Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Aliceinwonderland]

The rule of thumb as to what makes a good coach or a bad coach is WINNING.
Nothing else really matters.

Some coaches are able to unlock the formula. Some can't.

 

[Tigerm]

Neither Sheens nor Ciraldo faced a competitive process and Ciraldo has only found something approaching adequacy with the support of Jason Taylor.

I don’t find Benji very inspiring at all. At his essence, he’s got the mental age of a 16 year old who was summoned to the school firsts and is sitting with the year 12 guys at lunchtime. But that’s not his fault.

If we fail, it’s the clubs fault for putting him in command.

I’d like to see the side play good footy. If he jags it fine, if he fails, it’s the clubs fault. We know what we’ve got.

I don't disagree, but that can be said about a lot of coaches.
Benji being here got us both Luai & May. Not sure about the others.
He's under contract, but seriously, if the team can't improve with the talent we now have, he deserves to be terminated.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Great Analysis. That how I see it. I've seen far too many brilliant players NOT make good coaches.

The folks (I believe) that make great coaches are the barely there ex players Bellamy, (great example) or the great students of the game like Cronk and say Matty Johns. They have the smarts on how to build a footy team.

My question is......does Benji have those same smarts.....I don't see Benji as being a great listener or learner (regarding coaching)


Time will tell whether I have a dozen eggs all over my face (or not)......and am a shocking judge of what makes a good coach or not.

Well he was someone eager to sing Tim’s praises and tell the world what a great coach he was after Tim’s management and coaching project nearly destroyed an entire NRL club.

He can’t read the room.

There were mutterings about finishing him off along with board, but he clung into a life preserver.

And then appointing his mates.

He doesn’t listen too well and it seems he’s a slow learner.

But he’s the clubs selection. Fans and members don’t get a say at WT. It’s still a closed shop.

Benji is a bit of a village idiot, which is fine, but he desperately needs to have this side performing.

10-13th that’s all I expect.

 

[Tiger05]

Benji being here got us both Luai & May. Not sure about the others.

We have to look at the positives as well. He has been a big part of building a quality squad.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

We have to look at the positives as well. He has been a big part of building a quality squad.

That’s true.

But if he can’t steer the ship, then I’m afraid, he has to walk the plank.

Happy to put him in a recruitment role.

Visit schools and stuff. Still have his ego stroked. King of the kids, gave up coaching for “family reasons” there’s my spin

I won’t expect him to admit he failed.

He relishes the love and adoration, as most of us do.

And Tim slinking off into the night, that wasn’t good enough for a professional club. And Benji still has that foul odour to try to perfume out. I don’t envy him for being stuck with that chequered past.

His saving grace was his brilliant career and of course, one flick pass to himself which to be fair to him, no one had ever seen it or thought it humanly possible. It changed the game. But that was eons ago.

We want him to show the same talent coaching.

 

[Tiger05]

We want him to show the same talent coaching.

Let's see how he goes this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Brisbane improve because I think Madge can coach. Madge didn't get the job done here though.

 

[WA Tiger]

Let's see how he goes this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Brisbane improve because I think Madge can coach. Madge didn't get the job done here though.

Hunt and Reynolds, fkn lethal.. apparently they clicked immediately

 

[Tiger05]

Hunt and Reynolds, fkn lethal.. apparently they clicked immediately

I haven't checked their squad out in detail but they have elite level talent across the park. They should be one of the teams looking to beat us to win the comp.

 

[Tigerm]

I haven't checked their squad out in detail but they have elite level talent across the park. They should be one of the teams looking to beat us to win the comp.

Only if Reynolds and Hunt can keep there wheelchairs working.

 

[WA Tiger]

I haven't checked their squad out in detail but they have elite level talent across the park. They should be one of the teams looking to beat us to win the comp.

For sure.
Although look out for Maguire. He’s got 12 months, (just when he starts to get comfortable), to overreact with the wrong person / persons at the wrong time, causing a ripple effect through the team, that’ll see them drop down the table like a rock!! That should be enough time for him to find a way

 

[Nutz]

Yes, endurance training, heavily favoured by seibs and Ivan for a few years now. Muscle memory kicks in when a player is fatigued. There was that smug ambulance ride home for your second gf where virtually no one could walk upright by the time the finals rolled around.

Benji has already put his hand up and said he doesn’t expect to be around in 2026 if we have a bad season. I think it depends. The expectation is 10-13 so I’d think 10th or above, he will be retained.

But there are some good coaches coming to market. AOB, Brad Arthur. Either of these guys would go well at the Tigers.

I think we’ve heard the whispers that AOB hasn’t had the full confidence of his club and he’s had to cop some very brutal recruitment decisions. I like his press conferences, he’s very intelligent

A lot of sides rebuilding this year, I think we have slight edge with plenty of kids rushed in last year so some exposure.
This is where Benji and I actually agree, rare set of circumstances.

We all want Benji to break through, we just aren’t wholly expecting it and think it will be difficult for him. Nothing personal.

Muscles don't have memory TSP

 

[Nutz]

The rule of thumb as to what makes a good coach or a bad coach is WINNING.
Nothing else really matters.

Exactly

 

[Tiger05]

For sure.
Although look out for Maguire. He’s got 12 months, (just when he starts to get comfortable), to overreact with the wrong person / persons at the wrong time, causing a ripple effect through the team, that’ll see them drop down the table like a rock!! That should be enough time for him to find a way

He has won a comp and I think he may have the ability to get the most out of a squad. He couldn't recruit anyone with us whereas Benji has.

I think he plays the tough guy though and that can piss people off.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Muscles don't have memory TSP

Lol.

They do, there’s just no conscious thought involved, especially from our ugly lot.

Madge brought a few good recruits in and remember he was stuck with some catastrophic salary cap issues.

He was struggling, but nowhere near as much as Tim and Benji.

I still think a competitive process is the best way of selecting people in these very senior roles.

Even to the point where we should be considering the top KOE coaches and those recently let go of at other clubs.

Instead we’ve gone for names and associations and I’m afraid Richo is part of team matey despite his other attributes.

Whether it be this year or in a decade, if Benji is popular with marquee, we need to make his eventual departure a soft landing for everyone.

So at the moment, with a competitive side, albeit not elite, I think we should give him an idea of our expectations.

And I’d be fair and say if he misses them, it’s to what extent, why and how and his involvement in that.

We will lose 4 of our starting 17 at least this year, so that should be factored in.

But a line somewhere to help measure performance and be constructive.

I still think he needs a quiet mentor who are not his mates and who are not coaching elsewhere.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

So last year Benji admitted to talking to other NRL coaches such as Bennet about things.

Kind of an admission of newbie,eyes staring into the headlights.

I don’t know of any other coach in the NRL admitting to taking counsel from rival coaches even if they do.

Didn’t leave me with a lot of faith tbh in terms of his judgment.

At other times, I liked his honesty.

He did seem a bit too cosy with some players who skipped merrily into the side with zero repercussions for repeated ordinary games. Hes really got to come to grips with that.

Jason Taylor talks about the game being mental as much as physical and hes used to this to good effect to make Ciraldo look good.

So I’m a big believer in second and third chances, but sometimes things have to give.

If anyone else has some Tips and insights for Benji, post ‘em up.

 

[WA Tiger]

Yea I think we got it..

 

[WA Tiger]

Not sure if it’s worth paying for kayo for 2 trial matches ?

 

[Das Hassler]

He couldn't recruit anyone with us whereas Benji has.

In fact Marshall and Richo have landed EVERY player they wanted to sign or retain apart from a forward who stayed with either candbera or melbourne...can't remember who it was. That's not a bad effort for a wooden spoon club...a remarkable validation of the direction of the club actually

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

In fact Marshall and Richo have landed EVERY player they wanted to sign or retain apart from a forward who stayed with either candbera or melbourne...can't remember who it was. That's not a bad effort for a wooden spoon club...a remarkable validation of the direction of the club actually

That’s not quite right, almost.

But we got May for Xmas who I think was better than one of the two we missed.

But also, recruitment isn’t the issue. Other things to address.

I’ve only been able to watch some of the highlights of the trial, I’d be interested if anyone saw how the boys went.

I heard Klem was withdrawn, that was interesting. Hope he’s ok.

 

[Nutz]

In fact Marshall and Richo have landed EVERY player they wanted to sign or retain apart from a forward who stayed with either candbera or melbourne...can't remember who it was. That's not a bad effort for a wooden spoon club...a remarkable validation of the direction of the club actually

Agree, and I think it's mainly coming from an old head Richo who has been around since Adam wore nappies.
He also strikes an imposing figure who, regardless of his age, won't be bullied.
Coupled by having of one of the most confident and entertaining ⅝ in the modern era but still young enough to train and mix it with the boys....the lads like Luai respect him.