“Benji has been criticized from all angles: Why he’s been caught in the middle of it all.”

Wests Tigers fans often feel there’s a bias against their team. Some fans believe media outlets see the Tigers as the Taylor Swift of NRL clubs due to their high readership rates. While there’s some truth to this perception, it’s fueled by the team’s decade-long struggle and confusion over who to support or criticize.

Benji Marshall’s coaching tenure with the Wests Tigers began amid controversy. Just before his first press conference, a News Corp article questioned his work ethic, raising suspicions of a deliberate attempt to undermine him. The Tigers and Marshall see this as part of a campaign against him, likely orchestrated by a former employee, Scott Fulton, who clashed with Marshall over coaching methods and work ethic.

Marshall, known for his contemporary coaching style, clashed with Fulton, who favored a more traditional approach. Despite Marshall’s efforts to bring balance between work and personal life, his approach has been misinterpreted as lacking dedication. The tension between Marshall and Fulton intensified over player recruitment decisions and coaching staff changes.

The situation came to a head when Fulton, a key figure in player recruitment, left the club. The Tigers responded by cutting ties with some players associated with Fulton. The ongoing drama underscores the pressure on Marshall to deliver results and silence his critics.