Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken aim at the media’s recent excitement surrounding his team, emphasising that his players are not getting ahead of themselves despite their promising start to the season.
As they entered round seven sitting atop the NRL ladder, the Tigers faced a heartbreaking 21-20 loss against the Brisbane Broncos in Sydney.
The narrowly missed opportunity against the Broncos prompted Marshall to suggest that the media could tone down the excitement surrounding his squad.
“We’ve simulated various scenarios in training,” Marshall explained.
“I believed we had another chance after they kicked it first with nine minutes left. We attempted to move left and ended up going over the sideline.”
Benji Marshall addresses the media. Nine
“I believed we had a shot to equalise there, but it’s a learning experience. Now that we’ve had our time in the spotlight, perhaps the media can shift their focus.”
Marshall, however, refuted claims that his players had become complacent or overly absorbed in their own media portrayal.
“Not at all. That’s an external perception; inside, we maintain our focus,” stated Marshall.
“We continue to train diligently. That’s more of a media situation.”
The Tigers had chances late in the match to draw level or clinch a win but ultimately faltered in the closing moments. Marshall acknowledged the execution errors but reiterated his confidence in the team’s overall strategy.
“We have faith in our approach,” he added.
Tune in to watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Jesse Arthars of the Broncos advances while picking up the ball. Getty
“We executed some good plays today, and we also created opportunities to win the game in the end; however, the result didn’t favour us.
“The Broncos deserve credit… they held on, rallied back, and were skillful enough to clinch the victory at the conclusion of the match.”
The Tigers are set to face the Raiders this Thursday evening.
Compiled by SportArena.au
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
