@helmesy as much as Justin has his flaws and I agree it was time for him to move on he has handled this very well. It’s probably the most professional he has come across in a long time. Well done to him and good luck for the future.
Exactly. Well said.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I have to agree 💯 with that. Pascoe has handled his exit with dignity.@helmesy as much as Justin has his flaws and I agree it was time for him to move on he has handled this very well. It’s probably the most professional he has come across in a long time. Well done to him and good luck for the future.
Richo did an interview with Jimmy Smith and MC today.
Said he didn't know about JL presser until 10.30 that morning qnd was told by Brent Read.
Contract wasn't signed until night before the presser.
Spoke glowingly about Latu and Galvin
Said there's be some more movement in next 7 days. But more tweaks. Getting squad in right position for 2025.
Changes at club level already occurring. Good staff who work hard, just under wrong direction.
Big changes in pathways and marketing.
At the hour mark
Top 8 2023
Richo did an interview with Jimmy Smith and MC today.
Said he didn't know about JL presser until 10.30 that morning qnd was told by Brent Read.
Contract wasn't signed until night before the presser.
Spoke glowingly about Latu and Galvin
Said there's be some more movement in next 7 days. But more tweaks. Getting squad in right position for 2025.
Changes at club level already occurring. Good staff who work hard, just under wrong direction.
Big changes in pathways and marketing.
At the hour mark
He mentioned Fainu and Galvin too
The secret to Wests Tigers winning is obvious if they’re smart enough to see it
Roy MastersSports Columnist
January 21, 2024 —
The most important report on a club in the NRL era ignored the most important factor in its future and the growth of the code in Sydney.
The independent report released last month on the perennial failure of Wests Tigers included over 50 recommendations for change, yet only one related to the club’s failure to capitalise on potentially the richest vein of talent in the game.
The report led to the sacking of the entire board, including the chair, as well as the resignation of the chief executive and the termination of key staff members, but only one line in the document referred to the need to develop talent in its catchment area, the south west of Sydney.
West Tigers have a territory which extends from Liverpool to Mittagong, comprising the vast Macarthur zone and the old Country NSW Group 6, yet there were less than 20 words in the report prepared by former NRL CFO Tony Crawford and businessman Gary Barnier recommending future investment in this vast region.
Crawford acknowledged the irony of his transforming report on the club’s present ignoring the key ingredient in its future but pointed out, “It wasn’t our brief”.
True. The Holman-Barnes group which is effectively the board of Wests Ashfield Leagues Club – owners of the NRL licence and commissioners of the report – argue their brief to Crawford-Barnier was about governance
Nevertheless, Crawford concedes the club’s failure to own the city’s south west was a recurring theme in the many interviews held with stakeholders.
As one said, “West Tigers have never stamped their foot down on their footprint”.
The Roosters and Sea Eagles have plundered the region for talent for years and now the Bulldogs – an enclosed district with an unlimited budget – have moved in, offering contracts to school age talent.
There is a cynical pragmatism in the way NRL clubs secure schoolkids.
Many families in the south west, particularly the Polynesian population of the Macarthur region which stretches from Liverpool to Campbelltown, cannot afford private health insurance.
So, a $5000 contract to a promising 15-year-old would include $2,500 in private health cover and another $2500 for the player and his family.
A significant proportion of the Wests Tigers development budget is money spent on medical insurance, a key factor in a cash-strapped family budget and a necessity in a high-risk injury sport.
The Wests Tigers’ catchment is a postcode over-valued by the rich as a character-building exercise, while over-populated by the poor.
Yet money alone won’t secure the region. Drive around Campbelltown and you will see more Rabbitohs, Panthers or Bulldogs stickers on the rear window of a car than Wests Tigers ones.
For this reason, the appointment of Shane Richardson as interim chief executive is a smart one.
Richardson was instrumental in beginning Panthers On The Prowl while chief executive at Penrith and South Cares while in the same role at the Rabbitohs. Both organisations, as their names suggest, are designed to genuinely commit the football club to the community.
However, player managers identify talent early, secure their services and then hock the player to rival clubs who pay the medical insurance.
NRL clubs can cherry-pick the best talent outside their own region without having to service it.
Wests Tigers recently lost a promising teenage junior outside back to Canterbury, now a district enclosed by suburbia with limited room for growth and a declining junior league.
Still, Wests Ashfield, which did not take control of Wests Tigers until 2019, is now promoting local talent, with the bulk of their junior representative teams coming from the Macarthur area.
Two local players debuted in the NRL in 2023, playing SG Ball (under 19), Jersey Flegg (under 21), reserve grade and the top grade, all in one season.
Tallyn Da Silva, a hooker, played five games off the bench for Wests Tigers and Kit Laulilii, a lock, debuted in the final NRL round.
The problem signing talent early is that a brilliant 15-year-old can be a dud at age 20.
A player’s physical growth is the biggest factor but lifestyle choices, together with work/study commitments are also key variables.
Still, the Panthers, with a junior league to rival Wests Tigers, were faced with these challenges and have now equalled Parramatta’s record of winning three successive premierships.
It took the Panthers 40 years to learn from the Eels, and now Wests Tigers – formed from inner-city clubs the Magpies and Balmain – can learn from Penrith a truism throughout the ages: the nucleus of strong teams remains home-grown talent.
Top 8 2023
The secret to Wests Tigers winning is obvious if they’re smart enough to see it
<TLDR>
Score more than the opposition?
NRL 2024: Alarm bells ring at Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson appointment, Solomona Faataape signing | What’s the Buzz
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
Confusion is growing at Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
An internal Tigers source recently alerted us to the fact the club had signed rookie Queensland Cup centre Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by his son Brent at Rich Digital. Richardson himself is a part owner of Rich Digital with his son – an accredited NRL player agent.
The Sunday Telegraph has now learnt that Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall had four months earlier rejected the 23-year-old as a potential recruit, as had several other NRL clubs.
Marshall then agreed to sign the player when Richardson arrived.
Richardson spoke to Nine newspapers last week about the situation. Some of his responses have set off alarm bells. He denied being involved in the signing.
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson’s appointment as interim CEO and cloudy details over a possible conflict of interest. Picture: David Swift
“I don’t have a licence to do player negotiations,” he said. “That all stands with my son and always has done. Brent sent a tape to the Tigers four or five months ago.”
Further inquiries reveal this is incorrect.
It was Richardson himself, not his son, who emailed Wests Tigers and several other NRL clubs, attaching Faataape’s highlights video with a spiel on the player’s history. This is against NRL rules in which only accredited agents can negotiate with clubs.
Then it gets more intriguing. Richardson told Nine newspapers that Marshall had not seen the highlights video and email when it was sent in October.
“When I got involved with the club, I asked the question about it (the email) and Benji had not even seen it,” he told Nine newspapers.
This is again incorrect.
The email was sent from Richardson to former Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe, who forwarded it straight to Marshall to get his opinion.
Marshall then replied with words to the effect of: “Not interested – we need experience.”
This is a situation the NRL Integrity Unit is monitoring.
The Wests Tigers recently signed Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by Richardson’s son Brent at Rich Digital. Picture: NRL Photos
A spokesman said: “The integrity unit is aware of recent media reporting on this issue and will determine if any inquiries are necessary.”
Richardson remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong. He is now saying he was acting as a consultant for Faataape’s club Brisbane Easts when he was offering the centre to Sydney clubs via the email and highlights package.
“I wasn’t acting on his behalf – I was doing it for Easts,” he said. “As for Benji, he insists he hadn’t seen the tape. When Benji eventually saw it, him and Matt Betsy (head of football) did the deal. It was an arm’s-length-from-me situation.”
“I’m not sure why you are pursuing this. I don’t think it’s murky at all. There is no conflict of interest.”
We have been trying for several days to contact Brent Richardson. He is ducking for cover and refusing to reply.
I can't say what I want to about this article.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
NRL 2024: Alarm bells ring at Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson appointment, Solomona Faataape signing | What’s the Buzz
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
Confusion is growing at Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
An internal Tigers source recently alerted us to the fact the club had signed rookie Queensland Cup centre Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by his son Brent at Rich Digital. Richardson himself is a part owner of Rich Digital with his son – an accredited NRL player agent.
The Sunday Telegraph has now learnt that Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall had four months earlier rejected the 23-year-old as a potential recruit, as had several other NRL clubs.
Marshall then agreed to sign the player when Richardson arrived.
Richardson spoke to Nine newspapers last week about the situation. Some of his responses have set off alarm bells. He denied being involved in the signing.
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson’s appointment as interim CEO and cloudy details over a possible conflict of interest. Picture: David Swift
“I don’t have a licence to do player negotiations,” he said. “That all stands with my son and always has done. Brent sent a tape to the Tigers four or five months ago.”
Further inquiries reveal this is incorrect.
It was Richardson himself, not his son, who emailed Wests Tigers and several other NRL clubs, attaching Faataape’s highlights video with a spiel on the player’s history. This is against NRL rules in which only accredited agents can negotiate with clubs.
Then it gets more intriguing. Richardson told Nine newspapers that Marshall had not seen the highlights video and email when it was sent in October.
“When I got involved with the club, I asked the question about it (the email) and Benji had not even seen it,” he told Nine newspapers.
This is again incorrect.
The email was sent from Richardson to former Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe, who forwarded it straight to Marshall to get his opinion.
Marshall then replied with words to the effect of: “Not interested – we need experience.”
This is a situation the NRL Integrity Unit is monitoring.
The Wests Tigers recently signed Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by Richardson’s son Brent at Rich Digital. Picture: NRL Photos
A spokesman said: “The integrity unit is aware of recent media reporting on this issue and will determine if any inquiries are necessary.”
Richardson remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong. He is now saying he was acting as a consultant for Faataape’s club Brisbane Easts when he was offering the centre to Sydney clubs via the email and highlights package.
“I wasn’t acting on his behalf – I was doing it for Easts,” he said. “As for Benji, he insists he hadn’t seen the tape. When Benji eventually saw it, him and Matt Betsy (head of football) did the deal. It was an arm’s-length-from-me situation.”
“I’m not sure why you are pursuing this. I don’t think it’s murky at all. There is no conflict of interest.”
We have been trying for several days to contact Brent Richardson. He is ducking for cover and refusing to reply.
I can't say what I want to about this article.
Not fussed by that.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
NRL 2024: Alarm bells ring at Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson appointment, Solomona Faataape signing | What’s the Buzz
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
Confusion is growing at Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.
An internal Tigers source recently alerted us to the fact the club had signed rookie Queensland Cup centre Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by his son Brent at Rich Digital. Richardson himself is a part owner of Rich Digital with his son – an accredited NRL player agent.
The Sunday Telegraph has now learnt that Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall had four months earlier rejected the 23-year-old as a potential recruit, as had several other NRL clubs.
Marshall then agreed to sign the player when Richardson arrived.
Richardson spoke to Nine newspapers last week about the situation. Some of his responses have set off alarm bells. He denied being involved in the signing.
Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson’s appointment as interim CEO and cloudy details over a possible conflict of interest. Picture: David Swift
“I don’t have a licence to do player negotiations,” he said. “That all stands with my son and always has done. Brent sent a tape to the Tigers four or five months ago.”
Further inquiries reveal this is incorrect.
It was Richardson himself, not his son, who emailed Wests Tigers and several other NRL clubs, attaching Faataape’s highlights video with a spiel on the player’s history. This is against NRL rules in which only accredited agents can negotiate with clubs.
Then it gets more intriguing. Richardson told Nine newspapers that Marshall had not seen the highlights video and email when it was sent in October.
“When I got involved with the club, I asked the question about it (the email) and Benji had not even seen it,” he told Nine newspapers.
This is again incorrect.
The email was sent from Richardson to former Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe, who forwarded it straight to Marshall to get his opinion.
Marshall then replied with words to the effect of: “Not interested – we need experience.”
This is a situation the NRL Integrity Unit is monitoring.
The Wests Tigers recently signed Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by Richardson’s son Brent at Rich Digital. Picture: NRL Photos
A spokesman said: “The integrity unit is aware of recent media reporting on this issue and will determine if any inquiries are necessary.”
Richardson remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong. He is now saying he was acting as a consultant for Faataape’s club Brisbane Easts when he was offering the centre to Sydney clubs via the email and highlights package.
“I wasn’t acting on his behalf – I was doing it for Easts,” he said. “As for Benji, he insists he hadn’t seen the tape. When Benji eventually saw it, him and Matt Betsy (head of football) did the deal. It was an arm’s-length-from-me situation.”
“I’m not sure why you are pursuing this. I don’t think it’s murky at all. There is no conflict of interest.”
We have been trying for several days to contact Brent Richardson. He is ducking for cover and refusing to reply.
I can't say what I want to about this article.
Not fussed by that.
The article or the situation?
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Nothing to see here. People with their nose out of joint are just trying to make up anti-new management stuff. Richardson is the best signing Wests Tigers have made, period.
