My assistant coaches for next season would be Morris and Gardiner if you could get him from the Panthers , I have a high regard for Gardiner who has the ability to resonate with younger players and players in general that coaching trio would be young and dynamic ..his removal was another Sheens master stroke happy Sheens is gone !
I'm also a Gardiner fan, seeing his positive interactions with his young players on game day was cool to watch. And usually reflected in results.
But wasn't he the first one told he was surplus when the '5yr plan' came in?
My assistant coaches for next season would be Morris and Gardiner if you could get him from the Panthers , I have a high regard for Gardiner who has the ability to resonate with younger players and players in general that coaching trio would be young and dynamic ..his removal was another Sheens master stroke happy Sheens is gone !
I'm also a Gardiner fan, seeing his positive interactions with his young players on game day was cool to watch. And usually reflected in results.
But wasn't he the first one told he was surplus when the '5yr plan' came in?
I’d like to see him come back too.
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@jirskyr man you can’t compare fandom from 30 years ago with fandom from today .
the goal posts have shifted so far . Anybody under 30 years of age is far more fickle, and to be honest pragmatic , with the way they want to spend their time being entertained .
If there is no foreseen value in supporting this club , many of the casuals simply won’t .
In fact a former mate of mine , used to wish and wash between the roosters and tigers circa 05-13 depending on who was on the up at the time .
Blasphemy for most of us , but that’s far more closer to the newer generations view point regarding their fandom . Throw in American sports and premier league for further distractions , imo , it would be naïve to even suggest that the 80s,90s and 00s are even remotely comparable outside of using the data to prove a point .
You might be proven right over time, however everything you are saying so far anecdotal.
What you are actually talking about is an overall risk to the NRL, not specifically to the Tigers, for the hearts and minds of kids. Certainly my son much prefers soccer to rugby league, but he's just one kid and he still does watch league. He's been brainwashed into supporting Tigers, there's no other path for him now (he's 8). I respect my brother-in-law enough to not try and convert my nephew, who is brainwashed for Souths.
But again that's all anecdotal. NRL are currently posting high numbers in all their domains - TV ratings, crowds, memberships, social media engagement. This has resulted in a striking increase in revenues, not just limited to television rights - NRL are posting significant profits now, which is why the RLPA continues to manoeuvre for a larger share of the pie. This is also why the NRL is now managed by sports finance guys and not ex-league players, because it's all about the business and out-competing the opposition.
You may ultimately be correct about the tiktok / youtube generation, but again I see that as a NRL-wide and potentially live-sport-wide issue. Within a few years here and there, Tigers may be a decent team again and the specific performance-related issues don't exist any more.
I've got another anecdote for you - my kids go to school in Beverly Hills and the local kids should mostly go for Doggies and Dragons, because it sits on the classic geographical boundaries for both clubs, only 5 minutes drive from Belmore Oval. But who are all the kids reporting as their favourite team? Penrith Panthers. I had to explain to my boy that there will be very few families in Bevo Hills originating from Penrith, which means these kids are reporting to support the team that most recently won the comp. They aren't reporting Melbourne Storm or other regularly competitive sides, they are reporting Panthers. When I was a kid everyone reckoned they went for Raiders or Broncos, due to the 1990-1995 era. That part never changes. They stop being so fickle as they grow up, which, again is how teams like Souths still have supporters after being basically the worst team in the comp for 30 years.
I was in his corner aswell…he has been the only coach who got anything out of NSW cup players. When I suggested he be head first grade choice, I was shot down. Saying basically he’s a school teacher.My assistant coaches for next season would be Morris and Gardiner if you could get him from the Panthers , I have a high regard for Gardiner who has the ability to resonate with younger players and players in general that coaching trio would be young and dynamic ..his removal was another Sheens master stroke happy Sheens is gone !
I'm also a Gardiner fan, seeing his positive interactions with his young players on game day was cool to watch. And usually reflected in results.
But wasn't he the first one told he was surplus when the '5yr plan' came in?
Just remember who instigated the contract talks with Sezer. Non other than Marshall.@jedi-tiger I gotta say , I tend to agree on brooks a lot of the time, but if I’m being objectively critical , and as kind as I can , then he looks devoid of ideas at times especially in red zone .
Is it him , or is it a case of finding it hard to soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys , I have no idea .
I guess we will find out next year .
Im super excited about a Sullivan / fainu combo .
I can see Sezer being beaten to the gate ala Katoa / Milford for the dolphins as well.
Which is only a good thing. The quicker this fainu is ready , the better off we are .
Brooks fires parting shot at Tigers
The Roar
Playmaker Luke Brooks has fired a withering parting shot at club bosses, warning Wests Tigers will never snap out of their cycle of failure if the front office doesn’t get its house in order.
Brooks will play his final home game for the club against the Dolphins on Saturday before leaving for Manly next year.
The 28-year-old has become a whipping boy for the Tigers’ woes over the last 11 seasons but the fact the joint venture has cycled through five permanent head coaches in that time hasn’t helped his cause.
Benji Marshall is set to step up as head coach in 2024 after current mentor Tim Sheens’ decision to move aside at the end of this season.
But Brooks warned Marshall could only do so much, pointing to the club’s bumbling administration as a reason for the Tigers’ 12-year finals drought.
Brooks’ camp was frustrated they were rushed into a decision over his future earlier this year when he was given a deadline while weighing up between an extension or a move to Manly.
“When they did that it made my mind up,” Brooks told reporters.
Asked what needed to change at the Tigers, Brooks said: “Everyone being on the same page and making decisions, and the right decisions, for the club to go forward.
“I don’t know who makes the decisions here, it’s hard to say.
“There’s always something going on. I guess (after) 10 years here, I’m sort of used to it.”
Brooks’ dig at the club’s hierarchy follows an 18-month period of turmoil headlined by the sacking of previous coach Michael Maguire.
The former Souths mentor was axed by Sheens, who had been brought in as the Tigers’ head of football and was then installed as head coach.
Sheens and Maguire clashed over football decisions before the latter’s sacking and there has been similar friction between Marshall and newly appointed recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
The pair have already clashed over recruitment decisions.
Prop Stefano Utoikamanu said Marshall commanded the respect of the Tigers squad but conceded the rookie coach would be under immense scrutiny. “It’s been pretty s**t this season,” he said of a campaign that looks likely to end with a second successive wooden spoon.
“He’s been good trying to keep us on track for the year. Anyone coming into the head coach role is going to have a lot of pressure on them.”
Wooden spoon paradise: Tigers CEO spotted in iconic NZ holiday destination as Concord crumbles
James Hooper from Fox Sports
August 17th, 2023 1:57 pm
When the going gets tough in Tiger Town, the tough get going … to picturesque Waiheke Island in New Zealand.
Spotted at one of New Zealand’s most idyllic holiday destinations last week was none other than the Tales from Tiger Town star otherwise known as amateur hour CEO Justin Pascoe.
Perhaps Pascoe was canvassing new cabinets to display back-to-back wooden spoons at the club’s Concord Centre of Excellence accumulated under his fearless stewardship.
It’s a rare sighting of the Tigers alleged trump who’s been doing his best to keep a low profile since being spotted in the tight polo shirt and sprayed-on tracksuit pants kicking a ball around on Suncorp Stadium back in round five.
Hopefully Pascoe could find enough time to ponder Tim Sheens’ agent telephoning the club to suggest it might be best if the four-time premiership-winner stepped down from being the Wests Tigers head coach and director of football.
In the fair dinkum department we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – Jack Gibson said winning starts Monday and winning starts in the front office.
With a front office like this is it any wonder the Tigers are continually chasing their own tale around in circles?
Only a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland, we hope Pascoe had time to sample some of the finest Sauvignon Blancs the Island has to offer before making the three-hour trip to Hamilton to watch the Tigers slip to a 10thstraight loss last Saturday.
The Tigers need to win one of their last three games against the Dolphins, Roosters and Manly to avoid their worst ever season on record in the history of the club.
Can’t wait for Pascoe’s all-encompassing end-of-season internal review designed to end the shambles.
Under Pascoe’s watch the Tigers have now finished 9th, 14th, 9th, 9th, 11, 13th, last and the bookies have now got them into $1.01 for back-to-back spoons.
Talk about overseeing a road to nowhere.
The late, great champion Balmain Tigers supporter Laurie Nicholls was always quick with a one-line rhyme about the Tigers playing roster.
“Benny Elias says come and try us”, “Steve Roach teaches them not to boast”, “Wayne Pearce he’s so fierce”, “Sound the alarm it’s Allan McMahon”, “Gary Jack the world’s best back”.
If Nicholls was still here to witness the sad decline of a once-proud club we can only wonder what the Tigers icon might say today.
With another season hurtling around the S-bend perhaps it’s time to “Put Pascoe in the brascoe”.
Unprecedented comments there from Brooks. That Pascoe just sails through these things is incredible
‘We are protected species’: Tigers chairman grilled in QandA over ‘shambles’ — Jimmy Brings
It’s impossible to miss Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis in his $400,000 black Ferrari, designer suits and Fedora hat worn even indoors at night.
The face of the inept Wests Tigers administration, in the last 24 hours Hagipantelis has been forced to front tough questions about the Wests Tigers being a shambles off the back of the sudden departure of head coach and director of football Tim Sheens.
The Tigers have won four out of 33 games since the decision to sack Michael Maguire last year with Sheens initially trumpeted as the mentor to guide Benji Marshall into the furnace of life as an NRL head coach as part of a grand five-year plan.
But once-again the Tales from Tiger Town administration has got it wrong and been forced to abruptly move Sheens on.
In a wide-ranging Q & A with Jimmy Brings, Hagipantelis admits the club’s board and embattled CEO Justin Pascoe are living a protected species existence after the privatisation of Wests Tigers.
Despite the club being $1.01 to collect back-to-back wooden spoons the fast-talking Wests Tigers chairman, who runs the highly successful Brydens Lawyers, is adamant the club is on the right path.
James Hooper: The club’s a shambles, the five-year plan has lasted 10 months. What’s your response?
Lee Hagipantelis: The presumption we’re a shambles is completely wrong. We had put in a five-year plan which involved two years with Tim Sheens overseeing the transition of Benji Marshall. That’s been accelerated. Tim’s come out and publicly acknowledged that Benji’s ready to step up. The five-year plan has become a four-year plan in a sense that we’ve accelerated one year from where we thought we might be. We’ve landed in a good place. The discussions with Tim and his management were very professional, amicable and respectful. There’s nothing shambolic about it.
JH: You're lining up to get back-to-back wooden spoons. You haven’t played finals since 2011. I don’t think using the word shambles is too strong.
LH: From your perspective I get it. I’m not going to argue with you that a failure to make the semi-finals for 12 years is not shambolic. It speaks for itself. Is it acceptable? No, it’s not. I’ve been in the chair now for three and a bit years and I think in that time the club has turned a corner. I appreciate two wooden spoons doesn’t necessarily bespeak that but I don’t think anyone would argue this is not a better team and a better roster than last year. And last year’s was better than the year before. We are heading in the right direction. We are not very far away from where we need to be. We’ve been very competitive we’ve just been missing a few key ingredients which we have addressed. There’s been some very exciting signings in recent times. Again, it will be a much better roster in 2024.
JH: Can you categorically deny Tim Sheens was in no way pushed to leave the club?
LH: Absolutely. The phone call was made from Tim’s manager to me personally to inquire as to a restructure of the coaching department for 2024 and the conversations went from there.
JH: Is Benji Marshall ready to be a head coach?
LH: Absolutely. Judging whether someone is ready to be a head coach is beyond my pay grade of course, I don’t have that qualification or that skill set. However you listen to those people that do know. That understand the game, that have played the game. People that have been coached by Benji and people that have worked with Benji and people that can see from the outside of this club looking in as to what’s happening. The response to Benji and him being appointed head coach and what he’s been doing in the role of assistant coach has been incredibly positive. That’s what we’re hearing from players and player managers. So the feedback has been very good.
JH: What about the fact Benji’s got no previous coaching experience prior to this season?
LH: We’ve taken that on board. Don’t forget Tim Sheens’ very first coaching gig was Penrith first grade. He had never coached a team before that. Benji has the benefit of a distinguished career. Towards the end of his career he was engaged in coaching. He’s now progressed through with a full year under his belt with Tim Sheens. He’s accelerated to a point now where he thinks he’s ready. Tim Sheens has given him his blessing. Tim’s endorsed him as the head coach and who are we to disagree.
JH: Do you, the CEO, or the Board accept any blame for what’s been another failed appointment?
LH: I don’t accept it’s been a failed appointment. Tim was brought on during a difficult and challenging period. Tim was brought on to bring stability and to transition Benji into the role of head coach. That’s exactly what he’s done. So in that respect it’s been a complete success. Benji will step up into that role so we’re a year ahead. All we’ve done is brought forward 12 months what we were hoping to achieve.
JH: Surely you can’t sit there with a straight face and claim it’s been a complete success when the club’s about to collect back-to-back wooden spoons?
LH: In that sense I agree with you. The transition of Benji has been successful. The results on the field have not been. This year has been disastrous on the field from a club perspective. Last year we collected our first wooden spoon this year in all likelihood we’re going to collect our second. I won’t diminish how difficult and challenging this period has been for this club so far as results on the field are concerned. But as I say I think despite that we are turning a corner. We are on the right path.
JH: Why should members and fans trust the CEO and the Board can stop the rot when, from and outstide point of view, the club’s a laughing stock?
LH: Well I hope it is not a laughing stock. We’ve got 400,000 people who identify as members and fans of this club. All of them are entitled to their view and their opinion and we take it on board. But I think people can see for themselves the club is heading in the right direction. Look at the performances of this team over the last three to four months in particular. There’s been a few anomalies of course and an aberration here or there but generally speaking the performance of this team has been very, very good. I don’t think we’re far away from being incredibly competitive. There’s a few challenges in our roster which are being addressed. Once those final pieces of the puzzle are added in this team could be anything. Don’t forget the Broncos collected the wooden spoon in 2020 and in 2023 they’re competing for a premiership. It can turn and it can turn very quickly.
JH: What’s your response to the suggestion yourself, Justin Pascoe and the Board are protected species?
LH: Well in a sense, we are. This is a private enterprise. This is privately owned. Our shareholders are well known as the Wests Group and the Balmain Tigers to a much lesser extent. Protected but not immune from the criticism - legitimate or otherwise - as to how this club has been progressing. No one wants this club to be more successful than the board does. We’ve worn the slings and arrows for quite some time now - myself in particular and Justin. I take that on board. I do genuinely believe that we are making a difference here. The results don’t reference that, I get that. But what we are doing is creating a very strong foundation on which to build for the next five to ten years. I think we’re on the right path. Collecting the wooden spoon is always the throwback but I’d be very surprised if next year is not a much better year for the club.
SUMMARY
The reality of the Tigers’ latest circus act is Sheens wanted to remain in the general manager of football role next year but the club realised it had made an error by handing him so much power and control in the first place. The Tigers decided to cut him a cheque and made the clean break.
Blame the CEO Justin Pascoe. He was the one who drove the concept of bringing Sheens back from England in 2021 to be the Wests Tigers director of football.
In a narrative only the Wests Tigers could create, Sheens was brought in to try and safe guard Pascoe from making further football department blunders — the list of those is as long as your arm.
Clearly the ingenious five-year plan devised over lunch at Grappa with friendly media types was another front office faux pas from an administration who have been without a paddle or an oar for years now.
It cost them $800,000 to sack Michael Maguire last year after an internal review opted to persevere with the premiership-winning coach at the helm and then they axed him six months later anyway.
You can’t make this stuff up. Who knows what happens if Benji Marshall doesn’t get results.
Some of those comments by Lee are insulting to fans.
@tiger5150 I agree with you 100%. I definitely won’t be renewing. This year was the first year I bought no supporter gear. I’m sure there are a lot of others thinking the same way.
I am only renewing for the LO seats I have that's it.
its the only thing keeping me in as well. We must catch up at the next LO match.
Im not going to ask you where you sit, that got me in trouble on another forum before.
mate I will pm you we should catch up for a beer at the next LO game
The interview with LH above is an amazing concoction of double speak and spin where he denies any responsibility for failures (even denies there are failures) and instead believes a feeling that we are on the right track and may even do better next year is sufficient grounds for him and Pascoe to remain running the worlds most dysfunctional organisation. Any would be mistakes are called "anomalies" and "aberrations" and that collecting a (second) wooden spoon is just a "throwback" on the path to success in the future.
It is interesting that this same grace has not been extended to previous coaching and recruitment staff who have been chopped and changed with great regularity because their part in the march towards this new and glorious future has been evaluated based on the fact that we have now earned 2 consecutive wooden spoons.
Hypocrisy and shame!!
The interview with LH above is an amazing concoction of double speak and spin
That’s BS lawyer talk. He has a degree in BS. The only time BS doesn’t come out of a lawyer’s mouth is when they are in court, that’s when it gets real. So unless LH is in court when he opens his mouth it’s all BS. (Sorry to any lawyers on here but you know it’s true)….
Wests Tigers in Lee's mind... it's the only place where you can't get any worse but you do, while you are actually getting better and better! And we should congratulate he and Justin for "making a difference".
Does he really believe this? Delusional!
Such a dangerous character to have as Chairman. No wonder the player managers are walking all over us, at least now we can be sure where Lee gets his advice from!
