well at least that is something good to hear after sat night i needed a bit of good news, good we are not in debt
True, but by the sound of it the Wests Tigers books aren’t as healthy.
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Richo eyes lengthy Tigers stay, relaxed over Utoikamanu
By George Clarke
Updated February 29 2024 - 1:05pm, first published 1:03pm
Shane Richardson is keen on turning his stay as Wests Tigers chief executive into a permanent one as he takes a relaxed attitude to a get-out clause that could allow Stefano Utoikamanu to quit the club.
Richardson was appointed to the role on a six-month interim basis earlier this year after initially being approached as a club consultant.
His return to clubland came after a report into the Tigers' consistent failures led to changes at board and executive level at the joint venture.
But speaking at an event to launch the rebrand of the Enrichd consultancy firm he co-founded with son Brent, Richardson said he wants to stick around and be part of the Tigers' revival under new coach Benji Marshall.
"Benji is a highly talented coach and he can be a great coach," Richardson told AAP.
"He's highly intelligent and well organised and my job is to put as much structure as possible to make him successful.
"We're in discussions (about extending my tenure) but I took this on because they wanted advice on how the club should be set up.
"As long as they (the Tigers board) did what they said they would do, which they have done, then it was up to them to make a decision if they wanted me to go on.
"I've done 30 years of it, it's what I do and I'm the luckiest man in the world getting to run rugby league clubs."
One of Richardson's earliest challenges at the Tigers may be keeping hold of prop Utoikamanu, who last year made his debut for the NSW State of Origin squad.
A clause inserted into the 23-year-old's contract by the previous administration allows him to quit the club at the end of the 2024 season if they fail to make the finals.
The clause is void if Utoikamanu makes a second appearance for NSW by the end of this year.
But rather than get in and renegotiate the forward's deal to remove the possibility of one of the game's emerging props heading onto the open market, Richardson is willing to let things play out.
"We want to create a club where he wants to stay," Richardson said.
"I don't think that way where I go, 'Oh god, that's going to come up'.
"Stefano likes being here and what's going on.
"Me lying with my head on the pillow at night worrying about it is not going to help anybody and I want to set up a club where everybody wants to stay - Benji, the players and the staff.
"We want Stefano to stay and I want 300 games out of him and we've got some great kids coming through, we're in nowhere near as bad a situation as people say we are."
Richo eyes lengthy Tigers stay, relaxed over Utoikamanu
Great news! I think he’s the best thing to happen to the club in a long time.
Great news! I think he’s the best thing to happen to the club in a long time.
Agreed, I think it would be a real blow if he left without making a bigger impact on the club.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Would Richo be CEO or move to football operations. Moving forward.
Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
I don’t think they could work together. Two very strong personalities. But if they could work together it’s a strong leadership.
Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
I don’t think they could work together. Two very strong personalities. But if they could work together it’s a strong leadership.
They worked together for 2 years at Souffs. Richo would have been responsible for bringing Bennett to Souffs.
Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
I don’t think they could work together. Two very strong personalities. But if they could work together it’s a strong leadership.
They worked together for 2 years at Souffs. Richo would have been responsible for bringing Bennett to Souffs.
I’d love to see Bennett finish his career here.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
I don’t think they could work together. Two very strong personalities. But if they could work together it’s a strong leadership.
They worked together for 2 years at Souffs. Richo would have been responsible for bringing Bennett to Souffs.
I’d love to see Bennett finish his career here.
I genuinely think he has a soft spot for us. Twice Ive seen him just standing in the crowd at LO, in front of the Latchem Robinson stand, just watching the footy at games not involving him.
With all due respect for the Bennett record, I don't think WT needs anyone using the gig as a career end. That was Sheens, and look how that turned out.Any chance we get Bennet for GM of Football and keep Rucho as CEO ?
I don’t think they could work together. Two very strong personalities. But if they could work together it’s a strong leadership.
They worked together for 2 years at Souffs. Richo would have been responsible for bringing Bennett to Souffs.
I’d love to see Bennett finish his career here.
I reckon if Bennett is open to coming back to Sydney then we are in with a real shot.
Almost signs here anyway, close relationship with Benji and has worked with Richo before (no idea if it was a happy relationship or anything but.) It might be a tempting last job to help lift the tigers and Benji up
I reckon if Bennett is open to coming back to Sydney then we are in with a real shot.
Almost signs here anyway, close relationship with Benji and has worked with Richo before (no idea if it was a happy relationship or anything but.) It might be a tempting last job to help lift the tigers and Benji up
I reckon he wouldnt even need to be full time in Sydney....lots of zooms with benji, the occasional trip down. Bennett has his flaws but the cross over of Bennett late stage of his career with nothing to prove and Benji at the start of his career with nothing to lose might be just what we need. For mine the (very) early signs of Benjis coaching are not encouraging.
To me it looks like Bennett is looking for challenges in the back end of his career and also looking to beef up his Super. So we would be the perfect fit for him. It would all come down to the relationship that he has with Richo. I somehow doubt he would go to the dogs with Gould there and he obviously has a deep relationship with Benji so if he lands it will likely be at the tigers assuming Richo wants him.
