A Positive Outlook for Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers halfback Adam Doueihi has shared his thoughts on the current atmosphere surrounding the club, noting that the external noise is more positive than it has ever been during his time with the team. However, both Doueihi and coach Benji Marshall have emphasized the need to remain grounded ahead of a significant match on Easter Monday.
The mood within the club has shifted dramatically following a challenging off-season marked by internal disputes before Marshall was eventually re-signed. This change in leadership has brought a sense of stability and optimism, which is reflected in the team’s recent performance.
So far this season, the Tigers have secured two out of three victories, including a notable win against the Warriors. This success has reignited hope among fans who are eager to see the team return to the finals for the first time since 2011.
Doueihi acknowledged the positive sentiment from outside the club, stating, “For the first time since I’ve been here.” He admitted that while he and his teammates try to avoid the noise, they are still influenced by the media and public opinion.
“Although we try to stay away from it, I’ve got friends and everyone that sends me all the articles and everything. As much as we try and stay away (from the noise), it’s always in our head. Obviously, positivity is good (but) we’re definitely not getting anywhere near ahead of ourselves, or not looking into that. We know a loss or two losses and the media can turn pretty quickly.”
Marshall also expressed appreciation for the positive feedback but warned against complacency. He highlighted the importance of maintaining focus and not becoming overly confident based on early-season success.
“I think it’s good for the club and the fans that they have a bit of positive reaction to the way we’re going, which means we’re probably doing a few things right,” he said. “But at the same time, I expressed to the players that pats on the back make you soften your mindset a bit.”
Marshall emphasized the need for the team to remain focused on their goals. He noted that while the current momentum is encouraging, the team must continue to work hard and maintain their standards.
“So it’s important for us, we’ve flushed that game now and moved forward to this week, and Easter Monday is such a great day to play for us. So get excited about playing the type of footy we want to play. You want them to have confidence and belief in what you’re doing. That’s just a thing you have to have and you don’t want to take that away from them. But at the same time, you’ve got to make sure that you go out every week and execute the way you want to play. It doesn’t just happen.”
He also mentioned the importance of addressing key areas of improvement, regardless of the team’s current success.
“I’ve played for a long time and what can happen when you feel like you’re going good is you don’t do the non-negotiable things the week after. So we’ve addressed those things. It’s early in the season, we’ve got a long way to go, but I’m happy with the things I’m seeing. But we’ve got to maintain that and continue that.”
The Tigers have adopted an attacking style of play that some have dubbed “BenjiBall.” However, this term has sparked frustration among the coaching staff, particularly Coach Benji Marshall, who believes the focus should be on the team rather than individual contributions.
Marshall criticized the term, stating, “I hate it because it’s not about me. The players all have their own weapons that they bring to our team and own strengths. And a lot of those strengths don’t really align with things that I do. It’s about our team. Although it’s been named that (BenjiBall) it’s not about me.”
Despite the name, the team’s approach has drawn comparisons to other sports, such as English cricket’s ‘BazBall.’ However, Marshall remains focused on ensuring that the team’s tactics lead to consistent success.
