WT Ownership, The Board & Senior Management - MEGA Thread

[tony soprano]

What the hell Lee 's quote
" a lot of work has been done on recruitment and retention behind the scenes" Wests Tigers is just about the only club to announce zero recruitment . Does he mean Benji sent Munster, Tedesco and Moses an SMS saying would you like to come to tigers one day.? Seriously if I was trying to sell something to somebody I might pick up phone and chat to them or even invite them to dinner.
Lee nothing much is the best way to describe our recruitment efforts
Retention ? I guess Joffa extends ?
Api and Isaiah were signed last Nov so in a few weeks time nothing new?
Wouldn't brag about it Lee
Love the wall charts and the 15 year olds .
Come on SIGN some powerful forwards and centers by Nov 30 if not I assume your 2023 goal is still bottom 4 and that's UNACCEPTABLE

He mention planning has been done from 15 year olds up

 

[gallagher]

They draw a line in the sand at last place. Wow, what high standards they set.

 

[BAGNF05]

I have made many posts related to the comments above .Wests Tigers are a jumbled mix of suburbs a stones throw from the city to some 65 km away and some in between . Whether it be Ryde or Lidcombe plus quite a few more here and there and its run from Ashfield and Concord by people who don't have a feel for the footy or fans . Further more you have some forces pushing against each other to primarily support their particular foundation club .
I believe that it is extremely difficult to attract any big name players except by paying substantial overs to 30 yr olds .
The club is viewed as one full of friction with a toxic atmosphere .
I wouldn't be surprised if come Nov30 still no new signings
I'm happy Tim is taking over with Benji as I have no evidence that any mainline coaches wanted the job .
I Think the board must be reconstituted containing only Wests Tigers members and all teams should be called Wests Tigers as I think only something dramatic showing club is making a full break from the past will convince the nrl community that is really A FRESH START .and new beginnings

Forget the geography. We just need one home ground that that isn’t already owned by a competitor. One with atmosphere. I travel 2 hours each way to games regularly when the team is actually having a go.

 

[BAGNF05]

What a total load of manure.There would not be a sewage plant in the world capable of dealing with the amount of effluent coming from our management.Only 3 years of finals in over 2 decades where every year mathmatecially you are a 50% chance and they still don't admit where the problem lies

Going by his stupid logic next year it’s inevitable we finish 17th.

 

[BAGNF05]

What the hell Lee 's quote
" a lot of work has been done on recruitment and retention behind the scenes" Wests Tigers is just about the only club to announce zero recruitment . Does he mean Benji sent Munster, Tedesco and Moses an SMS saying would you like to come to tigers one day.? Seriously if I was trying to sell something to somebody I might pick up phone and chat to them or even invite them to dinner.
Lee nothing much is the best way to describe our recruitment efforts
Retention ? I guess Joffa extends ?
Api and Isaiah were signed last Nov so in a few weeks time nothing new?
Wouldn't brag about it Lee
Love the wall charts and the 15 year olds .
Come on SIGN some powerful forwards and centers by Nov 30 if not I assume your 2023 goal is still bottom 4 and that's UNACCEPTABLE

They are going to sit back and take stock😂 same old shit

 

[liltiger]

Yeah, there’s definitely an element of disconnect between the board and fans.

If Lee wants to make a statement about how high his firms legal fees are, that’s a matter for him.

Nobody likes rich show offs. It’s a bad and inhumane scene when the homeless are getting in your face more and more these days.

We are not some bullshit banana republic yet.

Our “line in the sand” has been crossed so many times, nobody can tell where it was. 4 or 5 years worth.

If we could play 25% of the tenacity of tonight’s game, I could cope better.

Yeah in relation to playing at 25% of the intensity, it is actually terrifying how far away we really are. We aren't even close to the top teams atm.

 

[TSP]

if papali could negotiate a deal now he would be on plenty more than what the Tigers signed him for
We got a good deal

You can’t go back in time. That’s Leesense.

We signed him on big dollars for his situation back in the day and he’s come good.

He was a Madge recruit too.

He’s not here for love. Gal said so. I believe Gal.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

You can’t go back in time. That’s Leesense.

We signed him on big dollars for his situation back in the day and he’s come good.

He was a Madge recruit too.

He’s not here for love. Gal said so. I believe Gal.

we have signed him for 650k haven't we ? that is a good deal if he was a free agent he would get more than that

 

[TSP]

we have signed him for 650k haven't we ? that is a good deal if he was a free agent he would get more than that

Yeah but he wasn’t up to that level when we signed him.

So in his mind when he was signed, he’s thinking ffs 650 sub/marquee cash, I’ll sign with the tigers. He’s after cash at the time he signed!

I can’t explain it more than twice.

@Tiger Tragic -i need your teaching experience!

 

[TSP]

What the hell Lee 's quote
" a lot of work has been done on recruitment and retention behind the scenes" Wests Tigers is just about the only club to announce zero recruitment . Does he mean Benji sent Munster, Tedesco and Moses an SMS saying would you like to come to tigers one day.? Seriously if I was trying to sell something to somebody I might pick up phone and chat to them or even invite them to dinner.
Lee nothing much is the best way to describe our recruitment efforts
Retention ? I guess Joffa extends ?
Api and Isaiah were signed last Nov so in a few weeks time nothing new?
Wouldn't brag about it Lee
Love the wall charts and the 15 year olds .
Come on SIGN some powerful forwards and centers by Nov 30 if not I assume your 2023 goal is still bottom 4 and that's UNACCEPTABLE

Nailed it.

The club is on its last legs, crippled and impotent, dying a death by 1000 cuts and GTA Benjis total contribution is to pause his game and text a couple of players.

I’m surprised Munster hasnt already signed with us for unders, with the entire kangaroo side in toe, frothing at the mouth for a spot on our bench or better yet, an effing development contract.

The seasons woes, our first spoon, is not a patch on this stellar pre season.

“Everything’s under control” yeah, we are absolutely killing it.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Yeah but he wasn’t up to that level when we signed him.

So in his mind when he was signed, he’s thinking ffs 650 sub/marquee cash, I’ll sign with the tigers. He’s after cash at the time he signed!

I can’t explain it more than twice.

@Tiger Tragic -i need your teaching experience!

parramatta didn't have the cash to match our offer now they do.
Understand he won the second rower of the year after we signed him.
He wants out now so that he can get a better deal he is being rorted with us on our deal that he signed.
As for Paul Gallen I wouldn't believe anything he says he would have no idea about papali and his contract and he has zero connection with parramatta or his manager. Gallen is like Levi on 2bg NFI

 

[TSP]

parramatta didn't have the cash to match our offer now they do.
Understand he won the second rower of the year after we signed him.
He wants out now so that he can get a better deal he is being rorted with us on our deal that he signed.
As for Paul Gallen I wouldn't believe anything he says he would have no idea about papali and his contract and he has zero connection with parramatta or his manager.

I said he originally signed for money and that’s what you are saying. So we agree.

I said Gal knows a lot more about footy players reasons than we do. I stand by that. You don’t really know if he had an idea. I think you may be speculating. Gal made the comment and it remains to be disproved.

Footy players are usually pretty well connected.

Gal was an eels junior too, so he’d know plenty.

Levi is too conservative I think. Nothing personal, his values do not really reflect mine. Mmm are mostly juvenile, although for me, James Graham is more interesting.

Those are my submissions anyways.

 

[Buttface]

Guess this fits within the topic... Via DT

Wests Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis insists he has no regrets over the club’s mid-season axing of Michael Maguire and revealed he had apologised to corporate supporters and fans following another season of abject disappointment.

The Tigers finished the 2022 season with the wooden spoon, having won only a handful of games over the course of a tumultuous year that eventually cost Maguire his job.

In his place, the Tigers will start next season with Tim Sheens in charge, part of a succession plan that will eventually see favourite son Benji Marshall take the reins alongside long-time teammate Robbie Farah.

“We can’t put any positive spin on it,” Hagipantelis said.

“It was disastrous as far as results are concerned. I recently spoke at the Kelly Barnes award and proffered my apologies and regret to all of our stakeholders, including our corporate partners and fans and members.

“I think this year’s results were inevitable in the sense that it was the nadir of the last four years. If you look at the last four years we have gone 9th, 11th, 13th and 16th.

“We have now drawn a line in the sand – this is a line-in-the-sand moment. We have taken stock of who we are, what our identity is and what we have to do moving forward.

“There has been a massive injection of Tigers DNA into the club with Tim and Benjji and Robbie. What we need to do is take one step forward on what may be a long journey.

“But we have to work our way out of this and I am confident we will.”

Maguire was the biggest casualty of another underperforming year, although changes are also expected within the playing squad given the way things unfolded.

The Tigers have made an inquiry about Melbourne star Cameron Munster while Marshall has taken the lead role in player recruitment – it is understood he sent texts to the likes of James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses, asking their interest in potentially returning one day.

The biggest decision the club faces in the off-season is over the future of halfback Luke Brooks. Sheens wants him to stay but his future may be dictated by his own desire and whether he craves a fresh start.
The Tigers are preparing for a fresh start of their own, having made the decision in June to part ways with their coach. Asked whether he harboured any regrets over that call – the Tigers barely won a game after Maguire’s departure – Hagipantelis said: “Not for one moment. We had committed to the coaching structure as it was for the entire year.

“Unfortunately circumstances changed and our hand was forced in a sense. We decided we had to move in a completely different direction as far as our culture and identity were concerned.

“You couple that with the results as well and as a board we had no choice but to make what was a difficult decision. We just felt we had to make that decision at that time.”

The decision made, Hagipantelis believes there is reason for optimism. Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papalii will be key recruits next season while the Tigers blooded some youngsters at the back end of the year. Most optimism surrounds their new brain’s trust, which will officially take charge on November 1.

“There is a sea-change,” Hagipantelis said.

“I think Tim, Benji and Robbie are going to sit back and take stock over the next few weeks.

“There has been a lot of work done so far as our recruitment and retention has been done behind the scenes.

“I can’t tell you the number of depth charts and analysis that has been done going back to 15 year olds.

“I think this has been a historic year for all the wrong reasons. I think we have drawn a line in the sand. None of it for one moment demean or diminish the significance of this year’s results.

“We share the pain and disappointment of all the members and fans. We are not immune to legitimate criticism and we take it on board.

“But every decision, every step taken, has been to further the interest of the Wests Tigers only.”

He’d make a good lawyer that bloke.

 

[Newtown]

if papali could negotiate a deal now he would be on plenty more than what the Tigers signed him for
We got a good deal

At least West s tigers had a win here.

 

[Newtown]

Forget the geography. We just need one home ground that that isn’t already owned by a competitor. One with atmosphere. I travel 2 hours each way to games regularly when the team is actually having a go.

 

[Siberian Kitten]

We could negotiate like Melbourne didd with us. Sure Parra, you can keep Papa as long as we get someone about the same standard, say Sivo - and you can pay the difference.

 

[TSP]

What I suspect is Tim and Benji have tried hard without success attracting top name players furthermore its a struggle to keep one weve already signed
The reason for this are
- Our dismal roster , Our position on the table and our woeful defence
One or two good ones mixed in with our lot won't make enough difference and make the incoming stars look ordinary
- Our reputation of being a basket case of a club with in fighting and a toxic atmosphere
When I look at the board and the composition of all the junior ranks with very few actually called Wests Tigers .
We are an odd mix of geographies , and junior teams
We need to be a singular club to be a powerful club and then we will find recruitment much easier

You’re right in all respects.

But instead of a report of Benjis laziness texting a couple of players, I would have expected at least a phone call, a letter, big dollars, long contract, a visit to coe, formal discussions, an approach to management, maybe a gift or at least a honey trap.

Oh that’s right, we tried that with Ciraldo didn’t we?

Nice to hear Lee belting out the DNA anthem loudly now when Tim sued our guts out and Benji was publicly critical of us after we deemed his services excess to requirements.

Not much DNA then was there?

The club treats us like muppets, the vegetable ones, chef used to cook with.


Here we are in veggie land
That’s how the board treats us fans
The line in the sand has now been crossed
But hungry for power, they don’t give a toss.

They think they know, treat us like fools,
But the board and officials are the real deal tools.

They need to account for their mindless errors of judgment and stand down.

The party at WT headquarters needs to finish now.

That is my honest opinion.

 

[batboy]

Yeah but he wasn’t up to that level when we signed him.

So in his mind when he was signed, he’s thinking ffs 650 sub/marquee cash, I’ll sign with the tigers. He’s after cash at the time he signed!

I can’t explain it more than twice.

@Tiger Tragic -i need your teaching experience!

I think the Price of back rowers boomed a bit in the last off season as well....
Leilua getting 7+ is a fair indication of that.

 

[batboy]

We could negotiate like Melbourne didd with us. Sure Parra, you can keep Papa as long as we get someone about the same standard, say Sivo - and you can pay the difference.

We don't need a lazy winger who can't bend over.

 

[TSP]

I think the Price of back rowers boomed a bit in the last off season as well....
Leilua getting 7+ is a fair indication of that.

True.

Then the unofficial Tiger Tax (overs) that are worked out in the car park with managers and player agents.

I was happy to give Lucy a modest and proportionate rise, but at the time I couldn’t cope with sub marquee cash. He’d only just managed to play a full 80 at full throttle level.

Even today, at that price, I think he’s having a small lend. Not totally, but there’s a bit of unnerving subterfuge yonder.

We never heard from BJ again…