innsaneink
Well-known member
Same article, two differing versions...the other very little about Richardson & CrawfordWhen Richardson was announced as interim CEO, I wasn’t surprised. He’s close to Tony Crawford, the co-author of the review commissioned by the Holman and Barnes faction at the Tigers.
He’s also been looking for a job. Since leaving South Sydney during COVID-19, he’s been a consultant on various projects, but the big man’s ego and appetite for running football teams made it hard for him to stay away.
St George Illawarra director Peter Doust wanted him to become the club’s head of football, but the idea was rebuffed by WIN directors.
Turning around a Hot Mess Express such as the Tigers looms as Richardson’s biggest challenge, and that’s saying something when you consider how broken Souths were when he joined them in the early 2000s.
For years, it’s been difficult to know where the power resides at the Tigers.
Mostly, it was with chairman Lee Hagipantelis, who constantly tested his remit by getting involved in football matters.
A key condition of Richardson coming on board was that he answers solely to new chair Barry O’Farrell, but he’s already made it clear who wears the big pants at the club.
Head of recruitment Scott Fulton was desperate to secure Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake from 2025, but Richardson came over the top and scuppered those negotiations so more money could be thrown at Luai.
It makes you wonder how long Fulton, who was hired directly by Hagipantelis, can last.
Richardson has a six-month contract but could stay beyond that if he likes the direction of the club.
Let’s see if he can land Luai, who’s on the hook but not yet in the boat.
What is off the table is the idea of Luai coming a year early. The Tigers don’t have the cap space and the Panthers have made it clear they won’t let him go.
Which makes for an interesting ride given the clear animosity between Luai and Penrith.
The three-time premiers have managed the departure of players in the past three seasons with aplomb, but Luai is the team’s “chief energy officer”, a much-loved player and close friend of Nathan Cleary.
Managing Luai — who has brushed training all week — is going to be their toughest test so far in defending their title.
‘It would be scary not playing with Nathan’: Even Luai admits leaving Penrith a risk
With $6 million on the table, it’s hard for Luai to stay at the Panthers. But is it really the best move?www.smh.com.au
