The chat of 2016 has me worried. I was never convinced by JT nor the team running the club at that stage, but letting JT run roughshod over the squad and then sacking him 3 games into a season was utter amateur hour, as bad as anything the club has done over the last decade.
The similarities are compelling, though obviously without the big recruitment wins we've already made for 2025.
If there was someone like a Cleary out there, I'd be more than happy to change course. I don't think Brad Arthur is that guy though, so I'm not as desperate to make a change there.
As for the kids getting itchy feet, you can hardly blame them. Not only is the FG team a shambles, but there still doesn't seem to be any joined up thinking in terms of pathways and player development. We've got guys being promoted into FG from NSW Cup, and it's like they're playing a different sport.
The good systems have similarities in the way they play all the way through the grades. So that someone coming from Flegg to Cup to FG can know their role if they're thrust through the grades for whatever reason. We are all over the shop from one team to the next, so of course the kids and journeymen are struggling when they do make the step up.
For that reason we really need an experienced football manager to come in and smooth the pathways (among other things), make it easier for our club to forge an overall identity.
Thats a good point about the lack of or need for an experienced football manager. Seems like an area we could improve in and would allow Betsey to go back to pathways chief.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I think he should get another year but should have pressure on him and coaching staff to prepare the team well. The recruitment team should feel pressure as well. Richo said the team is shooting for top 8 next year and the NSW Cup should be successful. For me to accomplish that they need to move on Tumeth, Naden, Bud, Bateman, Feledy and Faagatu on top of that sign a prop, second rower, lock and centre ready to play 20 games consistently. Most with first grade experience. I think there’s a top 8 team in there
with those additions
- Bula
- Stains
- Olam
- Turuva
- Galvin
- Luai
- Klem
- Api
- Samuela
- TDS
- Pole
- Twal
- Sione
Regarding the NSW Cup side, just using other top 30, train & trial and development players contracted for 2025 I feel we can field and competitive side with a few additions.
- Mason (Dev)
- Lobb (Dev)
- Doueihi
- Toa
- Luke L
- Latu
- Sezer
- Sayfarth
- Miller
- Sukkar
- Porter
- Kit L
- Johannssen (T&T)
- Matamua
Other Cup players like Lachlan Broederlow, James Valevatu, Charbel Tasipal have played a fair bit this year and there is young players like Saukuru, Makasini, Willet, Onitoni Large that they like have to accommodate some way as well.
for me there’s a lot of pressure on Richo and the coaching staff to get it right as there’s no reason the they cant get a roster to reach their goals
Welcome to the forum and great first post. Agree with pretty much everything....Personally I'd swap Staines and Luke L, swap Twal and Seyfarth but thats probably mostly personal preference.
I also think that there might be a role for Latu at 13 next year as well with a full proper preseason under his belt as well.
Ricky Stuart has the looks of Brad Arthur about him. 11th season in charge and despite making the finals a few times the Raiders have never really had a strong window where they were clear contenders. In 2024 they are losing touch with the 8 and just got pumped by a fellow mid table team (cowboys). They have a much more stable and developed roster than we do but he gets very little if any criticism or pressure from the press.
Ricky Stuart has the looks of Brad Arthur about him. 11th season in charge and despite making the finals a few times the Raiders have never really had a strong window where they were clear contenders. In 2024 they are losing touch with the 8 and just got pumped by a fellow mid table team (cowboys). They have a much more stable and developed roster than we do but he gets very little if any criticism or pressure from the press.
I think Ricky is there for life.........Canberra is a different vibe and I have to give Ricky credit in that he can constantly turn that squad over.
Ricky Stuart has the looks of Brad Arthur about him. 11th season in charge and despite making the finals a few times the Raiders have never really had a strong window where they were clear contenders. In 2024 they are losing touch with the 8 and just got pumped by a fellow mid table team (cowboys). They have a much more stable and developed roster than we do but he gets very little if any criticism or pressure from the press.
think Ricky gets a free ride from the press as he is mates with rothfield, Crawley, reed etc and secondly nobody gives a stuff where Canberra finish so he doesn't get any click bait factor like we do or parra, dogs, dragons etc
Just listening to Brian Goorjian , Sydney Kings coach, say that culture isn’t it what you say or put on the walls etc but in the doing. I think one of the things Benji & his staff & Api etc have done this year is emphasise effort, a non-negotiable. I think there has been blips but for the most part they’ve been pretty good in that area. With Luai etc coming next year & young guys growing & knowing what it takes I think we’ll be better again.
@jedi-tiger Stuart is taking the Raiders for a ride … he needs to look in the mirror before he calls out his players ..and yes he is one of the protected ex player elites being sheltered by gutless media types !. Has achieved nothing with a team full of quality players the Raiders club need to cut ties and employ another coach .
@russtutty63 The club needs new high performance people as they do not look fit enough to compete for 80mins that’s the problem IMO.
I agree, I posted this in another thread earlier in the week but not only do we need an impact middle but we need to work on cardio. It’s one reason I like young Tim Johannssen as he fits the bill in this regard. Alex Twal gets a bad rap sometimes but in the modern game he’s a handy middle to have around the squad, Seyfarth same. I’d actually be tempted to move Samuela back in the middle except he’s been doing so well on the edge & we’re light on edge backrowers anyway. Jack Williams & Oregon Kaufusi at the Sharks would be who I’d be looking at but the Sharks more likely to let Hunt & Hazleton go to other clubs.@russtutty63 The club needs new high performance people as they do not look fit enough to compete for 80mins that’s the problem IMO.
DT reporting that Hodgo returning as an assistant coach is a done deal.
DT reporting that Hodgo returning as an assistant coach is a done deal.
A really disappointing decision. There are a million better options. But I guess Benji values giving these roles to his mates that are no threat to him more than what’s best for the club. Surprising Richo would allow this…
After 3 consecutive spoons and Hodgo is the best assistant the club can sign ! As from today I am looking forward to when Marshall is booted , he had a real opportunity to build something next season but as usually the club has opted for mediocrity and what the hell is going on with this boys club mentality! Marshall will be gone by mid season he has been given enough rope now and IMO there already is a coach in waiting for 2025 . The coach is not taking this seriously if he was Hodgo would be now where near the place this is not good news for season 25 !
@avocadoontoast I suspect Richo has plans .. this is a very poor decision by Marshall and it’s all on him now which makes it easier to move him on .
I get the concern over the jobs-for-the-boys aspect, but why the hate for Hodgson? He has a pretty good resume in terms of experience, both in head and assistant roles in multiple codes and countries.
Not sure who else we'd be able to sign up with a better CV.
I don't hate Hodgson, he's one of our greatest ever players. But his resume as a coach isn't good at all. He's never lasted more than 2 years in a role, he's never got an opportunity in Australia (except with us in 2018) and his head coaching record is under 40% overseas. Benji has shown he is nowhere near ready to be head coach, but we're stuck with him. So what we need is a really experienced assistant coach (preferably a former NRL coach) that can do the majority of the work getting the team ready. Someone who can stand up to Benji and tell him that he's making a mistake or someone that can drive standards Benji clearly isn't. All the other competitive teams have assistant coaches with more experience than our head coach. The only reason Hodgson has got this job is because he's Benji's mate who is no threat to him as head coach, that's it. If this was an impartial process, Hodgson wouldn't even be in the conversation.I get the concern over the jobs-for-the-boys aspect, but why the hate for Hodgson? He has a pretty good resume in terms of experience, both in head and assistant roles in multiple codes and countries.
Not sure who else we'd be able to sign up with a better CV.
Large released last week under contract, now Hodgo brought in as assistant coach. We haven't changed at all.
