Benji Marshall, coach of the Wests Tigers, has criticized Brent Naden for a costly act leading to his unnecessary sin-binning during Sunday’s 24-12 loss to the Dolphins in Magic Round. Marshall’s team suffered their seventh consecutive NRL defeat, largely due to self-inflicted setbacks, with disciplinary issues emerging as a major concern under Marshall’s leadership in his inaugural full season as head coach.
In the final game of the weekend NRL event at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, the Tigers displayed resilience after falling behind 12-0 early, with tries from Jack Bostock and Mark Nicholls giving Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins an advantage in the first half. Justin Olam narrowed the gap to six points just before halftime, but Naden’s lapse in judgment marred their efforts before the break.
Naden’s decision to engage in a forearm tackle on Bostock, resulting in his sin-binning just before halftime, proved costly for the Tigers, who were poised to regain possession with under a minute remaining on the clock. Despite Olam’s subsequent sin-binning for a dangerous tackle early in the second half, the Tigers suffered further setbacks. On Monday, both players faced one-game bans pending early guilty pleas.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow capitalized on the Tigers’ numerical disadvantage, scoring two tries to seal the match, with Api Koroisau’s late try offering fleeting hope for the Tigers. Marshall expressed frustration over his team’s recurring self-sabotage, emphasizing the detrimental impact of poor discipline.
While Marshall acknowledged Olam’s sin-binning as an unfortunate incident, he was particularly critical of Naden’s actions, hinting at potential repercussions for the player’s lack of discipline. Marshall stressed the urgency of rectifying disciplinary issues within the team, suggesting a need for players who demonstrate greater accountability.
Reflecting on Koroisau’s milestone 200th NRL game, Marshall praised the veteran hooker’s leadership qualities and determination, despite his own self-critique of his performance. Despite the Tigers’ ongoing struggles, Marshall remains hopeful that lessons will be learned and improvements made.
Meanwhile, Bennett acknowledged the Dolphins’ imperfect performance, describing it as a mix of “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Nonetheless, he expressed satisfaction with the win, highlighting the team’s improved defensive capabilities compared to the previous season.
