Marshall defends Wests Tigers’ latest roster gamble
Jasper Bruce |
A prickly Benji Marshall has defended Wests Tigers’ latest roster gamble, saying “tough” decisions like releasing Tallyn Da Silva are among the hardest parts of NRL coaching.
Marshall says he’s found it easier to shake off the pressure that has come on the six-game losing streak that threatens to undo the Tigers’ improved start to 2025.
Reports have linked the club with highly rated Super League coach Willie Peters, and Marshall said scrutiny was inevitable without results.
“The only pressure I feel is that I want these guys to do well and I want the club to do well. But coaching is a privilege,” he said.
“Winning and losing determines everything and although we’ve been losing, we’ve been on an upward trajectory.
“If those wins don’t start coming, of course (scrutiny) is going to start happening. I knew what I was getting into when I took the job.”
Marshall could understand why the three-time reigning wooden spooners’ long-suffering fans would be frustrated with the Da Silva news amid the slide.
Da Silva signed with Parramatta on Monday, becoming the second elite local product permitted to leave mid-season after Canterbury recruit Lachie Galvin.
The scenario has drawn comparisons to the Tigers allowing juniors Mitch Moses and James Tedesco to sign elsewhere in 2017, only to transform into bonafide superstars after leaving.
But Marshall insisted the Tigers had a long-term plan, bristling at suggestions they were now without an insurance plan for hooker Api Koroisau, turning 33 this year.
“Why does his age matter?” Marshall asked.
“33, playing 80 minutes, making 50 tackles, just come off playing Origin, captaining your team. The age makes no difference, that’s a narrative that gets played out by you guys (the media).”
Da Silva, 20, had found it difficult to leave the club that scouted him, and Marshall found it difficult to say goodbye.
But the coach said there was little option but to part ways after the club settled on Koroisau as their long-term hooker.
“Those decisions are always tough, when you’ve got decisions to make around the roster, that’s always a battle,” Marshall said.
“That’s probably one of the hardest things about being a coach.
“I can understand where (the fans) might be at with that. But at the same time, I’m coaching for what I think’s best for the club and best for the team and in a couple of those (roster) situations, they’re pretty hard to control.
“(Da Silva) would’ve loved to stay, but behind Api, he couldn’t do it.”
The Tigers are now relying on Tristan Hope, who plays his second NRL game against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, as back-up to Koroisau.
Former Australian Schoolboys representative Jared Haywood is contracted through to 2028 and is seen as a long-term option at hooker, but is still only 18.
“We’ve got plans, but we don’t always necessarily share them,” Marshall said.
As for the immediate future, Marshall remains buoyed by the Tigers’ improvements, with four of the defeats on their losing streak coming by 10 points or fewer.
“Before last week’s game (a 28-10 loss to Manly), the direction we were heading, I think everyone could see we’d improved,” he said.
“But those improvements are not relaying into wins.
“That’s my job to figure that out.”
AAP
