NRL 2024: Wests Tigers show no improvement under Benji Marshall | Bulldogs Bite
We fell into the trap of being told that this year would be different under Benji Marshall, but despite the renewed hope fans are suffering the same dismal results, writes DEAN RITCHIE.
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How does that old saying go? They promised us the world but delivered an atlas. The Promised Land at Concord appears to have become a broken promise.
Wests Tigers — amid much hype around a new administration, new chairman, new coach and a new year – are trapped in a recurring nightmare.
Renewed hope, inspired dreams but same dismal results. It’s the annual storyline, year on year.
We fell into the trap of being told that this year would be different under Benji Marshall. It’s not.
Two wins, five straight losses and sitting 15th. And it could have been one win this year had Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson kicked a matchwinning penalty goal on full-time in round four.
Barring a miracle, the finals are gone by May.
Marshall’s bold new era is spluttering. It seems like Wests Tigers find themselves in this same spot each season.
Here is where Wests Tigers have been positioned after nine rounds over the past eight years:
Wests Tigers are averaging 14.8 point a game this year – an effort which ranks them 17th of 17 teams. Last season, the Tigers averaged 14.75 point a game after nine rounds, ranking them 17th of 17 teams.
The Tigers have scored an average 2.5 tries a match this year – ranked 17th. They scored 2.63 a game at this same stage last season – ranked 17th again.
The best have tried and failed. Whether it be Michael Maguire, Tim Sheens, Ivan Cleary, Jason Taylor or Marshall, it’s the same result.
And this year is absolutely no different.
Granted there are some green shoots in terms of resilience and grit but fans only want results – and they have been waiting for nearly 20 years for a premiership.
If the magic of Marshall cannot drag Wests Tigers from the mire then I don’t know who can.
Club fans used to joke about running ninth every year – wouldn’t they love to finish in that position these days?
Two teams who were side-by-side with Wests Tigers in the mire over recent years are moving forward. Canterbury has won four from eight games this season while the Dragons have claimed four from nine matches.
They now see Wests Tigers fading in their rear mirror.
Yes, Souths are below Wests Tigers and also deserve criticism but at least the Rabbitohs have had plenty of success in recent years.
It just feels like Wests Tigers are waiting for Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva to arrive next season as the club’s saviours.
Given it’s his first season as head coach, Marshall clearly isn’t under any pressure but he can expect some heat should results stagnate again in 2025.
The club’s discipline is awful and they appear lost when leader and dummy half Api Koroisau doesn’t play.
Despite what many think, I like Benji. He is a cool cat and players rave about his tactical nous but it all comes down to results. And they’re not there yet again.
No one expected Wests Tigers to be challenging for a top four spot but two wins after nine rounds can only be deemed grossly disappointing.
Wests Tigers fans love Benji. He is a club hero and a coach they appear to back unconditionally.
But if results don’t improve, and quickly, I wonder how long that loyalty will last?
HILARIOUS NRL MERCH EMERGES AFTER DRAGONS JERSEY GAFFE
It didn’t take long for a new Dragons T-shirt to emerge.
There were red faces all-round at the Red V this week after the club confirmed an embroidery error marred the commemorative 150 game jersey for Jack Bird.
Front-of-jumper writing on Bird’s chest had Dargons instead of Dragons.
It is understood no-one checked the spelling when the jumpers were given to the club on game day last Sunday.
As embarrassed as Saints were, one entrepreneur swung into action, producing UP THE DARGONS shirts.
Gotta love rugby league.
FIFITA CONTRACT FARCE EXPOSES FLAWED CONTRACT SYSTEM
The David Fifita situation stinks.
Gold Coast are trying to prepare for Sunday’s game against North Queensland but have their star player in Sydney talking to rival clubs.
No one has done anything wrong here – the player, incumbent club, pursuing club or his manager.
But the system appears flawed when players are parading around trying to find another team just days out from representing their current club.
I understand Fifita could be a free agent after this weekend and has every right to negotiate but the Titans, with just one win this season, could certainly do without the distraction and disruption.
It’s just messy. There has to be a cleaner system.
DOG TREATS
All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan was spotted in the Sydney Roosters coaching box during last week’s big win over Brisbane.
Ryan, the long-time Crusaders assistant, is also New Zealand’s forwards coach.
No doubt Ryan collected some shrewd knowledge as he watched coach Trent Robinson’s Roosters dismantle the Broncos.
“Jason was just in for the game to observe,” Robinson said.
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Will Wayne Bennett be involved in retention and recruitment negotiations and discussions with Souths over the remainder of this season while still head coach at the Dolphins?
You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Hardly ideal for the Phins.
There have been reports Bennett will be offered a three-year deal at Souths worth $2.5m. My mail suggests the contract value will be closer to $3.6m.
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I ran a Twitter poll late last week asking for Manly’s best-ever halfback. There were only four candidate options available so I locked in Daly Cherry-Evans, Phil Blake, Geoff Toovey and Des Hasler.
I reluctantly had to omit other contenders John Mayes, John Gibbs, Matt Orford, Dennis Ward and Steve Martin.
Who is Manly's greatest halfback?
— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) May 3, 2024
DCE ran first with 58.7 per of the vote from Toovey (31.9) followed by Blake (5.2) and Hasler (4.1). The poll attracted more than 650 votes.
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Don’t you hate smart arse wingers who laugh in the faces of their opponents after a mistake? Or deliberately knock over an opponent who has just dropped the ball. Karma will one day bite Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
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Canberra winger Jed Stuart, the son of head coach Ricky, scored two tries in the Raiders’ 42-22 NSW Cup win over the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles last Saturday.
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There is one footy fan who is leading his company’s tipping contest having lodged his entire season’s tips before round one. So much for studying the form week-to-week.
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The TAB has taken a bet of $1000 at 200/1 on Souths to win the premiership. Someone has too much spare cash.
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