Gazman
Well-known member
No scandals, no pre season naughtiness so its a slow news day for Buzz as we are his favourite whipping boys
CEO - Shane Richardson
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Odessa
Well-known member
Did the article say anything about him turning down the Broncos to sign with the Tigers?
Tiger Karen
Well-known member
Politically, I think Richo would be best served by dampening expectations early this year whilst we have the honey moon period pending JL.
Then if we fail miserably, he can fall back on it ( he could say “I told you Rome wasn’t built in a day”) and if we do well, we have exceeded expectations. So no lose from Richo.
@Tucker wised me up to that little cell made gaol shank in the language a little while ago.
Tim went from saying it would take 3 games to find our mojo to 3 seasons. It was awful. No one called him out.
Benji shouldn’t say anything about prospects, he should work hard to improve them, which is what he is doing.
If you don’t promise, you can’t break it.
Maybe his increased tenure will depend on results and whether Benji can coach. He’s been wisely quiet about that.
And he’s pretty wealthy, doesn’t really need money, so I’d say he’d want to be enjoying his tenure here to stay on.
Then if we fail miserably, he can fall back on it ( he could say “I told you Rome wasn’t built in a day”) and if we do well, we have exceeded expectations. So no lose from Richo.
@Tucker wised me up to that little cell made gaol shank in the language a little while ago.
Tim went from saying it would take 3 games to find our mojo to 3 seasons. It was awful. No one called him out.
Benji shouldn’t say anything about prospects, he should work hard to improve them, which is what he is doing.
If you don’t promise, you can’t break it.
Maybe his increased tenure will depend on results and whether Benji can coach. He’s been wisely quiet about that.
And he’s pretty wealthy, doesn’t really need money, so I’d say he’d want to be enjoying his tenure here to stay on.
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Bigscreentv
Well-known member
Someone really needs to suggest that the reason the media runs these stories is because it’s dying, and they need to do it in a press conference. Unfortunately no one will as they are scared of newscorp.
Buzz just annoyed there are no leaks anymore.
426Tlgerland
Well-known member
100%. Correct , that old grub just stirring shit up again , on the plonk I would think , and Anasta Media and player agent is not a great mix but hay the NRL. Integrity is light on
426Tlgerland
Well-known member
Richo won’t take shit , he will have a good old go back and I think Bad Barry will also come out swinging if needed
liltiger
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Balmainlegend
Active member
Can someone share the article
I've just moved a number of posts from the 2024 Pre-Season thread, which contain all reposts of the article. Any related content (incl. quoted posts) have also been merged into this thread.
You should now be able to see the full article upthread.
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
And there you have it!!!!! A microcosm of the planet we live on and how the mighty control the strings. Do as we say not as we do.
twentyforty
Well-known member
Of course it’s a conflict of interests. Does every conflict of interest need to be a bad idea though?
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.
Kaito
Well-known member
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has broken bread with former chair and major sponsor Lee Hagipantelis as he attempts to salvage the club’s multimillion-dollar deal with Bryden’s Lawyers.
This masthead understands that Richardson caught up with Hagipantelis last week, the first time the pair had met since the club’s leadership structure was replaced late last year.
Hagipantelis, the principal of Bryden’s Lawyers, was the highest-profile casualty of the overhaul as the Tigers removed their board as well as former chief executive Justin Pascoe.
Pascoe was replaced by Richardson, who now finds himself in the crosshairs over the signing of youngster Solomona Faataape, who is managed by a company he part owns.
It is understood the Player Agent Accreditation Scheme are looking into the matter after receiving at least one complaint from another player manager.
The NRL is also monitoring proceedings and may yet take action to remove any conflict of interest. Richardson, meanwhile, is focused on ensuring the Tigers can find a way to heal after the traumatic events of last year, when the club’s leadership structure was cast aside following an independent investigation into club’s operations.
Hagipantelis was furious that he was among the casualties, launching a scathing attack on the owners of the club after they voted for the board to be removed en masse.
At the time he said he would honour the remaining year of his sponsorship deal but would reserve a decision on extending his involvement until he knew who was running the club.
Richardson is that man, having been appointed for an initial six-month term with the option for a longer deal which he is expected to take up.
That may, however, change should he be forced to make call between his role at the Tigers and his stake in Rich Digital, the management company he owns in conjunction with his son Brent.
There is every chance that the NRL may decide Richardson must do one or the other. Chair Barry O’Farrell is the other key figure with his hands on the wheel at the Tigers, having replaced Hagipantelis as chair of the club when the board was removed.
The Tigers are on the wrong end of the biggest loss in NRL history and their worst loss ever when they’re pumped 74-0 by North Queensland, just six weeks after a rousing 66-18 win over the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.
Richardson has taken it upon himself to smooth things over with Hagipantelis as he looks to ensure the club doesn’t enter the season with bad blood coursing through the corridors of Tigertown.
While not long the chair of the Tigers, Hagipantelis still holds enormous sway given the size of his sponsorship deal with the club and his relationship with key figures including coach Benji Marshall.
Prior to Hagipantelis’ removal as chair, Marshall was an outspoken supporter of both he and Pascoe in an interview with this masthead.
“One thing will say with Justin and Lee in particular I think they do get a bad rap sometimes,” Marshall said. “I didn’t see this when I was playing but working with them now, they actually have genuine care and want the club to be better.
“Lee chips in x amount of his own money and has a genuine care for the club. I have seen it first hand. He cops quite a lot of flak.”
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Why didn’t the Telegraph go after the conflict of interest angle so heavily when Lee was here … and juggling Chairman and major sponsor?
The best thing in that article …” Richardson …having been appointed for an initial six month period … with the option of a longer deal which he is expected to take up “..
The best thing in that article …” Richardson …having been appointed for an initial six month period … with the option of a longer deal which he is expected to take up “..
Bigscreentv
Well-known member
Geez they are really trying to make something out of this "conflict of interest" aren't they? Incredible.
Mighty_Tiger
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The article is just a headline grab as we get clicks.
It would be sooo funny if the kid gets rookie of the year.
We didn’t have an experienced center to then go yes get a inexperienced one behind him (they play a similar style game).
Coaches signed to agents always get players of agents in the top squad (even if they aren’t NRL quality).
Flanno signed his son who was playing reggies to the Dragons to play 1st grade and crickets
Fulton came across and got 2 young kids that he is close to the manager to break contracts and join us within a few months.
Like cmon this is a qld cup kid that didn’t have a nrl deal and they make it out like some controversial crap.
It would be sooo funny if the kid gets rookie of the year.
We didn’t have an experienced center to then go yes get a inexperienced one behind him (they play a similar style game).
Coaches signed to agents always get players of agents in the top squad (even if they aren’t NRL quality).
Flanno signed his son who was playing reggies to the Dragons to play 1st grade and crickets
Fulton came across and got 2 young kids that he is close to the manager to break contracts and join us within a few months.
Like cmon this is a qld cup kid that didn’t have a nrl deal and they make it out like some controversial crap.
twentyforty
Well-known member
I think this is the point which goes to bias in decision making.
Young player struggling to get a contract, knocked back by Fulton 4 months prior to Richo’s appointment. However, enter Richo and Benji wants him. Richo did say he would never sign a player the coach didn’t want. Some quid pro quo negotiating? Or did Benji suddenly discover the Kids highlights reel? 😂
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