‘Benji never suffers fools’: Why this year will be different for Wests Tigers
By Christian Nicolussi
March 13, 2026 — 3.30pm
The best thing about Benji Marshall heading into his third season as head coach of the Wests Tigers is he has a roster he has built – not one he inherited.
The players who have joined the club for the chance to play under the Tigers and New Zealand legend have affectionately become known as ‘Benji-ites’.
The Tigers kick off their 2026 NRL campaign on Saturday afternoon against the North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval. Again, there is optimism in Tiger Town – but with good reason.
Their performance in the trials, especially against Penrith, was more than promising. And there looks like there is genuine competition for spots.
Rookie winger Heamasi Makasini turned heads by storming over the top of Panthers and NSW fullback Dylan Edwards for a try; Bunty Afoa will provide much-needed grunt in the middle; and Tigers fans will want to see the continual improvement of star No. 1 Jahream Bula.
But the most fascinating story will be Marshall and what he can deliver with the playing group he has pulled together, with the help of former chief executive Shane Richardson.
Marshall, 41, has a group who are prepared to fight for him every week.
His co-captains, Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau, are the ultimate competitors who know what it takes to win titles.
It probably explains why Marshall has made no apologies for getting tougher with the players over the summer, and laying down the law when it comes to standards.
Tigers fans got a sneak peek of Marshall’s cranky side earlier this week when the club released vision of him talking tough with the younger players at the start of pre-season.
“We’re big on standards, and if you don’t make your f—ing times consistently, and you can’t perform, and you’re not professional, you’ll be out of here,” Marshall says in a scene, which had more than 70,000 views within 72 hours.
Even though Richardson departed the club before Christmas, he is looking forward to seeing what Marshall produces.
“Benji is highly intelligent, he listens, he thinks, he picks things up at a different level compared to other people,” Richardson said this week.
“The thing he didn’t have when he started coaching was management skills.
“What makes [coaching legends] Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy so great at what they do is the fact they are man managers.
“But Benji has got better and better in that area, which is why I was looking forward to working with him this year. He’s now got a team he’s had a major say in. It’s his opportunity to shine.
“Benji never suffers fools, but when he started, he had to deal with the people he had.
“Those same people are now gone, and the players and people at the club are ‘Benji-ites’ – he’ll do really well. He never accepts second best in anything he does.”
Even some of Marshall’s closest mates have noticed a change in his approach to coaching.
Beau Ryan, a club favourite who has since forged a successful media career, has been a regular at training. He was there at Concord Oval for Friday’s captain’s run. “The big thing I’ve seen in Benji is how firm he is when it comes to discipline,” Ryan said.
“As a player, Benji trained hard. He had all the flair and skills as a player, but he ran hard, and in any skills game, he competed on everything.
“They’ve accepted different standards in the past for different reasons. But it’s different now.
“The happiness levels have also lifted. I hosted an event on game-day after the trial against Penrith, and the club just felt happy.”
Marshall was in good spirits when he spoke to this masthead about the pre-season and what he has learned from coaching. “This [pre-season] has been the most fun one for me,” he said.
“You get to see kids who were 17 and 18 when I first started, they’re now 19 and 20 and growing. Samuela Fainu, Latu Fainu, seeing the likes of those guys change become the players they are now, compared to what they were when they started, it’s been fun.
“I’ve learned that coaching is not about me – it’s about what this team needs from me.
“Every year I’ve needed to reflect on what’s worked, and what hasn’t worked. You’re constantly learning, constantly evolving, and constantly growing into what it actually takes to be an NRL coach.
“You don’t know what it takes until you’re in it. I can guarantee you everyone who has done it for the first time will be shocked at how different it is compared to how you think it is.
“The group we have now is different to the group I started with. This group needed the standards to lift, but it’s not me lifting them. Perception wise, it might look like me who is driving the standards, but it’s a credit to the leadership group.”
Marshall has brushed up on his leadership skills through an online program, which fellow NRL head coaches Anthony Seibold and Cameron Ciraldo, as well as Bulldogs’ skipper Stephen Crichton, have all found beneficial.
Every fortnight, Marshall will jump on a Zoom call with Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie, Matthew Nicks (Adelaide Crows), Kat Smith (Western United coach), and former Test cricketer Mike Hussey, to discuss any concerns they have in their respective sports.
“Head coaching can be a lonely place – you can’t really turn to people in your sport,” Marshall said.
“What’s nice is you get people in other arenas and sports who face the same things and challenges you face, and we all share how we deal with our hurdles. It gives you ideas on what might work. You take what you want and leave what you want. There are no egos. But I’ve definitely found it quite helpful.”
The Tigers extended Marshall’s contract to the end of 2030 not long after Richardson’s exit. And on Friday, the club locked down halfback Adam Doueihi until 2029.
Marshall, however, feels no extra pressure to get the job done because of the club’s leap of faith.
“The extension isn’t about me, it’s about the whole club, the players, and stability for when you’re recruiting, knowing who the coach is,” he said.
“You’re always planning two years in advance – to have that stability, and to have players knowing I’ll be here, it makes it easier.”
Forward Royce Hunt says the Tigers will be more aggressive in 2026. “I think we’re fitter now, which means you can go harder for longer. We’ll be more aggressive – there will be no backward steps.”
Tigers fans are hoping for the best. Marshall, well, he is demanding it.
Benji Marshall finally has the rosters he wants – not one he inherited.
www.smh.com.au
