OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[Buttface]

Afternoon everyone, I wanted to start a thread to primarily show my personal support for the forum and the importance I see in this medium. This also can be a genuinely helpful way for the club to source feedback from time to time in an online space that will self-regulate and fuel healthy debate.

I tried to post a few days ago but appropriately the moderators ran their checks to confirm that yes this is actually me rather than someone pretending to be the CEO.
I have been actively reading the forum since I started at the club over 2 years ago and several times I was very close to jumping on and saying hi several times but decided to take the safer route.

I've seen many posts on here that wonder if the club does read the forum and it is worth knowing that some staff do at times jump on. I am a huge fan of online forums because I believe it is a key part of fan culture and debate, especially in a modern social media world where it is hard to see through the online trolls and the media agendas. At least here you know someone will call out BS and as long as people remain within the forum rules good debate and conversation can foster.

I am keen to hear from people on their views passions and opinions, but I do want to put in a disclaimer that I simply won't be able to reply to every question or comment on every topic. I'm sure you will all agree that I should be spending 99.99% of my time working as hard as I can as CEO and getting caught up too much on here with debate is not the best use of my time or head space.

Please know that I can't and won't be able to talk on a lot of topics - players and football in particular. I know you all would love me to give a blow-by-blow account of every team list, recruitment discussion, on field decisions, board discussions etc etc obviously that would not be professional and not in the best interest of the club. Plenty of things that happen at the club need to stay confidential at the club and I know that what is said on here simply won't stay on here.

I hope to jump on at random every few weeks or so but there will be times that I might not get on to reply for a few months - like I said I will need to make sure I prioritise 99.99% of my time on the day to day job and hopefully this is still and opportunity that is welcomed here on the forum.

I do have thick skin so I get that I will get some frank feedback at times, just please remember I am a human with a family.

So please know that I will read this thread, unlikely that i will be able to read all the other though. I'm still learning everyday about the very unique journey this club has been on and I can't rewrite or comment on decision made before my time. I do believe in the Wests Tigers and that includes everyone that cheers on our players and spend your hard earned money on supporting this club.

Thanks for being part of this forum and reading my long post, most of all thanks for being part of the Wests Tigers family.

Welcome to our Tigers Family Shaun.
All we want is more wins.
Please make it happen, some of us don’t have another decade.

I have a question for ya.
What team did you support growing up? Is that your family team, i.e. same as ya Dad’s team?

You can be honest, I will forgive you even if it’s Manly.

WT4L

 

[Craegus]

Very noticeable too when you go to a game...everyones wearing a different shirt, jersey or jacket

That is very common in sports these days. Just look at soccer and where they have gone from a 3 year home and 2 year alternate cycle, with the old alternate then becoming the 3rd, to all new kits every year. It is just due to our colours that it stands out a bit more. But with that being said, at least we do keep our 3 colours, again in soccer, random colours are added to the home kits all the time. It is just how merchandising works. Sure in some sports they do stay consistent, or a couple of clubs in league, but in the most part league doesn’t have the same fan base as them.

The biggest issue really is the lack of some form of consistency, or more so this year the (as per the ads at the game) extremely popular home kit, not actually being used as the home kit (unless at Leichhardt).

 

[Tom Shines]

Hi Shaun ..

You must have one of the toughest jobs in the history of Australian sport ..and I wish you the best of luck ..when the simplest fundamentals like the main color of the jersey and where you play home games can lead to major internal disruptions…issues that simply don’t exist for the clubs competitors ..

Can I suggest that we need better identifiers of talent in the pathways …I don’t know the specifics ( numbers , qualifications) … but we seem spectacularly unsuccessful in getting althletic talent from our large number junior ranks into the NRL team ..

Not trying to sound patronising…but prioritising speed in the outside backs and size/agression amongst the forwards and wingers might be a great place to start ,.,

 

[Flippedy]

Very noticeable too when you go to a game...everyones wearing a different shirt, jersey or jacket

Yeah to me it just takes away the whole point of a team having an identity through club colours and design. It’s not just us either, but just about every club does it. Look at Cronulla’s kit last night - who the hell were they playing as?

It’s all about money of course. Let’s keep putting new designs and merchandise out there every year so all the dimwits keep buying them. I miss the days when you knew which club was which and who supported who (without question) simply by the colours and the jersey they were wearing.

 

[Bellend]

Why can't Solomone Saukuru get a crack at First Grade??

 

[cochise]

I highly doubt you are the real CEO.

But I will bite.

What are you doing to make this club thrive?

Immediate goals and strategies this calendar year and next year?

It is definitely Shaun, club reached out to confirm.

 

[Telltails]

Good luck Shaun with the hardest job in the NRL.
Stability - on the field and off. This club is so deep rooted in failure that it's getting harder and harder to believe that anyone currently associated with the place has the best interest of the "Wests Tigers" success as a priority in their decision making, and surviving appears good enough.
Unlike some I don't buy the Campbelltown is our future line because in the here and now I see little to support that theory - yet the evidence of the connection to the inner west is obvious it's real and it has existed through thick and thin.

Sydney clubs are tribal - if Campbelltown hasn't fully got on board as a community yet they never will - they have had plenty of time. Why alienate the one thing that the club has succeeded in - maintaining a loyal inner west fan base.
No way Cronulla or Manly would expect their fans to travel 2hrs there and back to watch their team play - they are not considered growth areas either - why are Wests Tigers fans expected to accept that. And yet here we are compromising again - for what to watch our team continue to struggle and travel two hours for the privilege??

Even got our own fans guilting each other that we should travel to watch our team play - rubbish. It doesn't make it feasible - a home game in Sydney is associated with the locality of the fan base and accessibility. Two hours of travel time may work for Sunday games but not other time slots.

All clubs have access to juniors if they have good talent scouts and systems in place no matter where they come from. Our failure to succeed has been on the back of the instability of the club and the perception that players won't reach potential at this club.- given the lack of quality players we have produced/ retained it's hard to argue with that.
Our fans have compromised enough - time for you guys to start looking at what successful clubs are doing off the field and measure up.

 

[bbobb]

@ShaunMielekamp - I really admire someone in your role who takes the time to talk with fans. It’s also a great input for fan sentiment.

As a club, we have been told by previous leadership that we are a development club. That’s a great ambition but in your opinion do we have the required funding to really achieve this long term? How do we address this if you think we are short?

 

[Toothless Tigers]

There has been a bombsrdment of questions and views on here directed back to our CEO. This is evidenced by a long time of very ordinary footy results.

I think Shaun must be allowed to perform his CEO role with our full support of his actions.
I’m only going to praise Shaun for his decision to take on his role and I believe he deserves our thanks and support. I also extend that to Benji as coach as well

I like many, don’t know how to fix what holds this club back. But I believe that Shaun has the right to work through all issues with a view to make positive changes. he should be allowed to do so, with our full backing.
Trust in our CEO should be extended without question. It should be ongoing and maintained till that trust is let down, if ever.
My belief is that trust for our CEO is deserved at this point in time and also going forward. Time itself will tell if that trust is still warranted.

Shaun has a lot to digest when you read the many varied and assorted details mentioned within the forum.

As a very long term supporter of Balmain, Wests and Wests Tigers, I have one wish going forward. Can I ask that the WT club stop wasting salary cap money. My view is we only pay players to play at this club not to go and play against us at a rival team. This reeks of madness to financially help out a rival.Others may not agree with this view, but they are entitled to their own view.

Shaun and Benji should be thanked wholeheartedly for their hard work and dedication to their roles they have taken on for this club. They only have the best results at heart on all matters, and do so on behalf of all parties concerned with WT, including us supporters. Let them get on to make a difference (which may take time)

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Well what can i say other than welcome and good onya @ShaunMielekamp I think its pretty safe to say there wouldn't be another club in the NRL that would engage via a fan forum.

I don't really have anything to add apart from whats already been bought up in the previous pages. All i will say is knowing us as in WT's i hope the media don't try and put a negative spin on this as they love to do with us. There are some strange fellow's in the media love to lay the boot into us, some are even supposed supporters work that one out.

 

[tigertragic]

Hi Shaun
Just some observations/questions

Why wasn’t the ‘WestsTigers’ Board announced to supporters as soon as it was determined after the debacle at the end of last year.

Which Board decided it was an urgent need to extend Benji when there was no obvious reason/need (other than a good news story to distract from the earlier board debacle)

If injuries have identified our lack of depth what positions are being pursued for depth enhancement
(I presume centre/second row/ prop, now that our hooker options have improved + possibly another Fainu)

I agree with others after my recent game day experience at Campbelltown. Cringe and unprofessional are terms regularly used.

Why do the tigers coaching/admin team seem to be heavily weighted to 2005 team members. Good players don’t automatically translate into good coaches/administrators. Especially when they have no or limited previous experience.

How many players will be partly paid by wests Tigers to play for other teams, hopefully none other than Luai

Thank you for all your hard work into the future. Tigers need that and much more.

 

[innsaneink]

I think people need to re-read the OP and dont waste time asking questions he wont answer

 

[cochise]

Well, you do you, but don't be disrespectful to Shaun on here. You've asked, been answered, choose to reject, so, maybe this thread isn't for you.

For those not believing it is Shaun, I spoke to the club directly about it.

 

[Chunk]

Hi Shaun, thanks for your time.

Question about financial contributions.

How important is it to have access to more financial support for the football club?

"The Holman Barnes Group (HBG) does not financially contribute as much out-of-pocket funding to the Wests Tigers as other club owners or leagues clubs inject into their respective teams." AI

And it seems HBG make large profits through Wests Ashfield, so how can you access more of these funds from HBG, considering they don't contribute as much as other football club 'owners'?

Thanks

 

[innsaneink]

He can answer or not answer what ever question he wants to, but he can also be made ‘aware’ of questions generally being asked by supporters.
Not unreasonable

So if everyone asks questions he cant answer...whats the point?

Id rather questions that can be answered

 

[EllisFan]

It’s a free world .. he can do what he likes … who cares who’s feelings might he hurt if he chooses not to answer … I’m pretty sure he will be aware of what he can and can’t say ..

It’s much more refreshing than the old pre-prepared questions on Ask the Boss.

 

[poopy_diaper]

Welcome to the fun Shaun.

 

[weststigers]

Please ask Twally what happened between him and that weak gutted dog

 

[poopy_diaper]

Two questions.

When we are struggling with depth and forced to pick out of form off players like Skelton and To'a why did we release Luke Laulilii early?

If our attacking strategy is to bomb to Rinakama why did we not pick Tavana who is an actual aerial threat?

 

[StarswithStripes]

@ShaunMielekamp Good on you Shaun for getting on here and facing the fans. Ballsy. You can see the frustration and diversity of views from the forum. It’s hard being a Tigers fan. It actually affects mental health at times. We’ve seen the effects of mid season drama the last two years and its impact on team performance. We all hope next year we can have a season free of drama and bad press. Please be the one to change the club’s culture of mediocrity.