Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall took a pointed swipe at Brent Naden for his unnecessary sin-binning during Sunday’s 24-12 loss to the Dolphins in Magic Round. The defeat marked the Tigers’ seventh consecutive NRL loss, with ill-discipline a key concern for Marshall in his first full season as head coach.
In the final game of the weekend at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, the Tigers rallied after falling behind 12-0 early, thanks to tries from Jack Bostock and Mark Nicholls. Justin Olam’s try cut the deficit to six points before halftime, but Naden’s reckless action undid the team’s hard work.
Pictured left to right: Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall and Brent Naden. Marshall was furious about Naden’s sin-binning against the Dolphins. Pic: AAP/Getty/NRL
With under 60 seconds left in the first half, the Tigers were set to regain possession in the Dolphins’ half when Bostock recovered a loose ball near the sideline. Instead of completing a simple tackle, Naden used his forearm on Bostock’s head, resulting in a 10-minute sin-bin penalty. This compounded the Tigers’ problems as Olam also received a sin-bin penalty for a dangerous tackle after halftime.
On Monday, both players were handed one-game bans for their actions. Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow capitalized on the Tigers’ reduced numbers, scoring two tries to secure the victory after Api Koroisau’s try gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope. Marshall expressed his frustration over the team’s continued lack of discipline.
Marshall criticized Naden’s sin-binning and hinted at possible lineup changes unless discipline improves. “Disappointed for the team because then we get punished with 12 players,” Marshall said of Naden’s penalty. “Justin Olam’s one I can understand, but we were down to 11 players. It just doesn’t help. It’s frustrating and the message for the last six weeks is that we keep beating ourselves.”
Wests Tigers center Brent Naden was sin-binned for a tackle on Jack Bostock. Pic: AAP
Marshall emphasized the need for disciplined players, stating, “If we can’t change that, then the people have to change. Our discipline is terrible and we need to find players that are more disciplined.” Despite being down to 11 men, the Tigers had several opportunities but struggled with poor last-tackle options.
Reflecting on the team’s mistakes, Marshall said, “We have to start learning from our mistakes and maybe I need to deliver that better as a coach. To their credit, they fight and hang in there.” He praised Tigers captain Koroisau, who marked his 200th NRL game with a second-half try, highlighting his class and desire.
While the Tigers are struggling in 15th place, Bennett’s Dolphins are thriving in fourth with their seventh win of the season. Bennett described the victory as “the good, the bad and the ugly,” but was pleased to secure the two competition points, noting the team’s improved defense compared to last year.
