‘That is a massive problem’: Legend’s grim prediction for Tigers as Brandon Smith lashes players for failing to meet standards

The Wests Tigers have received support from high-profile figures in the game for the tough stance they’ve shown players who failed to meet simple fitness standards.

Past and current players support Benji Marshall’s hard stance towards squad members who failed to meet off-season fitness standards. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Panthers legend Greg Alexander has slammed the attitude of Wests Tigers players who were handed official warnings by the club for failing to meet off-season fitness standards, while James Graham described their actions as “disrespectful”.

There are reports that five players copped warnings from the club for failing to adhere to standards that they agreed to at the end of last season, with two of those players set to front the board to explain their actions.

The Tigers’ tough approach is absolutely warranted given the club has won three consecutive wooden spoons, with Benji Marshall demanding a lot more from his players in 2025.

Several Tigers players have been hit with official warnings for failing to meet club fitness standards. Picture: Wests Tigers

“If that is true, what does that say about the attitude about those Tigers?” Alexander asked on SEN1170.

“That is a massive problem for the side that ran last last year.

“What player these days turns back up to training after a couple months off unfit and to the point where they are asked to front the board?

“It’s not the ’80s. How disrespectful to their teammates to turn up in the state they are in. They are snubbing their nose to thousands of fans.”

The Tigers will welcome several experienced players in the coming weeks, with former Panther Jarome Luai one of the biggest signings in the club’s history.

But Alexander is worried that this latest issue could lead to more problems for the Tigers next year.

“A couple of new players are not going to solve the problems the Tigers had last year,” he said.

“Part of the answer of being very good at this game is being as fit and strong as you can be. Where is the drive?

“If I am a Tigers fan waking up to this story, I am gutted.”

Brandon Smith has lashed the players for letting down Benji Marshall and the club. Picture: NRL Photos

Injured Roosters hooker Brandon Smith applauded the tough stance taken by the club and went hard at the players for letting down their coach and teammates.

“If I’m Benji Marshall, I find it disrespectful on the players’ behalf,” Smith said on The Bye Round podcast with James Graham.

“Three wooden spoons in a row, a new coach and you’re going to come back out of condition. It begs the question, do you really want to play this game and what do you want to play for?

“Do you want to play it because it looks cool and you want to make money, or do you want to play it because this means something to you and you want to win championships and you want to do great things in this game?”

Graham was equally disappointed with the players who knew what was expected of them over the off-season.

“It is disrespectful,” he said.

“It’s a slap in the face to the whole organisation to say we agreed on this and you failed on something, on a variable, that is totally and utterly in your control.

“It is just going to be interesting to see the fallout from this and see where it goes.”

Originally published as ‘That is a massive problem’: Legend’s grim prediction for Tigers as Brandon Smith lashes players for failing to meet standards