early years. Able to turn matches and break the opposition apart. Nowadays, as a 'mature' player his spark has gone, he's lost his pace and zip but not developed much, if any, of the guile and steadfastness that maturity and lots of experience in the NRL should bring.

Was it the coaching? His limited abilities being exposed? A sense of comfortable developing laziness? An ego growing too big for his own good?

A team being centred around himself under Sheens, now being pushed to more conventional structures under Potter, has certainly exposed him as a problem at this stage. The question now is can he change his style, does he want to change his style to suit the new methods or should he go elsewhere?
 

BrotherJim05

Bench
Messages
3,453
I know we are all thinking that MAYBE its time we move Benji on, but seriously, who are we going to sign with the salary cap space. Knowing the Tigers they probably will upgrade Blair and Moltzen's contract and call it a day.

If Benji is to be moved on, I say we sign some big name players first, then tell him to move on.
 

BrotherJim05

Bench
Messages
3,453
Another thing to add, does anyone reckon Benji will even get chosen for the Kiwi team? I don't seem them picking him over Foran or Johnson
 

Matchball

Bench
Messages
2,971
I know we are all thinking that MAYBE its time we move Benji on, but seriously, who are we going to sign with the salary cap space. Knowing the Tigers they probably will upgrade Blair and Moltzen's contract and call it a day.

If Benji is to be moved on, I say we sign some big name players first, then tell him to move on.

We need to space before signing anyone and besides, we have young halves about to breakthrough so we don't need to replace Benji with another half.
Let Benji and Blair go and sign three or four monsters up front.
 

Magpies Forever

Juniors
Messages
2,208
I know we are all thinking that MAYBE its time we move Benji on, but seriously, who are we going to sign with the salary cap space. Knowing the Tigers they probably will upgrade Blair and Moltzen's contract and call it a day.

If Benji is to be moved on, I say we sign some big name players first, then tell him to move on.

Like so many here I reckon WT can cover the 1/2 and 5/8 from within, we need some grunt with the backrow. We miss Ellis and the unfortunate loss of Dwyer has not yet been made good. I'd like to use Ellis's experience and hands on experience over there in there ESL to get a couple of hard, up and comers in the ESL to add to our backrow stocks.
 

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
The sad thing with Benji is that he was a freakish talent in his early years. Able to turn matches and break the opposition apart. Nowadays, as a 'mature' player his spark has gone, he's lost his pace and zip but not developed much, if any, of the guile and steadfastness that maturity and lots of experience in the NRL should bring.

Was it the coaching? His limited abilities being exposed? A sense of comfortable developing laziness? An ego growing too big for his own good?

A team being centred around himself under Sheens, now being pushed to more conventional structures under Potter, has certainly exposed him as a problem at this stage. The question now is can he change his style, does he want to change his style to suit the new methods or should he go elsewhere?

The crux of the issue is this.

Changing clubs won't help Benji unless the club he goes to is willing to alter its structure to work around Benji. No club will force 16 blokes to change their structure to accommodate 1 player, I don't care how good he is/was.

Benji's only chance to get back to his best form will be at the Tigers and it will be up to him to change with the times for the betterment of himself and the team.
 

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
Another thing to add, does anyone reckon Benji will even get chosen for the Kiwi team? I don't seem them picking him over Foran or Johnson
He'll be in their WC Squad.

I'd play him against the minnows, get him playing with space and room to move to make him remember how to play again.

a fortnight in NSW Cup would do him a world of good. Pity it will never happen.
 

Magpies Forever

Juniors
Messages
2,208
The crux of the issue is this.

Changing clubs won't help Benji unless the club he goes to is willing to alter its structure to work around Benji. No club will force 16 blokes to change their structure to accommodate 1 player, I don't care how good he is/was.

Benji's only chance to get back to his best form will be at the Tigers and it will be up to him to change with the times for the betterment of himself and the team.

Exactly. WT should be honest and upfront with him and say, no contract extension talks until you demonstrate the change and ability to play well under that change. And his new contract offer will reflect an appropriate level of recompense for his place in the team. Benji is able to test his worth with outside clubs etc.

If he doesn't like it he can go now and take up Japanese rugby like he threatened some time ago or whatever else he likes.
 

madunit

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
62,358
the past month has done nothing to increase his value. The fact he thinks he's worth more than Farah shows how deluded he really is.
 

Matchball

Bench
Messages
2,971
the past month has done nothing to increase his value. The fact he thinks he's worth more than Farah shows how deluded he really is.

It's been 8 weeks since the article I linked was written.
Same old excuses and still struggling.

The saddest part is nobody holds him accountable in fear he will sook out even more.
Never have I seen a team accept this childish behavior and mediocrity from a player, ever.
 

Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,764
the past month has done nothing to increase his value. The fact he thinks he's worth more than Farah shows how deluded he really is.

At one stage I think he was. He hasn't been good all year but I've been waiting for him to break out of it. Last week though when he had to give it all he came up with too many critical mistakes. I thought he looked good as well for a lot of the game and I still think he can get it together but those mistakes are simply too much.

He has to defend, take the right options, run it at the right time and set up his outside men. I think he has been running it as well as he is going too and setting up his outside men pretty well all year. He hasn't been great in those two regards but he hasn't been bad. I also don't think his kicking game has been anywhere near as bad as stated on here.

The problem is the dumb options and missed tackles. These parts of his game are losing us games. Last week we were right in that game and then a chip kick that led to the Broncos scoring. To add to that he missed a couple of tackles that just had to be made. Those mistakes are the difference between us being right in the game all game and possibly winning and us losing the game. I just don't think you can accept those plays from a player who wants to be paid like one of the best players in the game.
 

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,636
A lot of people are making excuses for him, blaming the change of coach, team mates, structure, etc but at the end of the day if a bloke is unwilling to put his body on the line in defence then IMO there's no going back
 

Packy

Bench
Messages
4,243
Is Fullback an option for him? IMO if he has any desire left surely he could kill it from the back as modern day FB's are involved in playmaking anwyay.
 

Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,764
A lot of people are making excuses for him, blaming the change of coach, team mates, structure, etc but at the end of the day if a bloke is unwilling to put his body on the line in defence then IMO there's no going back

Its not that he doesn't have the desire or he isn't putting his body on the line. Its simply him taking poor options and his defence which has always been ordinary getting worse. It might just be age with regards to the defence.

I reckon he is trying really hard. He just isn't a smart footballer.
 

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