Benji Marshall cops brutal truth bomb from NRL greats after Tigers' $4m spending spree

Benji Marshall has been warned that if the Tigers fail to perform again in 2025 the blame will fall firmly on his shoulders as the joint venture has forked out around $4 million on new signings. Earlier this week Roosters forward Terrell May was the latest to pen a deal with the Tigers, as Marshall fended off several suitors to secure one of the NRL's most sought-after forwards.

May joins the club on a three-year deal, adding to a burgeoning list of high-profile recruits signed by the NRL wooden spooners. May is another major fillip for Marshall, who endured a torrid rookie season, with his side finishing bottom of the table for the third season in a row.

But hopes are high around the club that the 39-year-old can turn around their fortunes with an exciting roster at Marshall's disposal in 2025. Four-time championship-winning playmaker Jarome Luai, Penrith winger Sunia Turuva, Cronulla front-rower Royce Hunt, centre Jack Bird and now May will all pull on the orange and black in 2025.

While in-demand teenager Heamasi Makasini has also signed a new deal with the club this year despite plenty of interest from rival NRL clubs and rugby union. While Luai is the billboard signing, May shapes as an important piece of the rebuild, with the Tigers signing spree worth in the vicinity of $4 million a season.

Scott Sattler and Mat Rogers apply blowtorch to Benji Marshall

And NRL greats Scott Sattler and Mat Rogers believe the pressure is on Marshall to turn things around and fast, as he now has the squad to compete for finals footy in 2025. "There's many people that think there's no way the Wests Tigers can make finals and are saying they will get the wooden spoon again but they have a seriously good team," Sattler said on SEN radio.

"On paper, they're not getting the wooden spoon... And this is the thing right. Now the blowtorch is going to go off the admin, it's going to go off the players because they now have the roster and the blowtorch is going to be firmly on Benji.

"Benji is a really really good coach. He's a great guy to have around the players as well, he's highly intelligent and he knows the emotional intelligence to know his players but he has to keep it simple. I think sometimes Benji tries to overcook the coaching."

While Rogers said it's simply Marshall's time to show he is an NRL calibre coach and believes if the Tigers struggle again in 2025 come the end of the year he won't have a job. "If they get another wooden spoon with that roster Benji wouldn't have a job at the end of the year," Rogers added.

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Wests Tigers determined to change club culture

May's signing also comes as the Tigers prepare to hold talks with the players union over the decision to hand a handful of players breaches for failing to return to training in proper condition. The entire Tigers squad were given - and agreed to - fitness standards at their exit interviews at the end of last season and at least five players failed to meet those markers upon their return to pre-season training and were therefore given official warnings by the club.

Up to two of the players will be forced to front the board to explain themselves. It is also understood the Rugby League Players Association will discuss the Tigers’ stance with Shane Richardson this week as they look to gain an understanding of the club's decision.

Penrith legend Greg Alexander has no problem with the Tigers sanctioning those players but says it is concerning a club eager to climb off the bottom of the ladder has squad members already failing to meet the expected standards. "If there are five players that have turned up unfit, and two that have to front the board, if that is true what does it say about the attitude about those Tigers," Alexander told SEN last week.

"But when reading that, I said that can't be true. What player these days turns back up to training unfit and to the point where they are asked to front the board. Can you imagine that happening, it is not the 80s. I am going to say that is a massive problem for the side that ran last, last year."