CEO - Shane Richardson

[tigerballs]

Shane in action:

“Not many would have taken the coaching job”

Object: to promote Benji
Reality: it was never advertised, he can’t make this assertion. Club had 16 quality Applicants for the position when Tim binned them and appointed himself. Plenty of people would want the job. It’s the ‘effing NRL.

“He’s intelligent and learning”

Object: promote Benji
Reality: Very little evidence of intelligence. Team is underperforming. He should be ready to coach and not still learning.

“ I think he’s done a great job”

Object: personal endorsement of Benji
Reality: team is struggling. Some despicable results. Worst coach in the nrl by some distance. Objectively, I’m sorry, but he hasn’t done a good job. He’s been ordinary to hopeless as a coach.

Also forgets to tell 360 that Benji is a close personal friend.

“ I never want to lose a junior”

Object: the junior rhetoric!
Reality: He cut Galvo and TDS early, many other juniors released in favour of recruiting from elsewhere!

“That’s why we bought Luai”
Object: to promote the decision to keep Api over TDS
Reality. Talks began with JL before Shane arrived at club.

“Fijians seem to play forever”
Object: promote Api
Reality: API is not an 80 minute player and is in decline.

“API hasn’t signed”
Object: answering a question
Reality: We get rid of TDS before signing Api. Api can now name his price, poor management. Richo unable to promise outcome.

“ JL has shown no signs of leaving early”
Objective: soothe fans
Reality: We remain at risk. JL’s dad reminded us. Richo unable to promise outcome.

So there’s our valued and important leadership group unsigned.

Don’t miss part 2 tomorrow.

Go Richo…

I can't agree Benji is the worst coach. I'd argue O'Brien and Hasler have better squads and worse results. Flanagan hasn't done anything to suggest he's any better. I couldn't argue Benji is any better than those, but he's not alone as the worst.

I also don't think we'll miss Galvin or TDS at all and in fact I think we're better off without them.

 

[hank37w]

They should market it as the Aussie Fawlty Towers!

Gus Gould can be Basil.

It’s a been a good time watching and listening to him being slandered.

He’s extremely sensitive about his good name. He’s been a conniving muppet for a long time.

I think Dallas Donelly may have been there at some stage and trashed the joint. 🤣

 

[TSP]

I can't agree Benji is the worst coach. I'd argue O'Brien and Hasler have better squads and worse results. Flanagan hasn't done anything to suggest he's any better. I couldn't argue Benji is any better than those, but he's not alone as the worst.

I also don't think we'll miss Galvin or TDS at all and in fact I think we're better off without them.

I appreciate your response 👍

 

[TSP]

I think Dallas Donelly may have been there at some stage and trashed the joint. 🤣

He could have eaten it too.

RIP Dallas, beloved by the entire game.

 

[tigerballs]

They should market it as the Aussie Fawlty Towers!

Gus Gould can be Basil.

It’s a been a good time watching and listening to him being slandered.

He’s extremely sensitive about his good name. He’s been a conniving muppet for a long time.

I've hated him since he played for Souths.

Plus he's ugly.

 

[hank37w]

He could have eaten it too.

RIP Dallas, beloved by the entire game.

His antics at the Lidcombe Railway Hotel are sorely missed.

 

[wonka]

Didn't Richo offer huge deals to Galvin and Stefano only to get knocked back.
Imagine if they accepted we would be screwed for years and no Terrell May. He might be a good CEO but talent scout not so much. I feel for him working for tightwad HBG he has to do 3 or 4 positions
because there is no money available for proper staffing levels.

 

[Telltails]

I can't agree Benji is the worst coach. I'd argue O'Brien and Hasler have better squads and worse results. Flanagan hasn't done anything to suggest he's any better. I couldn't argue Benji is any better than those, but he's not alone as the worst.

I also don't think we'll miss Galvin or TDS at all and in fact I think we're better off without them.

Yep - there can be whole lot of reasons why a coach fails that cannot be singly attributed to him/her alone.
And all coaches since Sheens the first time have failed at this club.
In fact naming anyone in any role that can say they have been successful because of their role at this club is hard to find.
Anyone is an easy target who is dedicated to changing things at this club, hence why plenty run to where successful systems are already in place or get sacked - so no prizes for kicking the ones who are dedicated to the cause.

 

[TSP]

Didn't Richo offer huge deals to Galvin and Stefano only to get knocked back.
Imagine if they accepted we would be screwed for years and no Terrell May. He might be a good CEO but talent scout not so much. I feel for him working for tightwad HBG he has to do 3 or 4 positions
because there is no money available for proper staffing levels.

My personal position is that he’s not all bad and he’s not all good.

Doesn’t matter because I have zero control as to his tenure.

He’s got his notes in front him during the interview and I suspect these are points he wants to raise, messages he’s thought about and wants to send out. That’s fine.

So far, he’s got full control over the interview. He’s simply too quick for them.

As a member, I would have liked to have known the rationales about these decisions first hand to us and not via the press. I think he promised that once, anyway…

It’s interesting watching him operate and what he thinks will get them and us onside.

And a lot less self promotion (so far) compared to the abc interview.

He started off poorly with a ridiculous assertion that many people wouldn’t want to coach us.

“ Benji was (about) the only one who put his hand up”

This Benji fest is something he’s absolutely committed to and Ive raised concerns about it, because he’s supposed to running the club professionally. He has to be prepared to report adverse things about Benji as he would about anyone else who is not pulling their weight.

At that point, I thought I was in for a long night…but he rallied a bit later on.

 

[Big Red]

I have no idea why we care whether the club turns a profit or not. HBG made 9 million in profit last fy. The club won't dig itself off the bottom of the ladder without some capital investment. It's like trying to start a fire without oxygen. Doesn't work. Fans care about winning. He's just reaching for something to hang his hat on as a success. He isn't here to turn a profit he is here to make the club successful.

While the NRL and some clubs are not-for-profit, WT is a for profit business. As CEO it is literally part of Richo’s job to make the club profitable. When he talks about the improvements in club sales and revenue he’s referencing the financial indicators he and the board are accountable for. Interestingly, a financially viable club has more independence from its owners… and is more attractive to prospective owners. 🤔

 

[poopy_diaper]

Which part?

That an independent board even exists. HBG can dismiss it with a click of their fingers if they want. It operates entirely at their discretion does it not?

 

[poopy_diaper]

I don't want to misquote you, but do you mean you wouldn't have done any different yet you have the right to criticise it as a "stakeholder"?

And what exactly can you see through? I'm really not understanding this consipracy.

There's nothing conspiratorial and yes.

I would say "look we made a profit" to generate favour because it works.

I am not holding it against him for doing it. I also think he's doing his best for the most part and like most of his moves. I think he's playing a straight bat a lot.

But trying to draw attention to profit when we generate no revenue and have a struggling side is clearly just shallow point scoring. I don't know why you're all finding my perspective so difficult.

 

[poopy_diaper]

While the NRL and some clubs are not-for-profit, WT is a for profit business. As CEO it is literally part of Richo’s job to make the club profitable. When he talks about the improvements in club sales and revenue he’s referencing the financial indicators he and the board are accountable for. Interestingly, a financially viable club has more independence from its owners… and is more attractive to prospective owners. 🤔

Yes and he can report that back to the board and soak up the accolades. I as a fan don't give a shit. And in fact consider the fact the HBG aren't letting the club spend it's profit and then some an indictment on them.

Is this really so hard to understand? I am like... baffled why this is even controversial.

 

[Big Red]

I'm going out on a limb here but perhaps HBG have told WT that they need to prove that they are financially viable before investing resources. $1M in profit may be able to pay a GM of football, or establish a better pathways program etc.

We are running on an oily rag at the moment.

The cynic in me suspects HBG ran WT at a loss to maintain control over the operations. Our current board and CEO aims to break that dependency and enable the club to stand on its own.

 

[poopy_diaper]

Richo on NRL 360 is talking to the fans.

I am a fan.

I care about wins.

I know the HBG is profitable.

I know we generate the lowest revenue in the NRL.

Richo saying we made 1m in profit.

Confirms we have the lowest expenditure in the NRL.

That is maths.

We have the lowest expenditure and we are three time reigning wooden spooners.

Is it hard to see the correlation?

Does it now make sense why I couldn't care less about making a profit or are we still confused?

 

[poopy_diaper]

The cynic in me suspects HBG ran WT at a loss to maintain control over the operations. Our current board and CEO aims to break that dependency and enable the club to stand on its own.

So the grand plan of the new board to achieve success is to say no to HBG funding? Nah man.

If the HBG aren't spending money on the club that's their decision. There's no way the club operation would say no to free money.

 

[TSP]

Richo made an emotional appeal against Galvo. We should feel sorry for him and Benji, they were “hurt”.

Played the victim with it.

That was quite an interesting message.

I think we are more angry than hurt. Being hurt gives Galvo more power. Puts our feelings in his hands.

I don’t think so.

As CEO I would’ve said “ I think he’s made a big mistake” or something similar. Something to support the lads, boost us up a bit at his expense.

 

[weststigers]

There's nothing conspiratorial and yes.

I would say "look we made a profit" to generate favour because it works.

I am not holding it against him for doing it. I also think he's doing his best for the most part and like most of his moves. I think he's playing a straight bat a lot.

But trying to draw attention to profit when we generate no revenue and have a struggling side is clearly just shallow point scoring. I don't know why you're all finding my perspective so difficult.

We don't understand because:

1. The job of a CEO, amongst other things, is to make profit. You have annointed some other solitary task on him, but that doesn't make it correct. Profit allows us to spend in areas where we are lacking, for example, the football department - the very department you are complaining about.

2. We obviously generate revenue, or else where does the profit come from?

3. It's hardly point scoring. Membership numbers and profit are part of his job. It's a good thing to have profit and high membership numbers and it has increased...it's an indicator the club is generating support and the members believe the club is moving in the right direction.

4. Is this the only thing you are criticising?

5. If you're not holding it against him, why say anything? You yourself would have done the same as you pointed out. That's where the confusion lies in what you're saying.

 

[BAGNF05]

Richo made an emotional appeal against Galvo. We should feel sorry for him and Benji, they were “hurt”.

Played the victim with it.

That was quite an interesting message.

I think we are more angry than hurt. Being hurt gives Galvo more power. Puts our feelings in his hands.

I don’t think so.

Benji is trying to pave his way as a coach and a kid he backed to the hilt turned on him. I’m guessing he was really hurt and you’re overthinking again.

 

[Snidest 0]

Benji is trying to pave his way as a coach and a kid he backed to the hilt turned on him. I’m guessing he was really hurt and you’re overthinking again.

Under-thinking more like it