Before the Wests Tigers began singing their newly crafted team song, Benji Marshall pondered whether it would be wise to avoid cameras capturing the moment. He debated relocating to a smaller, unnoticed room or discreetly covering the scene. Ultimately, they opted not to fret. This expression of their identity and current state prevailed.
While many coaches typically let players take the lead during the post-game team song, Marshall assumed the role of conductor, guiding his teammates through the lyrics. This responsibility was fitting as Marshall, along with his close friend and assistant coach Robbie Farah, had penned the new Tigers anthem, paying homage to their Western Suburbs and Balmain roots.
Embedded within the song is a glimpse into Marshall’s coaching ethos, encapsulated in the line “our motto is do or die.” The anthem crescendos with a resounding declaration: “we are the Tigers.”
Amid discussions about Marshall’s efficacy as a coach, especially outside of constant supervision, his involvement in shaping the team’s song underscores his commitment to leave his mark on the club’s new chapter.
Their recent victory over the Sharks at Leichhardt Oval was more about resilience than flamboyance, with captain Api Koroisau battling illness to support his coach and teammates.
Marshall, like other young coaches, juggles professional obligations with familial responsibilities, a balancing act exemplified by Collingwood’s premiership-winning coach Craig McRae. McRae’s management style, accommodating players’ family needs, fosters a happier environment that translates into better on-field performances.
Despite Marshall’s aspirations for progress, the drama isn’t far removed from the Tigers. At the Wests Ashfield AGM, a significant power shift unfolded, potentially fracturing the club’s ownership group. This move, orchestrated to oust influential figures, including former chairman Tony Andreacchio, casts a shadow over the club’s stability.
With Julie Romero assuming the chairmanship and Dennis Burgess as her deputy, they become pivotal links between ownership and the Tigers’ administration, led by CEO Shane Richardson. This shift threatens division within the ownership group, revealing underlying tensions within the club’s governance.
