Ryan On The Sideline

If you are calling for Benji Marshall’s head without looking at the bigger picture, you are missing the point entirely.

Benji was placed in a difficult position from day one, initially paired with a veteran coach whose methods belonged to a different era, rather than receiving modern operational support. Key administrative stability was repeatedly disrupted, and even after an independent review identified systemic organizational issues, its recommendations were never fully implemented. Yet somehow, the head coach is expected to take the fall.

This club has spent a decade and a half cycling through coaches, players, and staff with the same result. At some point, the scapegoating has to stop and the focus must shift to the real common denominator: governance, structure, and top-level leadership.

You don’t fix 15 years of systemic failure by firing another coach; you fix the organization from the top down.

Heath Mason is one of many players whose versatility has probably been a detriment to his own progression.

With the ability to fill a hole almost anywhere across the backline, halves, ho**er, and lock, he’s constantly been moved around and, as a result, has had limited minutes in any one position.

Personally, I don’t think it’s hindered his career as much as some make out. If anything, I think it’s given Heath a much better appreciation of the expectations and abilities required in each position on the field and at 21 years old, the world’s his oyster.

That said, I think we’ve finally found where he best suits the Wests Tigers’ needs and how he can best be integrated into the NRL, as a dynamic, roaming middle.

Yesterday, he played that Kurt Mann, Ray Stone, Kurtis Morrin, Max Plath type of role, and I absolutely loved what I saw.

It was a really solid run from Heath, followed up by a quick play-the-ball that helped create the momentum for Alex Seyfarth to burst through and put Samuela Fainu over for a try.

There were definitely a few hands-on-hips moments from Heath, but I’m chalking that up to how hard he played and the amount of effort he put in during a relatively short stint.
He was energetic, aggressive, and looked like he belonged in the middle.

I’d love to see the Tigers continue developing him in that role. I reckon there’s something there.

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As a Wests Tigers fan, I couldn’t care less about where we finish in 2026. Benji keeps talking about the importance of "finishing the season strongly," but that mentality is completely backwards right now. Risking injured players just to chase a couple of meaningless late-season wins makes no sense, especially when it feels like blokes are just trying to stay available for the World Cup.

Benji needs to put on his big boy pants and make the tough calls immediately. Personal ambitions do not exceed the ambitions of the club. He needs to bench Jarome Luai, throw our juniors into genuine NRL experience to build 2027 combinations, and send Jahream Bula, Adam Doueihi, and Patrick Herbert straight off for surgery. A proper pre-season for 2027 has to take priority over short-term international goals.

Looking at the park, Solomone Saukuru was excellent and showed exactly why I’ve been screaming for his debut all year. Lock him down now. I also loved how the club finally used Heath Mason. deployed as a mobile middle in that Ray Stone, Kurt Mann, or Kurtis Morrin mold, he brought genuine energy and punch around the ruck. Re-sign both of them immediately.

On the flip side, Jarome Luai still looks completely lost on fifth-tackle options, and while Adam Doueihi can be a bloody good individual footballer, he simply isn't a No. 7.

The 2026 season is done, so let's stop pretending otherwise. Benji needs to step up, put the club first, and use these final weeks to lay the real groundwork for 2027.

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Javon Andrews was everywhere in NSW Cup over the weekend, leading the Wests Magpies to a 50–24 win over Parramatta.

43 touches, three line-break assists, two try assists, a try of his own and seven goals converted.

The club needs to stop wasting an opportunity and get him back into the NRL side. Give him meaningful experience now because they’re going to need him next year.

Unpopular opinion, but I genuinely believe Jake Averillo will be the best fullback at the Wests Tigers in 2027.

Sunia Turuva has been that poor this season that I’d happily see him dropped back to NSW Cup, while Bula is shifted onto the wing.

Another Wests Tigers “home” game in our away jersey. Another embarrassing season under the leadership of the Holman Barnes Group.

Fifteen years without finals football. Fifteen years of mediocrity, instability, poor decisions and excuses.

This isn’t a club that has suddenly fallen apart. This is a club that has been allowed to remain a basket case for the better part of two decades, while the people overseeing it continue to avoid accountability.

Key Takeaways From the Game:

Fonua Pole: Should never be starting. He’s developing into a genuine momentum-shifter through the middle and is far more effective coming off the bench.

Jarome Luai: Continues to prove that without Nathan Cleary alongside him, he struggles to take control of a game or consistently create anything of real value.

Adam Doueihi: Simply isn’t an organising half. He’s a strong individual player with plenty of talent, but he’s not a game-manager and shouldn’t be holding the reins of the attack at halfback.

Sunia Turuva: Struggling on both sides of the ball. Right now, it feels like his biggest contribution is being the team’s “hype man” rather than a reliable NRL winger. Personally, I’d be looking to move him on.

Heamasi Makasini: Just ain’t ready yet. The potential is clearly there, but right now he looks a long way off being an NRL-standard player. He needs time to develop rather than being thrown into a side that’s already struggling.

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The integrity of the NRL salary cap is officially being dragged through the mud… and somehow, it’s even worse than anything Uncle Nick has ever pulled.

While seventeen clubs scrimp and balance every dollar to obey strict salary cap rules, the PNG Chiefs are abusing a government-backed tax-free exemption. They’ve already signed more marquee players than most law-abiding teams combined, brandishing a multi-million dollar advantage no Australian club can match.

It is an absolute pisstake.

Before the official November 1 negotiation window has even opened, the Chiefs have already been raiding rival squads and recruiting talent from abroad, locking up top-tier players ahead of time.

A $1.5 million tax-free offer in Port Moresby is effectively the equivalent of a $3 million pre-tax contract in Australia. How is anyone supposed to compete with that?

If head office cares about competitive balance, this loophole must be closed immediately. The tax-free exemption must be terminated for anyone signing on or after November 1, 2026.

Shut it down before the NRL's credibility is ruined for good.

From the outside looking in, the writing is on the wall for Benji Marshall: he needs some grey hair around him. Bringing in veteran assistant coaches isn’t a knock on Benji; it’s a necessity to teach this squad professionalism, detail, and ex*****on while letting the head coach focus on the big picture.

But just as glaringly obvious is the roster issue. The Tigers’ depth simply wasn’t there. Sure, you can point to a horror injury run, but it laid bare a tough reality, Wests just don’t have the cattle to stand up when the going gets tough, and the roster is bleeding out in several key areas. With the 2027 free agency market open for business, here is a look at who’s available to get this club back on the right trajectory.

First, a quick reality check on Adam Doueihi. If you bought into his "I love this club" line, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Personally, I’d be shocked if he’s still wearing Wests Tigers colours next season. It feels like a matter of time before Perth whips out the war chest to throw a bag of money his way.

And make no mistake, the dominoes are already falling. The Tigers were making real headway on Kayliss Fatialofa, who had a clause allowing him to trigger early free agency if he didn’t make his NRL debut by Round 15 this year. But following the Doueihi circus, he pulled the pin and is now looking to sign with Manly. The fall-out didn't stop there: Both Rocco Berry and Shawn Blore had reportedly been linked to the Wests Tigers for 2027, but those pursuits now appear to be dead in the water. Berry has completed a medical with Melbourne and, while the deal is yet to be officially confirmed, looks as good as signed. Meanwhile, Blore is set to reunite with Michael Maguire in Brisbane, with confirmation of his move to the Broncos expected soon.

So where does the recruitment drive go from here? In no particular order, here are the targets who could step into the breach:

1. Jamie Humphreys
At 24 and pushing nearly 100kg, Humphreys is a physically imposing playmaker who brings a monster kicking game and rock-solid defense. In many ways, he carries the same physical traits as Doueihi, making him a ready-made replacement at halfback or a modern ball-playing lock, depending on how the Doueihi situation plays out.

2. Junior Amone
A natural five-eighth with plenty of reps at halfback, Amone’s ability to comfortably control both sides of the park makes him a fascinating target. He looks particularly potent operating on the right edge, which creates an ideal tactical balance alongside Latu Fainu and Javon Andrews, who both do their best work on the left. Throw in the built-in family chemistry (he’s cousins with the Fainu boys), and the off-field fit makes plenty of sense if he's given the green light for a top-grade return.

3. Liam Le Blanc
A rising middle who plays well above his weight. Le Blanc brings that relentless work ethic off the bench, the kind of high-energy engine Wests desperately lacked when their starters hit the pine this season.

4. Lipoi Hopoi
Uncompromising and explosive. Hopoi offers genuine punch through the middle, providing the type of post-contact metres and aggression needed to set a real standard for the young pack.

5. Kurt Mann
He might be on the wrong side of 30, but Mann brings the exact forward-pack leadership Wests desperately lack when Alex Twal takes a breather. His aggressive line speed and non-stop chatter set the defensive standard, two critical areas where the Tigers have been completely silent. Throw in his ultimate Swiss-Army-knife versatility across the park, and he's a vital culture hire.

6. Ray Stone
An absolute tackle-bot and crowd favorite. Stone doesn't know how to play at 50%. He offers the bite, defensive sting, and uncompromising attitude that would instantly harden up the Tigers' middle third.

7. Hohepa Puru
An energetic, high-IQ lock with superb link-play capabilities. Puru plays with standard-setting intensity and would take a massive load off the halves by acting as a genuine second pivot in attack.

8. Kaiden Lahrs
A proper heavyweight prospect. Lahrs boasts the raw physical tools and intimidating frame to develop into a frontline enforcer, the exact kind of intimidation factor the club has been missing.

9. Jack Todd
An underrated workhorse who just gets the job done without the fanfare. Todd represents sensible depth, a tough, reliable forward who won't break the bank but will hold down an edge or middle without missing a beat.

10. Jesse McLean
Although the Bulldogs remain heavy favourites to secure his signature, Wests should be seriously looking at throwing their hat in the ring for Jesse. At just 21, McLean is an absolute powerhouse who brings standard-setting metre-eating, elite tackle-busting ability, and raw finishing talent out of back-field carries. With the Tigers desperately needing high-upside depth and strike on the edges, swooping in with a guaranteed first-grade pathway could be just the lever needed to hijack Canterbury’s push and secure a long-term backline pillar.

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Just going to leave this right here.