I reckon all the guys you’ve said would all fit in I reckon.Ok so Douhie remains which I assume means Benji thinks he is in our top 17. I don’t like him as a centre because he does little to help those outside him and we can’t use his kicking game from that position.
as a half he is too slow over 10 meters and lacks finesse in his passing game.
i can see the idea behind using him as a 13 now that his atttiude in defence has improved and being in the middle limits his need for lateral movement. As a first receiver in attack that can push our halves wider where there skills are more useful (both Latu and Luai play like 5/8ths) and they can develop combinations with their 2RFs and centres. The key is that he needs his role to be defined and structured, receiving the ball in certain parts of the field with a certain purpose ie we need to develop a structure that matches his and Latu/luais games. That will likely take an off season to develop but it has the potential to work so now that he is here for a bit longer we need to find the system that makes it work. It also improves our bench options because douhie can cover the backline also and a prop can cover 13 if needed so it allows you more flexibility in bench choices. We still have a question of how to give Api a spell for 20min. Our recent recruits seem to be more rangy back row depth rather than small forward/hooker coverage. It is a cheap deal for the club though and all the other signings so far are depth so we should have good money to go after a starting prop.
off contract players we can target:
Keaon Koloamatangi (2026)
Tino (player option)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (off contract at end of 2027 but has played a lot of NSW cup for storm and is on a giant 900k a year contract. I would guess storm would let him go and would have contribute a bit of his contract)
The key point being we are only a couple of players away from a genuine contender and we have Luai and Benji as big draw cards for the pacific island players.
@joel Rumour going aroundis that twal or seyfarth was the other team member who had words with Benji.
IMO, benji should never been our first grade coach, the roster , the club , the man management is too much of a responsibility to place on a rookie coach. A new coach or new assistant coaches with no ties to the tigers at all. Let’s see how our new CEO handles this situation.
This all amounts to one thing….
the club is B R O K E N and the sooner the NRL come in and take over the better. Or tear up their licence. Only way out for mine
So, IF TRUE, names mentioned are Doueihi, Twal and/or Seyfarth. On current and, let's face it, historical form, none of them would be a loss if they left.
However, more and more the squad is resembling an Islander/Polynesian/Fainu family team. If they can win more games and be more consistent and competitive, I have zero issues with it. But, I wonder how that sits with someone ike Robbie Farah, who I have always suspected as still having influence with some of the squad.
I'm sure Marshall has no issue with it but, hopefully, his days are numbered. So, what happens if/when he gets the boot?
How will Kyle fit in if his dad gets the job??
Interesting times in Tiger Town.....yet again.
As far as I see it all this boil down to the fact Javon was told he would debut and they might not have expected Doueihi to get off the charge... Doueihi has then had a tantrum when Benji said that Javon is still playing.
Couple of facts the way I see it...
1 - Doueihi shoulder is not right and he can hardly pass left2right (we have seen a couple forward passes because of this).
2 - Javon Andrews' form in cup has earnt him a shot. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Players do not own the first grade jersey, they need to continuously show they deserve it.
Personally, I would have preferred a Javon/Doueihi combo... but coach is the coach and he made his decision.
@mercy-rule This drama from AD is straight out of the Farah handbook who was the all time Dummy spitter of the Weststigers .. let’s not forget Farah’s dummy spit with Potter that cost the team a finals berth ..As far as the other two blabber mouths Marshall told them all where the front door was if this is true they both should be punted !
@tiger_alex What has transpired with AD walking out is a young player that has dreamed of playing in the NRL has had his moment trashed ….he has earnt the right for his selection those that love stats look at his stats that’s right his selection was warrantied and the coach has made the right call . The right call was also to team him with Laui and not ball hog AD that would have butchered everything Javon wanted to do . AD has a lot to answer for with his pathetic antics , there’s only one Apology that AD needs to make and that is to Javon Andrews as I am sure no one did this to AD when he made his debut this was a very low act !
@snake coach rocks n diamonds shouldn’t be debuting Javon in Canberra… had a great opportunity to do that v Dragons 3 weeks ago. Be interesting who the other 2 players were and what their issues are.
@tiger_alex What has transpired with AD walking out is a young player that has dreamed of playing in the NRL has had his moment trashed ….he has earnt the right for his selection those that love stats look at his stats that’s right his selection was warrantied and the coach has made the right call . The right call was also to team him with Laui and not ball hog AD that would have butchered everything Javon wanted to do . AD has a lot to answer for with his pathetic antics , there’s only one Apology that AD needs to make and that is to Javon Andrews as I am sure no one did this to AD when he made his debut this was a very low act !
I totally agree with this. When we were trying to promote Galvin, Luai played second fiddle even though he had just come off a premiership at the panthers. Luai is a better option for Andrews debut, even if he has to play on the right or at least as a dual side first receiver. Luai has recently only been playing first receiver when we are in good ball, he will just have to play that role the full game.
@joel Yes its the end of him. Benji has no choice. Benji will himself get punted if the results don't turn around. In which case, put John Morris in charge for a season while we search.
@joel Yes its the end of him. Benji has no choice. Benji will himself get punted if the results don't turn around. In which case, put John Morris in charge for a season while we search.
Yep, if Benji losses the battle (or is even seen to lose it) his authority is gone and his time is limited.
He should never have had to do his apprenticeship in the top job, it was never fair on him and a typical Wests Tigers Hail Mary play.
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I think it’s reasonable for Benji to ask douhie to attack as a first receiver lock. It actually makes a lot of sense and opens up a role for 2027 where Latu is a 7. I think that’s what this is really about, it’s about Douhie defending his 7 jersey next year. The fact that he can’t accept that means he has to go. I like Adam but I care about the team more and he has clear deficiencies at 7.
Adam Doueihi will meet with Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shaun Mielekamp within the next 72-hours to thrash out their differences.
The meeting, expected by Monday afternoon at the latest, aims to bring all parties back onto the same page after Doueihi dramatically left training on Thursday and ruled himself out of the club’s game against the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday.
At this stage, neither the club wants to tear up Doueihi’s contract, nor has the 172-game player informed his management to seek a release from his contract, which runs through until 2029.
Daily Telegraph.
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The club needs to part ways with AD ..you know where next years disruptions will be AD dummy spitting again and again wanting a release no room for this fool !