The Key Figure: How Benji Marshall Reshaped the Wests Tigers, Standing Out Against Their Joint Venture Rivals

The Wests Tigers have experienced a seemingly endless stream of negativity for far too long.

With three consecutive wooden spoons, boardroom squabbles, and players opting out of contracts, it’s been a continuous saga of bad news for the joint venture.

Who would have thought that the remedy was simply to start winning football matches?

The shift in public opinion regarding the Tigers has been remarkable, particularly since just a few months ago, fans took to the streets demanding change following Shane Richardson’s departure, as the turmoil within their board reached an all-time low.

However, with four victories in their first five games of the season, those dark days feel like a distant memory as the Tigers aim to end a 15-year absence from the finals.

In contrast, look at the NRL’s other joint venture, St George Illawarra, which, contrary to popular belief, has maintained a more stable off-field situation than the Tigers can currently imagine but continues to falter under coach Shane Flanagan and head of football Ben Haran.

The saying “winning starts in the front office” is often overused in the NRL, typically as an excuse to shift the focus away from poor on-field performances.

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The truth is, while the Tigers still face board challenges and the rift between the Wests and Balmain factions persists, all of that is easily overlooked when the team is winning and the crowds flock to Leichhardt or Campbelltown.

So, what is driving the fractured Tigers to perform better than the struggling Dragons?

Two clear factors come to mind: a talented playing roster packed with representative-quality stars and the influence of coach Benji Marshall.

Let’s start with the latter.

There is no player more emblematic of the Wests Tigers in their 26-year existence than Marshall, which is why his impact is proving more fruitful than previous coaches, as lauded by Billy Slater.

“I’m really impressed with what Benji is doing at the club,” Slater mentioned on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.

“We’ve all heard about the issues between Balmain and Wests – the one individual capable of uniting them is Benji. He has no loyalty to either side; he truly embodies the Wests Tigers … he is the joint venture.”

“His role transcends that of just a coach.”

“He’s not dwelling on the past, nor is he looking towards the future – he’s concentrated on what they are achieving right now and garnering the players’ trust. I believe they’re on a fantastic journey, with Benji leading the charge.”

While still at the early stages of his coaching career, it seems Marshall has discovered his voice and is adeptly balancing friendship and coaching duties with the squad.

Recent footage from pre-season depicted a more stern Marshall rallying the players and clearly setting the standards for the club.

“Honestly, he’s evolving so much as a coach,” Api Koroisau said during Nine’s 100% Footy.

“He entered this role as a relative novice, so witnessing his progress and the direction he’s moving the team is impressive … he’s really pushing the team this year, and rightly so.

“I grew up watching him and thought he was an incredible player. For him to coach me and how he connects with all the players is truly special.

“Hearing him call my name from the sideline gives me that extra boost to perform, and having him there is paramount for us.”

On the field, the Tigers have developed into a quality side, although it has taken time to achieve this balance in the squad.

Their spine, featuring Jahream Bula, Jarome Luai, Adam Doueihi, and Koroisau, showcases top-tier players in their respective positions when in form.

The outside backs are similarly strong, with Taylan May and Sunia Turuva, while the rapid development of Heamasi Makasini promises exciting potential.

“He has a bright future ahead in this sport,” Koroisau remarked about the young centre.

“He’s still quite young and raw, with areas to improve on. But he’s someone who genuinely wants to learn and gives his best consistently.”

“We maintain high expectations at training, and he’s rising to meet them.”

In the forwards, Marshall has extracted the best from a player like Alex Twal, who had mostly been a dependable front-row worker and, with all due respect, would have found it hard to secure a spot in most other teams.

This season, Twal has played with incredible determination, complementing offload specialist Terrell May and promising talent Fonua Pole perfectly.

The back-row duo of Samuela Fainu and Kai Pearce-Paul is considered among the most formidable in the league, while Sione Fainu and Royce Hunt provide necessary heft off the bench at critical moments.

Again, when contrasting with the Dragons, it’s evident that they have mishandled their roster over the same period that Marshall has been with the Tigers – the difference is striking.

Perhaps the clearest indicator of Marshall’s coaching prowess and the gradual construction of a finals-capable squad can be seen in their depth.

Jock Madden serves as a prime example, returning to the club where he began his career – playing lower grades under Marshall’s tutelage – and seamlessly stepping in for the injured Luai in recent weeks. His performances have sparked discussions about how best to include all three playmakers into the squad alongside Doueihi.

“It’s remarkable for someone like Jock, who has come in and truly embraced the team dynamic,” Koroisau added.

“He’s a fantastic bloke, and to have him on the field alongside such depth in our ranks really bodes well for us.

“I believe Doueihi deserves his place in the team too, but at the end of the day, we need to figure out how to make room for Madden … it’s a great dilemma for Benji.”

The early season has also presented other opportunities, with Marshall finding solutions to fill gaps. Last weekend marked Patrick Herbert’s return to the rugby league scene after a four-year hiatus.

Herbert, who faced serious injury issues, made a compelling comeback by scoring a try, assisting another, and running for 184 metres during his debut against the Newcastle Knights, all contributing to a significant 42-22 win.

“It’s incredible, to be out of the game for that long and face the kinds of injuries he had, which are truly difficult to recover from,” Koroisau noted.

“He put in the hard yards in pre-season, proving he was trustworthy. Upon his return, it’s as if he’d never been away — it was impressive.”

Bulldogs boss Phil Gould previously looked to sign Herbert but couldn’t obtain medical clearance due to the severity of his knee issues.

“I interviewed him a couple of years back while he was battling injuries and discussed potential opportunities,” Gould recounted.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a doctor to clear him for play, and then he vanished … it’s a remarkable turnaround because he has always possessed the athletic ability.”

If a relatively inexperienced coach like Marshall can unlock the potential of players such as Herbert, Madden, and Twal, what are the excuses for those with more experience?

Though there’s certainly room for improvement before the Tigers become credible premiership threats, Marshall has managed to revive a club he loves, pulling it from the depths of despair back toward the good times in less than two years.

If the moment arrives when Luai, Koroisau, or another player raises the trophy on the first weekend of October, we’ll all know who catalysed the significant change at a club that had long stood in its own way.