I think criticism of people in public positions it has been and will always be there. Social media has allowed us another, much wider, platform to express that criticism whether warranted or not. There is little or no accountability so we do it without consequences to ourselves. In fact this club, or any club really, could make a GF next year and there would still be criticism should they not win. That’s simply the nature of the beast for those people in roles we deem to be of importance to us. It’s not something I enjoy doing so I don’t bother but I understand why others feel that need to do so. It’s all part of the rugby league pantomime, “He’s behind you! He’s behind you!.”Each to our own@tiger-symmetry. I stand by everything I wrote about Richardson. But, for clarification, i wrote about the body language and smirks of Anasta and Tallis as they interviewed Richardson. That someone, such as our CEO, who is not taken seriously by media (and managers, I suspect) is in charge of retention and recruitment, is a massive concern. For me but, obviously, not for you.@mercy-rule My heavens you certainly haven’t held back on Richo.You’ve labelled him a buffoon,an ignoramus,a mouth in overdrive and a mind in neutral.Then you go after him for blathering,his body language and smirks.Obviously you’re not a fan,but in your tirade of ad hominems maybe it would be illuminating if you were to cite the issues to which you take exception.You didn’t mention one apart from it frightening you of his presiding over retention negotiations of API,Luai and Bula.
As far as I’m concerned Richo’s supposed resurrection from the “professional wilderness”,as you put it,and whatever that means has been the best thing to happen to us in close to a couple of decades.I’d just like to say that Richo possesses a very rich understanding of the National Rugby League landscape and I found his recent interviews pretty frank, and to the point.I disagree with you strongly,I like what he is doing.
So far, for me Richo gets a grade of B. What happens over the next year could see this rise or fall based on pressing issues such as Bula, Campbelltown and finding a couple of hard edge forwards.
Liquor and gaming has cleared the HBG of any wrongdoing or shortfalls in the organisation’s governance.
I’m really glad that a review was undertaken and that the governing body was satisfied that things are above board.
Onwards and upwards for all hopefully!
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Referees association slam NRL over lack of Richardson response
Pretty crazy that the Ref's association have made an issue out of this publicly after so long. Calling out the NRL over what I thought were not overly controversial comments by Richo. If I was PVL I would be telling them to pull their heads in. Geez the refs must really hate our club.
Referees association slam NRL over lack of Richardson response
Pretty crazy that the Ref's association have made an issue out of this publicly after so long. Calling out the NRL over what I thought were not overly controversial comments by Richo. If I was PVL I would be telling them to pull their heads in. Geez the refs must really hate our club.
Seems like a bit of an over the top reaction to a pretty fair evaluation of what we all see in the game (at least amongst those of us who support struggling teams).
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Referees association slam NRL over lack of Richardson response
Pretty crazy that the Ref's association have made an issue out of this publicly after so long. Calling out the NRL over what I thought were not overly controversial comments by Richo. If I was PVL I would be telling them to pull their heads in. Geez the refs must really hate our club.
Seems like a bit of an over the top reaction to a pretty fair evaluation of what we all see in the game (at least amongst those of us who support struggling teams).
When its all said and done we did get our share of the 50/50 calls this week, so maybe Richo was on the mark with his comments or at the very least drew attention to ref bias and they tried to improve the optics this week.
I'm sure you don't genuinely think that refs would try to improve the optics by ignoring indiscretions by one team as some form of payback for past ref errors. If so, then, as a professional sport where millions of dollars are gambled, the game is dead in the water. It's more likely that the refs/officials were as incompetent as they always are, and this time WT benefitted. For the future of the game, let's hope so.Referees association slam NRL over lack of Richardson response
Pretty crazy that the Ref's association have made an issue out of this publicly after so long. Calling out the NRL over what I thought were not overly controversial comments by Richo. If I was PVL I would be telling them to pull their heads in. Geez the refs must really hate our club.
Seems like a bit of an over the top reaction to a pretty fair evaluation of what we all see in the game (at least amongst those of us who support struggling teams).
When its all said and done we did get our share of the 50/50 calls this week, so maybe Richo was on the mark with his comments or at the very least drew attention to ref bias and they tried to improve the optics this week.
In fact, the more I see from the NRL, the more it's obvious that it's run by imbeciles who care little about attention to detail or accountability. Hence, dodgy calls, from incompetent match officials.
I googled NRL to find out where the Dragons v Sharks game is being played tomorrow, to help with my tipping comp selections.
According to the NRL website, as of 8am 0n 8/8/25, the game is being played at Armavir Stadium, which, if you click on the live link tells us that it's also called Jubilee Stadium. IN ARMENIA !! I kid you not. Incredible.
I'm sure you don't genuinely think that refs would try to improve the optics by ignoring indiscretions by one team as some form of payback for past ref errors. If so, then, as a professional sport where millions of dollars are gambled, the game is dead in the water. It's more likely that the refs/officials were as incompetent as they always are, and this time WT benefitted. For the future of the game, let's hope so.Referees association slam NRL over lack of Richardson response
Pretty crazy that the Ref's association have made an issue out of this publicly after so long. Calling out the NRL over what I thought were not overly controversial comments by Richo. If I was PVL I would be telling them to pull their heads in. Geez the refs must really hate our club.
Seems like a bit of an over the top reaction to a pretty fair evaluation of what we all see in the game (at least amongst those of us who support struggling teams).
When its all said and done we did get our share of the 50/50 calls this week, so maybe Richo was on the mark with his comments or at the very least drew attention to ref bias and they tried to improve the optics this week.
Fair call.
In fact, the more I see from the NRL, the more it's obvious that it's run by imbeciles who care little about attention to detail or accountability. Hence, dodgy calls, from incompetent match officials.
I googled NRL to find out where the Dragons v Sharks game is being played tomorrow, to help with my tipping comp selections.
According to the NRL website, as of 8am 0n 8/8/25, the game is being played at Armavir Stadium, which, if you click on the live link tells us that it's also called Jubilee Stadium. IN ARMENIA !! I kid you not. Incredible.
That's not the NRL website, it's a google search response. Blame shoddy AI rather than the NRL.
I thought it’d be interesting to guess at how Richo is thinking about the club. It’s obvious to me that his tenure at the Tigers will most likely be his last, it’s basically his last hurrah, a final(s) legacy in some ways. So how is he, & Benji etc, going to go about it? Well, he’s come in last year and looked at the club as a whole, the admin & football side of things. As we were 2 time wooden spooners at that time & followed it with another he must’ve understood how big a task it’d be, it wasn’t going to change overnight but could he change it over the following 3 years of his tenure? Maybe he’s looked back at his Souths days. So he begins, with Benji, at bringing a more positive culture to the playing group, in comes Luai, the “Asitasi” leader of change with Tito of course, winners. They bring in a few others to help that change too & offload some others. They tweak here and there, putting some of the pieces of the puzzle together, in comes KPP to hopefully add impact on the right edge. They build depth at the club, signing guys to strengthen the top 30 as well as bringing through the likes of Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Haywood, Godinet, Tapau-Moors etc whilst also adding Andrews & Roberts. Surrounding those guys with better quality as they come through. But what else is needed? Centres & middles, Taylan May comes in, a risk but potentially a fix as well. But what is the priority now? The Sam Burgess & GI of Souths back in 2014, the class that can provide the success Richo wants before he’s finished. Ok, extend Bula & make sure he’s here 2027 & beyond, he’s the GI. But who is the Burgess? Well, there’s not really that kind out there available for 2026 but there’s a few off contract for 2027 Richo’s final year in charge. He knows he wants a Burgess but it’ll cost so what to do? Let’s take a bit of a hit now, offload a few & front load others with the money freed up. Let’s have a crack at Tino or Haas, a NAS or Koloamatangi or? That’s the Burgess, that’s what will bring success.
Perhaps the Sam Burgess needed is already there, Samuela. Maybe a good, solid middle is needed rather than an elite one. Or do they see Samuela as the middle come 2027 & look at a Kikau? My guess is they’ll look at a middle & keep Samuela on that left edge.
If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Possibly although I think that might be unders given other clubs need middles eg Eels, Knights, Manly.If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Here’s a question, if given the choice between a Kikau for $750,000 a year over 2 seasons and move Samuela to middle OR NSA for the same amount & keep Samuela on the edge what would you do? Kikau is fitter & played 40 games less than NAS but is a year older. Just curious as to which people would go for.
Possibly although I think that might be unders given other clubs need middles eg Eels, Knights, Manly.If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Here’s a question, if given the choice between a Kikau for $750,000 a year over 2 seasons and move Samuela to middle OR NSA for the same amount & keep Samuela on the edge what would you do? Kikau is fitter & played 40 games less than NAS but is a year older. Just curious as to which people would go for.
id take NAS
It’s an interesting one isn’t it. I think if you look at the Storm you could make a strong argument that Katoa is more important to them than NAS although they are obviously better with NAS. You could make that argument at a number of clubs although clubs with elite middles, Haas, Tino, AFB are more reliant on them than they might be on their edges. But the Sharks without Nikora, an elite edge, are not as good when he’s missing neither are they as good without AFB. The Dogs without Kikau, an elite edge, aren’t as good when he’s not there. But if one of their middles were missing is it as big a blow? Yeo is more important to Panthers than Martin but Yeo is captain & plays 80 minutes, he’s not an impact middle. The Raiders without Young or Nicholson can cover but without Tapane, an elite middle, aren’t as good. Manly are probably more reliant on Olakau’atu then they are Paseka. So if you’re unable to attract an elite middle do you try to attract an elite edge & adjust your team slightly? I’m not sure but I do believe Samuela would be very good on the edge or middle.Possibly although I think that might be unders given other clubs need middles eg Eels, Knights, Manly.If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Here’s a question, if given the choice between a Kikau for $750,000 a year over 2 seasons and move Samuela to middle OR NSA for the same amount & keep Samuela on the edge what would you do? Kikau is fitter & played 40 games less than NAS but is a year older. Just curious as to which people would go for.
id take NAS
