Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Never paid much attention to Richo before because he was always someone else's CEO, but gee he impressed me today at that conference.

We still can't get a microphone out there so that you could hear the questions but that didn't matter, Richo just oozed passion, knowledge and experience like not all that many others that I have seen or heard before.

Makes you wonder how players and their managers could fail to be impressed and he also provided a small glimpse of his no bullshit, take no crap approach to the media, smart arses and fools in general, or that is at least the way he came across to me.

The only concern I have is if we are unable to secure him for the longer term, I want to win a comp with this bloke in charge and starting to re-consider the possibility of a 2024 membership renewal after vowing not to do it.

A few mates of mine have long been telling me we need Shane Richardson at Wests Tigers.
I wasn’t convinced until hearing his interview today, now I’m certain we are in a much better place with him running the show.

 

[weststigerman]

1.2M is enough for Luai and 4 years is long enough.

Might make a really good 7 but he’s unproven and we have 2 very good 18 year old 6s if he doesn’t come.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

A few mates of mine have long been telling me we need Shane Richardson at Wests Tigers.
I wasn’t convinced until hearing his interview today, now I’m certain we are in a much better place with him running the show.

That was the best 22 minutes of the pre-season thus far!

 

[TigerLove]

Never paid much attention to Richo before because he was always someone else's CEO, but gee he impressed me today at that conference.

We still can't get a microphone out there so that you could hear the questions but that didn't matter, Richo just oozed passion, knowledge and experience like not all that many others that I have seen or heard before.

Makes you wonder how players and their managers could fail to be impressed and he also provided a small glimpse of his no bullshit, take no crap approach to the media, smart arses and fools in general, or that is at least the way he came across to me.

The only concern I have is if we are unable to secure him for the longer term, I want to win a comp with this bloke in charge and starting to re-consider the possibility of a 2024 membership renewal after vowing not to do it.

If Richo stays and we win a comp with him, then I think we should put a bronze statue of him out the front of the COE!

 

[Todd Packer]

I liked that they had him standing in the shade and the journos in the sun.

 

[426Tlgerland]

You could easily argue the exact opposite

100%. Most would be happy with the news crap is out Richo is in now

 

[WT46]

Didn’t even see it - good to hear Richo admit that openly then.

Dogs coming in late for Luai would be a very Gus thing to do - I was told they were out and had full focus on AFB. Didn’t Ciraldo come out a couple of days ago and even state he wouldn’t take anyone from Penrith when asked about Luai.

Geez they play this recruitment game dirty - if they get there man though can you blame them?

It’s ok cause no players will play good for them. Look at Kikau and JAC

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Richardson confirms Tigers have withdrawn Fonua-Blake offer

“We need flexibility in our cap."

www.sen.com.au

 

[LUPO]

1.2M is enough for Luai and 4 years is long enough.

Might make a really good 7 but he’s unproven and we have 2 very good 18 year old 6s if he doesn’t come.

We have just withdrawn our offer to AFB

 

[Glenji95]

We have just withdrawn our offer to AFB

I reckon we’ll up the offer to get Luai here. Richo is very keen on wanting him here.

 

[rugbygoated]

I don’t think we’d go that high salary-wise for that long. honestly after yesterday’s events, whatever will be will be.

I'm obviously biased towards Luai because I'm a fan and those who aren't a fan of him will be biased against him but I'd give him 5 years. I think he changes us in many areas. Team culture and chemistry, performance on the field, and with the fans

 

[Telltails]

Richardson confirms Tigers have withdrawn Fonua-Blake offer

“We need flexibility in our cap."

www.sen.com.au

So Bulldogs and now us pull out.. I'm happy to let this one go. Now do they up their offer on Luai to match the Bulldogs or let that one go too.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Richardson confirms Tigers have withdrawn Fonua-Blake offer

“We need flexibility in our cap."

www.sen.com.au

That is what you call making a statement immediately. Love his work. We have good props at the club now.

 

[GCfan]

Andrew Voss just made the point that any player who was considering signing with us will probably look elsewhere due to the upheaval and instability. There's just too much uncertainty for any manger to point his players our way.
It's hard to argue he's wrong.
I feel sorry for Benji. The events of yesterday probably mean the squad he has now is the squad he'll have to make work.
I like having Shane Richardson running the show, but it's at the expense of the '24 and 25 seasons.

Yeah I tend to agree. I would have rather they just appointed Shane Richardson and Barry in permanent roles. Not perfect but removes a large chunk of the uncertainty.

 

[hammertime]

Andrew Voss just made the point that any player who was considering signing with us will probably look elsewhere due to the upheaval and instability. There's just too much uncertainty for any manger to point his players our way.
It's hard to argue he's wrong.
I feel sorry for Benji. The events of yesterday probably mean the squad he has now is the squad he'll have to make work.
I like having Shane Richardson running the show, but it's at the expense of the '24 and 25 seasons.

Not if you watch Richardson's press conference. The bloke just instills confidence and stability.

One could argue we almost have the best CEO / Chair combo in the game now. With the obvious exception of Uncle Sombrero.

 

[carltonleach]

So Bulldogs and now us pull out.. I'm happy to let this one go. Now do they up their offer on Luai to match the Bulldogs or let that one go too.

I must have missed something, what did the Bulldogs offer him? Sorry if it's been mentioned already

 

[Todd Packer]

That is what you call making a statement immediately. Love his work. We have good props at the club now.

Considering he said he doesn't start until January 6 he must really have disagreed with that offer.

 

[rugbygoated]

I will say that what's different this time around about us chasing Luai is that if we don't end up getting him we have 3 long term halves signed (albeit unexperienced.) Last year we were heavily relying on Moses to come because they only half we had signed up for next season was Doueihi so it's not the end of the world if he doesn't end up coming.

This is what I'm trying to say. We should do everything we can (within good reason) to get him, but the backup plan is just fine

 

[BAGNF05]

That is what you call making a statement immediately. Love his work. We have good props at the club now.

Great player don’t get me wrong. But…So many parallels to the Russell Packer signing in my opinion and this club needs to learn from it’s mistakes.

 

[Odessa]

Interim CEO of the Wests Tigers, Shane Richardson has confirmed to SEN that his club are officially out of the Addin Fonua-Blake sweepstakes.

The wantaway New Zealand Warriors forward was expected to negotiate a deal with the Tigers for the 2025 season but has had those plans scrapped after the sweeping changes at board level.





Fonua-Blake now has had his options cut down to two viable clubs, the Dragons and Bulldogs, both of whom are expected to offer in excess of a million dollars per season for the imposing forward.



Despite Fonua-Blake’s undeniable talent, Richardson admitted the massive contract he is due would limit the club and the plan that he wants to put in place for the future.













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“I’ll give you an exclusive, we’ve actually withdrawn our offer for Addin Fonua-Blake,” Richardson said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.

“I think he’s a great player, he’s one of the top three front rowers in the game.


“Our forward pack is really strong, and we can add to that with our young players coming through.

“We need flexibility in our cap to be able to do things we need to do to make us stronger now.

“From that point of view, it’s my opinion and also Benji’s (Marshall) because I wouldn’t do it without Benji, it’s not anything to do with that it’s got everything to do with where we need to focus our attention on.”

Richardson also re-instated his desire for the club to land Jarome Luai in the coming weeks.