Defiant Benji doubles down on Tigers plan despite ugly 21-yr first

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says he isn’t worried about his future despite collecting the wooden spoon in his first season in charge.

Wests Tigers rookie coach Benji Marshall says he isn’t worried about his future after collecting the wooden spoon because he’s not coaching to save his job.

Marshall became the first coach since Paul Langmack at Souths in 2003 to win the spoon in rookie season when the Tigers were thumped by the Eels on Friday night.

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This season was the first of a five-year deal for Marshall but the former champion player conceded he may not have “time on his side”.

However, Marshall insisted that won’t change his approach and he won’t waiver from the long-term goals for the club.

Benji is sticking to his guns. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

The Tigers used more players than any club this year as Marshall debuted 12 young guns, with his halves and fullback on Friday night all teenagers.

“It (time) doesn’t worry me because I’m not coaching to keep my job,” Marshall said.

“I’m coaching to try and make this club better. I’m coaching to try and make these kids better.

“I honestly believe I can do that and if that’s me for the next two years and we don’t get the rewards and I’m not here and someone else does, that’s how much I care about the club.”

Marshall said he had a plan in place which was around the development of the young players like Lachlan Galvin and emerging star Jahream Bula.

The coach knows the rising stars won’t be peaking for a few more years and wants to ride it out with them.

Lachlan Galvin and the Tigers are eyeing the future. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

“The thing that people probably look at is success now and having overnight success,” Marshall said.

“We’re looking at trying to have success for a long period of time, not just winning one year and go missing for the next three.

“The biggest thing is when you haven’t done the job before you think you know what the team needs and then when you’ve had a season doing it you get a real understanding of what it is.

“It’s probably my fault today because I encouraged them to play footy and, hence, we had a lot of errors coming out of our half.”

Originally published as Defiant Benji doubles down on Tigers plan despite ugly 21-yr first